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Are you a big light person, or a lamp person? Your answer is more important than you might think, if the realms of social media are anything to go by. Those who prefer the light of a lamp are infinitely preferable to those who swear by the big (or main) light. Whichever side you fall on, there’s no doubt that lighting can make or break a space.
It also signals different things to our bodies and minds. While in most corporate offices, strip lighting is the norm, in cocktail bars, you’ll typically find dim, sultry lighting—the former keeps us alert and working, while the latter ushers in a sense of relaxation and a nighttime vibe. At home, sleep experts tell us to switch off bright lighting an hour or two before bed, to signal to the brain that it’s time for sleep, while in the morning, bright lights can be used to wake us up and get the day in motion.
So, it matters. It also matters for the aesthetic of your space, and how you feel within it, which is particularly key when you’re spending a lot of time there. “Lighting is the most important thing—it really unlocks the atmosphere of a place,” says interior designer Nicola Harding, who adds that it’s also a great way to change the mood of a room.
So, if you’re in need of some tricks of the trade, or simply things to be aware of as you tackle a renovation or renew one of your rooms, here we speak to two experts to learn how to nail the lighting in every room.
Get planning…
And ask yourself what you’ll be using the room for. If you’re in the midst of a renovation, it’s a good idea to think hard about where you’ll need lighting, whether that’s above a kitchen counter or either side of a bathroom mirror. Having lots of sockets spare is especially important, according to Rosie Welburn, interior designer at Soho Home. “Getting them in the right place is fundamental to each room,” she explains. “As an example, in bedrooms you’ll want them next to the bed, while in living rooms, you’ll need to work out where you might have a side table and lamp—floor sockets are also worth considering.”
Making these decisions is crucial, because without sockets, it’s hard to harness the wonders of lamps, which are easier to move around than in-situ lighting. “Deciding where different lights go early on in the project is important—if you’re going to be using that space for entertaining, you might want lower lighting, so don’t need spotlights. But equally, where will your dining room table go, and what size is it? That might influence where a chandelier will sit,” says Welburn. “Doing a floor plan and marking these points is really helpful.”
Layering is key
“It’s really important to avoid blasting a whole room with light,” says Harding. “Instead, it’s about creating warm pools of light, which create a magical atmosphere, drawing you through a room or building.” For that, layering is key. Rather than relying on lots of central pendants, which Harding says swallow up lots of budget and often mean that you’re tied to a specific room layout, think about harnessing wall lights, lots of lamps, different circuits, and dimming switches. “You need to think about the effect of a light fitting, as much as the way it looks—understand how it’s going to cast light and what will spill off from it.”
When it comes to pendants, use them to light something specific, like a table: “I like to have them so they hang down low, but you can turn them right down, so they sort of create a glow,” she says. You can also layer lighting by using LED strips (great under a kitchen counter), picture lights (which work well over a fireplace), and joinery lights in key areas. These can frame specific areas of the room, or simply create a welcoming luminosity, and are often affordable and easy to change.
Bulbs matter
Never forget the power of the bulb. Avoid cool white light bulbs, which emit a more clinical, cold light, in favor of those that promise a warm light (2700 Kelvin is good)—simply read the box and choose accordingly. It’s a small trick but makes all the difference.
Load up on lamps
Where you’ve not had the opportunity (or budget) to add in a load of new sockets, rechargeable lamps are an excellent choice—and there are lots of new ones to choose from. Pooky’s are perhaps the most known, and Soho Home is also launching them this autumn. Easy to move around, they can even be used outdoors in the summer, and are perfect for creating ambiance. Another good hack to update pre-existing lamps is to switch your lampshade for a new design—keep in mind that different lampshades dispel different types of light, so choose accordingly. “You could match your lampshade to your curtains, for example, or opt for one in a darker parchment—say a red fabric—to impart a pinky glow,” says Welburn. “It really can influence the light that pours out.”
Candlelight
We naturally spend more time concentrating on the electrical side of lighting, but that isn’t the only way to create a welcoming glow. Candles are another excellent route, whether flickering tapered styles set in show-stopping candelabras or a simple scented candle in a glass vessel. There are an array of good ones on the market, just be sure to trim the wick to prevent an ashy imprint on your paintwork.