Lighting Design: Types of lighting and how to use them.

Lighting is as important as any other element of the design. We use light and shade to create atmospheres and comfort so there needs to be balance between the two to maximise the impact of the space. Lighting helps highlighting areas of the design and adds another dimension to a space, bringing your home to life.

The best way to achieve good lighting is by combining different sources of light such as: downlights, wall lights, floor lights, feature lights, integrated architectural lights, pendants, freestanding lamps etc to add interest to each room. It's different the level of lighting required in a bedroom than creating a bright area for tasks like cooking or office work. Hidden architectural lighting can also help where the level of natural light during the day is lower such as internal corridors or in basements for example.

Good lighting design changes and emphasizes the feel of depth or height, creates cosy corners, and draws attention to your chosen areas.

Therefore, lighting (both natural and artificial) should be considered from the start. This way we can ensure it complements the interior design and architecture and create the required ambience.

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1. Ambient Lighting: basic functional light.

Ambient lighting provides general illumination and is meant to create a uniform lighting level. It's the first layer of lighting. That's why it's typically overhead light fixtures, soft and diffuse, and frequently dimmable to adapt to day and night settings.

A small room may only require one ambient light in the centre.

Some examples include :

• recessed lighting

• downlights

• track lighting

• ceiling lights

• pendants

• chandeliers

2. Feature lighting: also called decorative Lighting

Feature lighting covers all the traditional kinds of light fittings and helps your space shine and stand out of the ordinary. The biggest misconception about decorative lighting is that they focus solely on design and are actually useless. Decorative lights not only accessorize the room but also make it more functional.

Some examples include :

• pendants

• chandeliers

• track lights

• table lamps

• floor lamps

• wall lights

• flush lights

• Portable lights

3. Accent Lighting: also called integrated architectural lighting.

Integrated lighting in joinery and architectural details highlights key features and details. This adds interest to the room and it's something difficult to retrofit in the future. That's why it is worth taking it into account early on in the design process. Using these hidden and subtle techniques creates almost invisible light sources, where the effect is that the surfaces and objects themselves emit the light.

Some examples include:

• Kitchen lights under top cupboards that provide task lighting and can be a feature when used alone too.

• Wardrobes: this creates a very positive experience in my opinion, especially when connected to the doors so they activate automatically.

• Bathroom: behind mirrors provides flattering lighting but can also be used as wall washers inside the shower with colour therapy purposes too.

• Curtain Pelmets and cornices to wash the ceiling or walls

• Handrails and stair markers

• Uplights recessed on the floor or horizontal surfaces. Great for highlighting architectural details such as arches, door frames, fire places, windows or curved and interesting walls. These lights have a very dramatic effect.

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Good lighting design transforms a house into a home. It improves the quality of the interior design and architecture, and should be designed to reflect how the users live in the space. We can spend a great deal of time and money in the architectural and interior design, but if lighting is not designed carefully it won’t feel like a home.