Home » Misc » Lighting design for house

Lighting design for house


10 ways to illuminate every room beautifully |

(Image credit: Future)

Great lighting ideas need to provide the right illumination for all of a room’s functions, and allow changes of mood, too. But lighting is a major feature of any room design, and it’s crucial that it plays its part in the aesthetic of the space, too.

From pendants and chandeliers to wall lights, floor and table lamps, plus lights for illuminating artwork, lighting stairs and more, there is a wealth of choices that can elevate the room as well as act functionally.

Here, we’re showcasing lighting ideas for rooms around the home to inspire your interior design.

Lighting ideas

All the different lighting types – ambient, task, and feature – can be beautiful in their own right, and these lighting ideas tick the boxes for style as well as practicality.

1. Bring warmth to a living area

(Image credit: Ian Baldwin)

Prioritize the atmosphere of the living room when shortlisting lighting ideas. 'Warmth is the most important factor when lighting a living area,’ says Peter Legg, lead designer at där lighting .

‘This is a cozy space, so you want to feel enveloped and comforted while using it. Aim for an even spread of light to avoid any harsh contrasts. One way to do this is through an armed ceiling light or a chandelier which will rebound light across the room.'

Of course, living room lighting ideas should be carefully planned so that the effect created by the aesthetics of the light fittings in daylight is just as impactful as that of the lighting scheme itself at night.

(Image credit: Hudson Valley Lighting Group)

Kitchen lighting ideas, just like those of the living room are as much about visual impact in daylight as they are about practicality and functionality. 

Consider boldly scaled pendant lights to hang over a kitchen island. Attention-grabbing in their own right, kitchen island lighting also makes the island itself even more of a feature of the room.  

If you’re concerned the sizeable lights will block views through the room, follow this room’s example and opt for those made with clear glass. Gold detail in these designs echoes that in handles as well the legs of the stools and the faucet for a consistent use of materials. 

3. Elevate a bathroom

(Image credit: Katie Davis Design Photograph: Kerry Kirk)

Turn up the dial on decoration in your wash space with a bathroom chandelier. ‘I always tell clients to invest in lighting,’ says Katie Davis of Katie Davis Design , who created this room. ‘Bathroom lighting is a game changer. The right chandelier or pendant can give you a major design moment, and make a space feel instantly elevated.’

Generally bathroom ceiling lights don’t have to be damp-rated designs, leaving your choices wide open, but do bear in mind that some areas, like that over the shower, need lights suitable for the location. Choose lights rated for the particular area of the room, which is divided into zones for this purpose.  

4. Add living room wall lights

(Image credit: Hudson Valley Lighting Group)

Don’t neglect the potential that living room wall lighting ideas have to offer. In this room, a symmetrical pair of wall sconces on the chimney highlights this feature of the room even when the fire itself isn’t lit.

In pairs, or as single fittings, wall lights can make any part of the room inviting in this way. They’re also a great solution for smaller spaces avoiding the need to give up floor or table space to a lamp.

5. Select the right bedroom lighting positions 

(Image credit: The Design Buzz)

Bedroom ceiling light ideas should be carefully located in relation to the bed when realizing lighting ideas for the room.

‘It is best not to position any bedroom lighting over the top of the bed where your pillows are as this is too harsh when you are lying in bed,’ explains Shalini Misra, interior designer and founder of Shalini Misra and The Design Buzz . ‘Placing an interesting, statement light in the center of the ceiling provides a great focal point and design interest in the room, especially if you are keeping a muted palette in the space.’

6. Fall for kitchen wall lighting

(Image credit: Future / Carolyn Barber)

Make food preparation safe with adequate illumination for kitchen countertops. Kitchen wall lighting ideas can avoid the problem of working in a shadow, which can occur when lights are directly behind a person standing at the counter.

While linear LED lighting is an alternative, wall lights are a decorative addition to the room as well as a functional one, and industrial-style designs like this one are one of the many handsome choices on offer.

7. Illuminate bedroom storage

(Image credit: Gunter & Co)

Plan a layer of bedroom lighting that will make it easier to dress. Canned lights can do some of the work, as can clever closet lighting ideas.

‘In the bedroom of this penthouse, we positioned downlights so that they wash light down the front of the closet doors,’ says Irene Gunter, founder of design agency Gunter & Co .  ‘This not only highlights the beauty of the wood, but when the doors are open, the light also helps to illuminate the interior.

‘I would also recommend strips of LED lighting mounted along drawers and shelves inside, which turn on when you open the doors.’

8. Exploit the potential of lighting materials

(Image credit: Davey Lighting)

Think materials when selecting lighting for living spaces. ‘Materials are just as important as style when choosing lighting for your living room,’ explains Charlie Bowles, director of Original BTC . 

This design is made with geometric bone china tiles and Charlie says, ‘Bone china is an ideal choice, bringing a lovely softness of finish and a beautifully translucent glow. This soft light is ideal for creating a cozy atmosphere that makes you feel instantly comfortable and relaxed.’

9. Use lighting to attract the eye

(Image credit: Katie Davis Design Photograph: Melissa Fitzgerald West)

Considered use of lighting can concentrate attention where you want it – this can be particularly useful for entryway lighting ideas and hallway lighting. ‘In this entry, the ceilings extend to the third floor,’ says Katie Davis of Katie Davis Design . ‘In an effort to make the area feel like a singular space, even though it was three stories high, we installed downlighting on the art. It encourages visitors to keep focused at eye level versus looking up.’

10. Create task lighting in a home office

(Image credit: Jan Baldwin / Future)

Home office lighting ideas needn't just be functional, so don’t just think table lamps to provide light for a home office desk. A floor lamp can provide the even glow that‘s necessary to avoid eye strain and make for an elegant feature of the room, too. It can also provide a wider pool of illumination for a shared desk.

How do I get good lighting at home?

To get good lighting at home, always think about layers of light. ‘We love to layer lighting in a room,’ says Katie Davis of Katie Davis Design . ‘It’s important to me that all of the light in a space doesn’t come from the ceiling, and that there is light at different heights in the room.  

‘If you layer a floor lamp, sconce, table lamp and pendants with canned lighting, for instance, it allows a space to easily transition for the mood you are in or the event you are having, ultimately making a space more dynamic. Considering factors like wattage helps this, too.’

How can I add mood lighting to a room?

To add mood lighting to a room, use dimmable fixtures so the light levels can be adjusted easily. As well as for spaces like living rooms and bedrooms, that goes for kitchens, too, so that once food preparation and cooking is finished, a softer ambience can be created for dining or relaxing in the space.

Lights on different circuits are also helpful, allowing perimeter lights, for example, to be switched off independently from central lighting for a more intimate feel.

Pay attention to color temperature, too. It’s measured in Kelvins, and for warm light, opt for lower numbers of 2,700 to 3,000K; at 3,100K and up light will appear cooler.

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

10 First Steps to Follow When Planning the Perfect Lighting For Your Home

To avoid feeling overwhelmed before you even begin, follow these 10 steps to designing your home’s lighting like a pro. 

1. Establish the budget

It might seem like an obvious step, but it's amazing how quickly home projects—big or small—can put a serious dent in your bank account. To avoid a monetary setback, decide how much lighting you need, and designate the items you might want to splurge on, and other areas where you know you need to be more conscious of cost.

Creatively separating your functional needs is a key component of Good Small Design—it’s all about overlap, nesting, and double duty.

2. Pick a Theme, Genre, or Design Type

Just as you would stick to a color scheme when decorating a space, so should you consider the style and theme of the fixtures you're wishing to install. Since lighting is such an integral component of creating the mood and tone of a space, find products that speak to you and the particular space. If you have a signature style, the lighting should follow suit.

When one thinks of a chandelier, often an elaborate, shimmery fixture comes to mind. With its Industrial Chandelier, Workstead pares this idea down to capture the function of a chandelier—an overhead lighting fixture—with the simplicity of clean lines and a flexible design. The three-arm chandelier can be reconfigured into a variety of shapes, making it an adaptable piece for a many interior spaces. Structured as a horizontal fixture, the Industrial Chandelier can hang just three feet from the ceiling, or as a vertical piece, it can hang five feet for a more dramatic effect. Crafted from steel, repurposed industrial joints, and vintage Hubbell sockets, the lighting fixture has a mechanical, vintage aesthetic, while its minimalist design, exposed cords, and unshaded bulbs have an undeniably modern sensibility.

3. Layer lighting

The basic principle is to layer three types of lighting: ambient, accent and task lighting. Ambient lighting is concerned with creating general illumination, occupying a more functional role. Accent lighting is often where decorative fixtures come into play, like chandeliers, pendants, and linear lighting. Task lighting also comes in many forms, providing focused lighting for work spaces throughout your home. Once all of these elements come together, the interior becomes a well-rounded (and well-lit) space.

Jaime Hayon and his wife, photographer Nienke Klunder, and their son, Tys, has filled his home with many of his own designs, including the Bardot sofa for Bernhardt Design and the 22 chair for Ceccotti and mint-colored armoire for Bisazza Bagno.

4. Start with the statement light

Once you have a theme in mind, start with the most visible item that will define the space, like a modern chandelier or pendant (this could be one of the splurge-worthy items). From there, choosing the remaining lighting in the same style as that fixture will help narrow the search.

Barbara Hill had the overhead lighting in the kitchen customized by Rich Brilliant Willing in a pert orange that accents the primarily black-and-white interior scheme. She added a stainless steel kitchen island by Bulthaup, its glossiness and "clean feel" tempered by the plastic stacking stools designed by Konstantin Grcic for Magis. The cabinets, appliances, countertops, and marble tile were kept as-is, with the addition of several coats of white paint in order to blend seamlessly with the walls.

5. Consider the requirements of each room

Since each room has its own function, some areas should naturally be more ambient, and others more task-oriented. For example, the bedroom would do well with more accent lighting, since it's a space for relaxation and sleep. The kitchen is the area for careful tasks like food preparation—so that space demands bright, functional lighting before anything else.

In Chicago’s Buena Park, dSPACE Studio transformed a disorganized 1978 home into a bright retreat that revolves around an expanded atrium. SoCo pendant lights by Tech Lighting draw the eye up to the double-height light well.

6. Be precise with measurements

Luckily, there are general and specific guidelines for sizing a fixture for a space. Once you have the basic dimensions of the space and its function, the math for finding the correct sized fixture is easily done. For example, kitchens and living rooms have different requirements; planning the lighting above a kitchen island is very different from choosing a large enough fixture to fill a living room.

Cal and Macy Deam enjoy a snack from Mom at the almost 14-foot-long walnut slab table sourced from Arborica in Marshall, California. The wood came from a tree that fell into a Palo Alto, California, street. A trio of Tom Dixon Beat Lamps provide the perfect counterpoint to a slew of black plastic Eames shell chairs from Herman Miller.

7. Get creative

We've talked about specific types of lighting for each room, but sometimes it's okay to break the rules. Think outside a product's normal function and try unexpected applications—perhaps a pendant for a bedside lamp or an adjustable wall sconce as a task lamp in the kitchen.

For a simple, low-cost bedside reading light with a dash of industrial style, Bernier ran a standard-issue cord set through a vintage clothesline pulley, which he picked up at a flea market, on Thibault’s side of the bed. "If she ever wants it to be higher, she can easily adjust it," he says.

8. Stay educated about new technology

Let's face it, LED lighting is more common than ever these days, and there are different rules when it comes to installing LED fixtures in your home. With that said, consult your contractor or electrician for the proper voltage and dimming options required for LED fixtures.

The LED lighting in the slide is just one of the high-tech elements in the house that can be adjusted from a smartphone or tablet. A computer system in the basement controls the screens in the house as well as the security and heating systems.

9. Consider multi-functional lights

Now that we have decorative lighting covered, it's time to get down to the nitty gritty and discuss architectural lighting (i.e. recessed, dimmers, controls, and wall plates). Since we live in the digital age, we rely on many devices that require charging. These days, there are many sophisticated wall controls and outlets that allow for efficient energy consumption, that can also power our mobile devices.

An unassuming little helper is how young Danish designer Mads Sætter-Lassen modestly describes his desk lamp, Buddy, designed for Northern Lighting. The multifunctional design includes a holder to keep pens, keys, and other small objects that are easily lost. The flexible shade, available in five matte colors, can be rotated in any direction.

10. Start designing!

The last and final step is to dive right into your home's lighting design. Getting the planning process going is often the hardest part, but with these helpful tips, you'll be installing a unique lighting scheme in no time.

Workstead wall-mounted lamps illuminate a photo from Cloud Series by Matthew Williams. The bench is by Hugh Acton. 

Published

Lighting design of lighting: methods, norms, ideas

The beauty and comfort of the interior largely depends on its proper lighting. Any design project begins with the stage of choosing lighting fixtures and working out their location, since it will be difficult to correct these details during the process of decorating an apartment.

The concept of "light design" is much more complex and multifaceted than it might seem at first glance. He should put in a favorable light the dignity of the room and hide its shortcomings, make it cozy and comfortable, emphasize the individuality of the owner. nine0003

Lighting design is usually divided into three components, each of which plays a special role in creating a stylish and harmonious interior lighting.

Usually a competent project includes all three elements, because only their skillful combination can create an interesting and stylish interior.

Beautiful design depends a lot on lighting

Think carefully about lighting design

Use light to highlight or hide interior elements

Contents

What is lighting like

There are several types of lighting, each of which has its own functions and implementation rules:

View

Function

Requirement

Background

Complex space lighting, background creation

Maximum coverage, minimum shadows

Local

Highlights details

Suitable light spectrum

nine0068

Working

Spot lighting for areas where light is most needed

Optimal light for human perception

Decorative

Aesthetic

Harmless

Backlight

Makes what is happening in the room inaccessible to prying eyes

Must be opaque on the outside

Properly selected lighting can change the interior beyond recognition

There are several types of lighting

See also Terracotta color in the interior: combination with other colors, photo

Effect of lighting on the emotional state

Not only the appearance of your apartment depends on the choice of fixtures, but also the mental and emotional state of its inhabitants. Scientists have found that the lighting that affects us has many properties that can be both beneficial and harmful. nine0003

Blue light to help you relax

Each color has its own influence on a person

Lighting can affect emotional state

See also Black and white interior: features, photo

How to adjust natural light

When passing through glass and reflecting off mirrors, natural light becomes too hard and harsh. You can smooth out this light effect with the help of translucent and openwork barriers - tulle and organza. By diffusing light, they make natural lighting smooth and comfortable.

Another way to control the amount of light coming from windows is with vertical blinds. They make it less rigid, and at a certain turn they give it the necessary direction. With their help, the level of illumination of the room is regulated with just a few hand movements. nine0003

Light can highlight the desired items in the interior

In some cases natural light can be dispensed with

See also Futurism in the interior: secrets, accents, layout

Principles of artificial lighting

The illumination of any space is subject to many sanitary and hygienic requirements defined by various GOSTs and standards. You can study them for a long time and hard, but it will be more convenient to get acquainted only with the most important of them. nine0003

nine0065

1.0

nine0065

Not regulated

Indicators

Bedrooms and living rooms

Kitchens and dining rooms

Gyms

Children's rooms

Offices

Hallways

Toilets

Bathrooms

Pools

Illumination, lx

150

150

150

200

300

50

50

100

100

KEO

0. 5

0.5

0.5

0.7

Not regulated

Not regulated

Not regulated

0.5

UGR

0

0

60

0

0

0

Not regulated

60

All values ​​in this table are only the necessary minimum, no standards establish upper limit values.

Not every reader is familiar with the concepts of KEO and UGR. Let's try to figure out what it is and how they differ from each other.

In the bedroom you can do without strong light sources. A few lamps will suffice

nine0018 Lighting should be selected individually for each design

There are certain rules for lighting different rooms

See also The combination of lilac with other colors in the interior

KEO

Daylight ratio is the ratio of daylight to total light. The parameter determines the proportion of natural light entering the space of the room. Let's take a simple example.

Suppose we measured the illumination in the middle of the living room, and it was 300 lux. Let's go out to the open balcony adjacent to this room, and measure the level of illumination there. Let's say it was 500 lux. Then KEO will be calculated as 300/500=0.6. Comparing this indicator with the table value, we conclude that the light corresponds to the norm. nine0003

See also Greek style in interior design

UGR

The Discomfort Coefficient is defined by international standards and serves as a measure of light hardness. It is measured in the range from 1 to 100 and is determined by the polarization, coherence and spectrum of the light flux.

In simple terms, this value indicates how soft and favorable the light in the room is for the human eye.

Lighting can highlight some items in the interior

If there is a lot of natural light in the room, you can do with the chandelier

See alsoInterior decorative plaster for unlimited design possibilities

Basic rules

Having dealt with the norms, it is worth talking about the basic rules that are no longer responsible for the absence of harm to human health, but for the harmonious aesthetic design of the interior.

  1. Lighting design must necessarily be coordinated with the color of the interior. nine0003

  2. The flow of light visually stretches the room, lengthening it in the direction of its direction.

  3. Light rooms illuminate evenly, made in dark colors - each zone separately.

  4. In the work area, the ideal light is white.

  5. Light objects are best illuminated with colored light, and for bright details choose bright local lighting.

  6. Saturated shadows and lack of light in certain areas are best avoided. nine0003

The flow of light visually stretches the room, extending it in the direction of its direction

In the bedroom you can get by with a chandelier and a few lamps

The lighting solution must be combined with the interior of the room

See also How to create a functional attic design

Pros and cons of chandeliers

The most common type of lamps, which is used in the interior of any room and style - suspended and ceiling chandeliers. They use different types of lamps, they differ in style and design, but the most important parameter when choosing is the material from which the chandelier is made. nine0003

Material

Pluses

Cons

Metal

Glass

  • Brittleness

Wood

  • Demanding care

  • Moisture resistance

  • Exposure to light

  • Short life

Crystal

  • High cost

  • Brittleness

Plastic

Textile

nine0068

  • Originality

  • Moderate price

Chandeliers definitely look quite stylish and play with the general stylistic idea of ​​the interior, creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort around them, but they also have disadvantages:

Despite their beauty, they are very difficult to install and maintain

Chandeliers always look very stylish

See alsoCreating a "masculine" interior

The latest generation of luminaires, which is very popular - LED or led-luminaires. Their success in the market is due to the many advantages of such lighting:

Regarding the cons of LED lighting, it is worth saying the following:

Luminaires can illuminate specific areas

LED lights

are very popular at the moment

Sometimes lamps are used as decorative elements

See also Floral wallpaper in the interior: new design trends

Street lighting

Outdoor lighting of the house is carried out for decorative, security or functional purposes. nine0003

It is customary to pay special attention to functional lighting in the project, since it is she who is responsible for safe movement in the yard. The main objects are garden paths, steps and porch, and the most popular solution is small lamps with short legs. They will perfectly fit into any landscape design and will not take up much space, and in the dark they will do their job perfectly.

A tip for the most economical homeowners is to use solar-powered lamps, their choice is just as huge. nine0003

Solar lights can be used to save money

Outdoor lighting of the house is for decorative, security or functional purposes

Decorative lighting is designed to highlight the most attractive details of your garden with light. It can be installed at a fountain, pond, recreation area or garden sculpture.

Properly organized interior lighting design can work real miracles, transforming the space, changing the direction of the flow of light and having a beneficial effect on the human psyche. The main thing in the pursuit of a stylish and modern interior design is to follow the rules of lighting and not forget about your own comfort and health. nine0003

See alsoCreating a space design

Video: Lighting design of an apartment

See also How to use yellow in a modern interior

Light design: interior lighting rules

Do you know what is an important building block in the foundation of an ideal interior? High-quality study of all light sources! However, many begin to think about chandeliers and lamps only when the repair is almost completed. As a result - disappointment, insufficient level of illumination and the impossibility of realizing the full potential of lighting design. nine0700

A professional design project involves the arrangement of various lighting fixtures in the process of forming the idea of ​​a future interior, which will allow you to develop the electrical circuit of the apartment in advance and mount the electrical wiring before the start of finishing work.

No matter how successful and thoughtful an interior project is, without the right lighting it may not only fail to reveal its full individuality, but may even seem completely inferior.

nine0018 See also the article: 10 mistakes in repair and design , reception, etc.).


What is lighting design?


Lighting design has three components: general lighting design, lighting architecture and lighting design. nine0003

General lighting is the so-called background light. When creating it, it is important to consider that the light should be comfortable. Moreover, its brightness and "temperature" of lighting depend on the purpose of a particular room. For example, in the nursery and in the office, the light may be more intense than in the bedroom or bathroom.

Light architecture - emphasizes the conceptual orientation of the design of the room, illuminates niches, work surfaces, creates the effect of a "floating ceiling". In some styles, this component cannot be dispensed with, for example, hi-tech involves highlighting certain elements with light. nine0003

Interior lighting design is a concept that characterizes lamps as a decorative element that emphasizes the individuality of their owner. The variety and availability of modern lighting products create a fertile ground for their use in interior design, following the latest fashion trends and transforming it beyond recognition.

Read also the article: Lighting in the bedroom.


Types of lighting:


nine0059

1. Background. The important thing here is the uniform distribution of light without dips and shadows.
2. Local lighting. Illumination of specific elements of the interior, taking into account the light spectrum.
3. Working lighting. Local illumination of a specific area. It is used in cases where intense bright light is required, while at the same time comfortable for the eye to perceive.
4. Decorative lighting is the illumination of the floor, ceiling, shelves, etc. It should not "cut the eyes" when performing its main function - drawing attention to the selected object. nine0003

You will also be interested in: LED lighting in the interior: ideas, benefits, installation.

Approach options:


Currently, there are two main approaches to home lighting:

- an American concept: many spotlights located in different areas of the room in order to save money and fulfill the desire to be with oneself;

- European concept: in the center of the room - a chandelier as a unifying element, and spot lighting is just its addition. In Russia, this approach is relevant, because we have preserved the tradition of gathering with family or friends at a common table. nine0003


Interior light. Basic Rules:


When organizing lighting, it is necessary to take into account the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room (to calculate the required illumination, a special formula is used, which, if necessary, can be easily found on the Internet). The main lamp should give enough light for a comfortable stay, which also has a strong impact on the emotional state of a person. So, for example, "cold" light adjusts to the working mood, and "warm" - to rest. This indicator, called color temperature, can be found on the packaging of the lamp, in residential areas it should be “warm”, namely 3000 K.

In addition to the general background lighting of the living space, other groups of light sources should be considered - local, work and decorative lighting. In the kitchen, for example, it is worth separately lighting the work surface of the kitchen set, and in the bedroom, creating a romantic atmosphere with the help of original sconces or LED lighting.

Learn more