Great lighting can transform your home, creating warmth and atmosphere, boosting your well-being and making a beautiful style statement.
From combining different types of lighting, to creating focal points and expressing your own unique style, get started on creating your perfect home lighting design with our step by step guide…
Why is it important to plan ahead with home lighting?
The golden rule? Don't make lighting an afterthought in your interior design!
Lighting plays an essential role in how a space works, looks and feels, and by planning ahead you can make sure your interior design really sings.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to update things, when planning your home lighting design you should take into account the size and layout of the space, what it’s going to be used for, and what kind of atmosphere you’re looking to create.
Here are 7 steps to creating a lighting design that works for you…
Step 1. Work out how much light you need
When planning your home lighting design, it’s important to make sure you have the right amount of light. Too little and your space will be dull and uninspiring; too much, and it can be stark and overwhelming. Lighting is measured in lumens, and there’s a handy rule of thumb you can use to work out how many lumens you need in a room.
A sitting room or bedroom normally requires between 10-20 lumens per square foot, while in a bathroom or kitchen you need around 70-80 lumens per square foot. To find out how many lumens you need, first measure the length and width of the room and multiply them together to get the total square footage. Then simply combine this figure with the appropriate number of lumens for the type of room you want to light, and this will give you the total number of lumens required.
Find out all about lumens and lighting different rooms in your home, with our expert guide: How much light do you need in a room?
Step 2. Create ‘layers’ with different types of lighting
When creating your home lighting design, your aim is to create a well-lit, balanced and harmonious space. As well as making sure you have enough light, it’s also important to use a range of different types of lighting. There are three main types of lighting:
Ambient lighting – this refers to the general overall illumination in a room, and includes the main ceiling light (commonly a pendant light), together with any recessed lighting, wall lights and floor lamps
Task lighting – targeted lighting which offers a higher level of illumination for everyday tasks such as cooking, reading or working, and includes downlighters, table lamps and desk lamps
Accent lighting – used to highlight specific objects, areas or architectural features, accent lighting creates mood, drama and atmosphere, and includes floor lamps, table lamps and wall lights.
By combining these three different types of lighting – known as layering light – you can create just the right atmosphere for different moods or times of day. Find out more in our expert guide: Home lighting design: A guide to layering light.
Step 3. Create an eye-catching focal point
A focal point is what first grabs your attention when you enter a room, and you can use your lighting scheme to create different focal points around your home. One way to do this is by emphasising existing architectural features in your home, such as a beautiful fireplace: a pair of matching wall lights placed either side of the mantelpiece will draw the eye and create a lovely warm centrepiece.
Lighting can also make a statement all on its own. You can create wow factor in the entrance hall or sitting room with a striking pendant light, or create a talking point in the dining room with a stunning chandelier suspended centrally over the dining room table. Meanwhile, designer table lamps are also beautiful decorative items in their own right, and a quirky table lamp will make a fabulous statement in any space.
See more ideas for creating focal points here: Lighting showstoppers! 6 ways to create surprising, dazzling focal points around your home
A real showstopper...the regular Oldfield chandelier in pink glass
Step 4. Set the mood
Lighting is absolutely essential when it comes to setting the mood and creating atmosphere in your home. Different kinds of light can affect us in different ways, both physically and emotionally, with bright, blue-white light feeling cooler and more stimulating, while warm yellow-white light has a calming effect.
It’s important to include plenty of soft, low-level lighting as part of your home lighting design. You can do this by using a combination of wall sconces, table lamps and floor lamps. Adding in a set of dimmer switches will allow you to adjust the light to just the right levels.
Find out more about warm lighting here: Understanding warm lighting - plus a guide to colour temperature.
Step 5. Highlight your favourite pieces
Accent lighting is great for helping to showcase your favourite things – from architectural features, to ornaments, paintings and artworks. A set of uplighters will cast the light upwards and towards the ceiling, highlighting original features such as beams and cornices, while cordless table lamps are ideal for placing in corners and alcoves, for a lovely warm glow.
Meanwhile, picture lights are perfectly designed to make the most of your paintings and artworks, while protecting them against light damage; and they’re also great for illuminating prints and photographs.
Discover how to choose and use picture lights in our guide: Picture lights - how to illuminate your paintings and artworks.
Step 6. Introduce colour and texture
Colour and texture are an integral part of any interior design scheme, and fabric lampshades are an easy and cost-effective way of adding colour and texture to your home lighting design.
Our fabric lampshades come in a huge range of different colours, styles and patterns – from cool linens and soft silks, to rich velvets and striking Ikats. Each type of fabric has its own unique qualities, and each will diffuse the light differently, so you can create a range of different effects.
Find out more in our guide to lampshade fabrics.
Step 7. Use your lighting to express your inner designer
The wonderful thing about home lighting design is it gives you the opportunity to express your personality. When deciding on a design scheme, think about the kind of space you want to create: are you looking for a calm, minimalist Japandi style, or are you a romantic at heart? Tradition dictates that it’s a good idea to make sure your choice of colours, styles and finishes match to create a balanced space and avoid any clashes.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to stick to any one period or design style – and in fact mixing things up a bit can add extra character to a space. Try adding depth and interest to a minimalist design by including an elaborate Arts & Crafts style table lamp; or make a striking statement in a traditional setting, with a sleek contemporary floor lamp.
And with so many stunning rechargeable lights now available - including cordless wall lights - you can really go to town on experimentation, without having to worry about wires and sockets.
Find out more, and connect with your inner designer, here: How to develop an ‘eye’ for interior design.
Browse Pooky’s huge range of beautiful, affordable home lighting here.
See also:
How home lighting affects your mood and wellbeing
How to choose a lampshade - the complete guide
A design style crash course – how to identify classic period styles and get the look with lighting
Five interior design conventions – and how to break them
