Tips for how to elevate your home using lighting
One of the most important things to consider when designing for functionality, practicality and ambience is without a doubt, lighting! Don't just take the easy road with spots, there's a world of choice available to you and shopping for the right lights is crucial to creating a sense of space and atmosphere.
Tip 1 Use lighting to emphasise the scale of your room.
One of the best tricks in the book is to make the most of the vertical space in a room to give a sense of scale and grandeur. If you're lucky enough to have high ceilings, but a tiny city apartment like me, use a rise & fall pendant or increase the length of your pendant cable to draw the eye up and down rather than putting a focus on the lack of square footage. This is something you see quite often where I live in Copenhagen, low pendants above a dining table create an intimacy that's quite special when dining with friends & family.
Similarly, try a flush mount light in a space with low ceiling height to create a sense of enclosure. In hallways or small bathrooms this can be really effective!
Tip 2 Don't overlook the importance of the right bulb!
The colour and size of your light bulbs will play a huge part in creating the right mood within a space. Throughout my career and now especially living in Denmark and spending a good chunk of the winter in darkness, I've learnt the importance of educating yourself on the best bulb temperature. Try to opt for warmer lights (between 2700k-3000k) if you're looking for something softer on the eye but still appropriate for tasks. Lights that are dimmable are also a win in my eyes!
Choosing a bulb with a diffuser can be useful when the bulb is visible or at eye level. Even frosted bulbs can be a good alternative for low hung pendants.
Tip 3 Spread the light around!
Don't settle for one large light source in the centre of your room, try adding a floor lamp to the corner or by an occasional chair, a pair of wall lights either side of your joinery, or a picture light above a piece of art. Lamps are also a great way to layer your lighting and create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Tip 4 Living in a rental doesn't have to be an obstacle.
It can be difficult when you live in a rental to add character with lighting to your space if hard-wiring isn't possible. I've been there before! Just know there are so many great rechargeable lighting options on the market now, not to mention wall lights that plug directly into your socket! Don't be afraid to use the cable as part of the charm.
It's also a fun idea to swap out cables for something a little more decorative, perhaps a twisted fabric cord or something with a bit of colour?
Recently we've launched our first specification sheet template for lighting on Inspec, which aims to help suppliers & designers alike in providing the important details in a clean, aesthetic manner to their clients.
If you're looking for a solution to creating efficient lighting specification schedules or technical data sheets for your products, look no further than Inspec and get ready to impress your clients. Sign up today for your free trial.