A WELL-CRAFTED LIGHTING PLAN FOR YOUR HOUSE.

Lighting is one of the critical aspects of designing homes or commercial spaces. We often overlook the need for proper lighting and only realize it towards the end of the design cycle. When it comes to lighting, it has the power to give life to designs and provide an experience that leaves lasting first impressions when people walk into your home. A well-crafted lighting arrangement can be transformative and will help to accentuate the correct elements and elevate the design style. Whenever you are designing a new build, renovating an existing home, or simply curating an existing space, think about lighting and the asset it can be for your living spaces.

A well-crafted lighting arrangement can be transformative and can elevate the design style. Photographs Courtesy: Gabriel Scott, Sources Unlimited.

Identify your lighting needs: Work out a lighting plan that will help you identify your lighting needs. What is the first thing you want people to focus on when they walk into your home? Do you want to accentuate an art piece, or do you want to make a bold statement about your style? Do you want a room flooded with natural light, or are you thinking of a purpose-built room where dim lights can create an uber-cool setting?Interior lighting is an essential aspect of designing spaces and should not be overlooked. The lighting infrastructure is one of the first steps to be considered when you start putting together plans for decorating different areas.

Work out a lighting plan that will help you identify your lighting needs. Photograph Courtesy: Laurameroni, Scala Home.

Functional lighting: Every room in a house has a different function to offer where distinct areas require different lighting sequences. Think about the functionality of the room while choosing the lighting landscape. Consider the purpose of the room and how you will use the space for different activities. Would the room transform from natural daylight filled room to a softer cosy evening setting? Are there distinctive rooms for day activities and evening?An integral part of a home, the kitchen is considered an extension of your lifestyle rather than a space for preparing food. It will be bright and will also need functional light.
Think about the functionality of the room while choosing the lighting landscape. Photographs Courtesy: Aster Cucine, Ottimo.
Dramatic lighting over the kitchen island adds to the glamour of your kitchen space. Photograph Courtesy: Aster Cucine, Ottimo.Plan a theme: Do not forget that creating a theme using different lighting concepts can add to the overall experience of your well-designed home. As much focus you give towards styling interior spaces with colours and styles such as modern, contemporary, traditional, or minimalist, the exact needs to be extended towards lighting fixtures. You may think of creating a signature style or letting it be your personality; it could also bring about boldness to your designs. Consider ditching the traditional lighting for bohemian, modern, or contemporary styles and think of creating a statement while planning a theme.
Photograph Courtesy: Contardi, Sources Unlimited.

Illuminate: Creating proper lighting infrastructure is a process called layering. Select general lighting that helps you see a space. For instance, natural light from the windows or the light that substitutes natural light. When installed throughout the ceiling surface, overhead recessed lights like pot lights give a cleaner look rather than a unitary ceiling fixture that fails to provide enough light to perform tasks. It can also work very well for kitchens and bathrooms. Strategic lighting can help illuminate hallways and can add depth to the corridors. Open planned rooms will require a different dimension of general lighting. You can add a statement piece like a chandelier or a pendant light in the dining or living room as an alternative to natural light to give different effects.
Do not forget  to create a theme using different lighting concepts. Photograph Courtesy: Beyond Designs.

Highlight: Provide focused lighting to the areas where activities like cooking, studying, reading are executed. The kitchen cabinets can be obstructive to kitchen tops for working, and under-cabinet lights help to light the details of food preparations. Dramatic lighting over the kitchen island adds to the glamour of your kitchen space. Highlight living room objects with table lamps on either side of the sofas and get creative with an oversized floor lamp next to a lounging chair for easy reading.Think of creating a focal point where you want people’s attention when they walk into the room. Highlight or hide specific features of your home with focused lights such as artwork or sculpted pieces. You can plan a spotlight over artefacts in cabinets or add a softer light tone to a planter. Use lighting techniques to hide unwanted aspects of the room.
Add a statement piece like a chandelier in the living room as an alternative to natural light to give different effects. Photograph Courtesy: Beyond Designs.
Go for Dimmers: Dimmers should be added to every room as they create perfect mood lighting when you need it or add powerful illumination while doing tasks. They also save energy consumption and save money on electricity bills.
Bedrooms require more accent lights since it is a place for relaxation and sleep. Photographs Courtesy: Sans Souci.LED Lighting: If your house has incandescent light lamps, it is time to change them to LED, and it uses less energy and lasts for a very long time.

Don’t forget to Budget: Decorating the entire house can be overwhelming, so think of the needs and budget accordingly. Decide where to splurge and where to save by having the right balance.

Get creative: Hang pendant lights at your bedside instead of table lamps to create a dramatic effect in any room. Accomplishing the right kind of lighting in a house requires planning. If you are renovating or constructing a new home, plan for wiring to be done for light fixtures in advance. If you are unable to redesign completely, then use unique lighting fixtures to add value and give newness to your existing spaces.