
Lighting can literally make or break a space, yet it is often overlooked or forgotten about by most people when they build or renovate their homes. It should be hashed out from an early stage of your build which means you will need to plan ahead and consider the tasks that will take place in each space (which I highly recommend anyway).
I’ve heard some horror stories from my clients. They tell me things like “we ran out of budget when it came to the lighting” or ” we didn’t see lighting as a priority” or “we just let the builder do what they wanted because we had no idea”. Big mistake! Builders are great at what they do, but generally, they don’t think about the interior design or functionality of a space. Lighting is not thoughtfully placed for furniture arrangement or daily tasks, but for the building itself.
Check out the below image to see where the (well-known) builder placed my client’s pendant! What on earth would she want a pendant there for? I felt terrible for her when I saw this. But don’t worry, we are amending this and it will look beautiful when complete!
We all know that natural light has major benefits for our mental well-being and mood. Well, the same goes for artificial lighting, and that is where I’ll be focusing for this blog.
A good, layered, lighting plan can influence our mood, stabilise our circadian rhythm, assist with concentration and productivity, and provide cosiness, intimacy and a sense of security in our homes. Physically speaking, good lighting can make a space feel larger, taller or wider, draw attention to something specific, guide you along a hallway, create intensional symmetry and even save you money (LED’s).
Firstly, I’d highly recommend you collaborate with an Interior Designer or Lighting expert for this. As mentioned, light plays a crucial role in the success of your Interior Design. But for argument’s sake, let’s assume that is not an option. Here is how you’d create your lighting plan:
These days, everyone is using LED bulbs. They are cheaper to run and provide the best quality of light. It is important to think about the amount of light required from your light for every part of your home. This brightness is measured in Lumens. The higher the lumens the brighter the bulb.
You will definately want to consider the mood you get from your bulbs too and this comes from the colour or temperature of the light. We measure temperature in “kelvins” and this scale goes from 1000k to 10,000k. The optimum kelvins for your home would be anywhere between 2000 and 4000k. 2000k (warm) would be for ambient lighting while 4000k (cool) would be for task lighting. This graph below is a great way of demonstrating warm and cool lighting.
I hope this blog has been illuminating….get it?! So what are the biggest takeaways from this blog?
Book a discovery call below if you’d like some help planning your home’s lighting!
Thanks for reading, take care.
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Bright Side Interiors is an interior design and styling business based in Forest Hill 3131. I am here to help you design your dream home without the headache. I encourage collaboration and personal involvement in the entire design process, to create a home truly bespoke and tailored to you. Your Melbourne home is your biography and each room is a chapter. Let’s design your next chapter together.
Bright Side Interiors
232 Canterbury Rd,
Forest Hill, VIC 3131
P: 0404 673 355
E: tracey@brightsideinteriors.com
ABN: 61 808 219 465