Home Lighting Ideas
Using lighting to finish your home is a great way to add layers and depths to your interior design. We understand that sometimes it can be a little daunting to decide what you want to fit in your home. That's why we've done our best to put together some home lighting ideas for you to use as inspiration for your next home lighting project.
We've laid out a few ideas below, and towards the bottom of the page we've linked to some additional resources. Some are simply some of our favourite and most popular ranges and products, but some are also additional guides to help you through your project.
Take your Project One Room at a Time
There is a lot to get your head around, and it can be great fun, but we would suggest working through one room at a time. It will be easier, and a lot more affordable!
Stay on Theme
There are lots of options out there, and it can be tempting to just pick and mix the lights you like, but you ideally should choose a theme and try to stick to it. That doesn't meant to say you can't mix and match from one range to another, but try and keep something that ties the theme together. Often this is the colour, so pick a different wall light to the ceiling light, but make sure there is a dominant colour in both lights, so stick to antique brass lights or copper lights, for instance.
Pick an Anchor Light
We would suggest starting with an anchor light, and working around that light. What light that is, can vary from one room or project to another.
For some, the main statement light is the most important one of the room, so pick that first, then look for lights that pair well with it. This works well, but there are sometimes other things to consider first.
Wall lights have lost popularity in recent years. They are still a really strong light to go for, but it does mean the ranges of lighting that have wall lights within the range has reduced over the years. If you are prepared to mix and match from one range to another, this shouldn't be too much of an issue, but if you want to have all the lights within one range, it is worth ensuring they have wall lights available, before falling in love with the main feature light.
We often see people choose the wall lighting first, then move on to the ceiling and table lamps afterwards. As there tends to be a greater selection of ceiling lights, light pendants and table lights, it makes pairing them up with a wall light easier to do, than the other way around.
Form and Function
It is, of course, important that you get the right look when choosing your lighting, but it's also important to make sure you have the right lighting for the job at hand.
Fortunately in recent year, the quality of the lighting has hugely improved, both in style and performance. With the development of filament LED lamps and bulb we have seen a huge improvement in the aesthetics of LED light bulbs, and also in the brightness of lamps, especially for lighting such as vintage lamps, which were typically very dull, with incandescent filaments, but are now much brighter with LED replacements.
It's also important to have in mind what your lighting is there to achieve. Is it task lighting, primarily there to do a job, is it mood lighting, there to add ambience to your room, or is it feature lighting, there to give your room the wow factor? It's not to say your lights can't do more than one thing, but it always helps to have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve before choosing your lights.
Think Layers
Adding layers to a room can really transform the setting. It is also helps if you have a room that needs lighting that performs more than one function. If, for instance you want to have three statement pieces above your breakfast bar, you may not get enough light, or just as importantly, the light may not be in the right place, for your practical task lighting. Here it makes sense to have downlights for your task lights, and light pendants as statement pieces above the island.
The same goes for a living area. You may want a large stand-out statement piece in the middle of the room, but you may not want it on in the evening, while reading a book or watching the television. This is when you can add layers, with table lamps and floor lamps.
Entrance, Hall and Staircase Lighting
It is important to feel welcoming, so we would always suggest a warm light in the entrance. A statement piece is also a great option, especially if you have high ceiling that can carry a ceiling pendant. If you don't have the space for a hanging light, look out for flush lighting. You don't have to just go for a plain dome light. There are plenty of more attractive options out there these days, so look for something ornate that will give a warm welcome to guests.
If you have the room for a console table, and table lamp can again bring an inviting warmth to the room, and also give light in the evenings, without being overbearingly bright.
The staircase is often the place that has extra height, even in a modern house, so it's your chance to have something taller or bigger. Many ceiling lights have adjustable cables, so you can hang them on a longer chain or cable, or just have a more ornate, decorative fitting in this spot.
Landings are typically a smaller area, so you may have to go for something a little more practical here. Once again you may need to turn to a flush ceiling light, or even a wall light or wall washer, depending if you already have the cable in place. Adding later can really bump the installation price, but is still achievable.
Living Room Lighting
The living room is one of the key rooms to light, so it's worth spending some time to get this room right. If you already know the purpose of the room, it can help hugely when planning the lighting. Is this the room you will use to watch television, read books, entertain, all of the above?
A mix of lighting is nearly always the best solution with the living room areas. Often a main ceiling light, or statement light, often with two or three wall lights are a good starting point for this room. You may also want to go for one or more table lamps and/or floor lights, to add depth and warmth to the room.
If you need a practical light in a specific spot, for reading or sewing, for instance, a floor standing uplighter with a dedicated spotlight can be a great option. It offers mood lighting in the background, while giving you a focused task light.
Dining Room Lighting
Dining rooms have had a recent resurgence in use, and with it we've seen a fresh range of lighting to suit. Many people have gone back to using it as a formal dining space, especially for entertaining. With this in mind we would recommend going big - both in ideas and size! The statement piece can really lend itself perfectly to this space. As you typically have a dining room table in the middle of the space, you can get away with having a lower hanging light, that would be in the way in other situations. Use the light to focus the room. You are looking for the fitting to finish above the eyeline, so you can see across the table without distracting.
This is one of the favourite spots for dimmers too. It's nice to have a bright space when guests arrive, but to dim as the evening meanders on, and the wine flows!
We have seen plenty of oversized table lamps coming to market in recent years. These work well in the living room, but they really come into their own on the dining room. Whether you go for one, or matching ones at either end, they are the perfect accompliment to a dresser.
Bedroom Lighting
Once again, you have plenty of options for lighting in the bedroom, and once again it does depend what practical lighting you need for your room. Of course, bedside lamps are a must, as is a statement piece above the bed, but you also have an opportunity to specify some other lighting, especially if you're at the first fix stage of a new build or are doing major renovations. Wall lights, especially those with spotlights, for reading have become a lot more popular in modern bedroom fittings in recent years.
Spotlights, particularly around dressing table and above bedsides, have also gain in popularity, especially for modern bedroom designs. A word of warning here though, spotlights do offer fantastic lighting, especially with modern LED lamps, but you may want to consider dimmable LED lamps with dimmers, as they can be very bright! Not ideal when you're winding down for the night.
Of course modern lighting, such as spotlights, aren't necessarily going to go well in a traditionally decorated bedroom, or if you are going for a boutique design. If this is your approach, consider mixing and matching with the wallpaper and curtains, to get a combination that gives you the right chic effect.
Home Office Lighting
It goes without saying that home office lighting has seen huge growth in recent years, with the increase in home working, and an ongoing change to people's lifestyles. With people spending so much time in front of the screen, it has been the time for many to upgrade their lighting. You will want to go for practical task lighting as a minimum. Spotlights pointing in the right direction are a huge asset to home working, but you can also go for softer lighting too, perhaps with some traditional table lamps. This works particularly well if you have to share the office space with other people or uses, such as a spare bedroom, or your dining room.
If you are luck enough to have a dedicated office space, desk lamps are the way to go. There are plenty options out there, from traditional banker-style lamps, to modern copper and chrome desk lamps.
Bathroom Lighting
First and foremost bathroom lighting needs to be safe. We have created a handy guide to help you select the right light for the room. We would always recommend using a qualified electrician to fit your lights, but you must use an electrician for any works carried out in the bathroom. Please ensure you buy the correct lighting with the right IP rating, but if in doubt, ask the electrician!
Secondly, don't think that just because it's a bathroom it has to be practical downlights (although they are great too!). In more recent years we have seen some fantastic decorative IP rated lighting coming out. It doesn't work for every bathroom, but where you have a traditional or ornate finish to your room, it can really enhance the look.
Outside Lighting
The same rules apply to outdoor lighting. You must use an electrician for any electrical work outside. Also bear in mind that if you don't have cabling already in place, you will need to have armoured cabling fitted.
Having said that, you won't be disappointed! The right lighting outdoors can not only transform the space, it can also extend the time you spend in the garden. There are lots of practical lights available, such as outdoor pillar lights and wall light, but there are also lots of ambient lights, like up/down lights and table lamps.
Match the Rest of the Decor
If you are starting the project from scratch, try to match up all the hardware in a room together. Sockets, switches and door handles are a great starting point for these. When it comes to more decorative items, matching the curtains and lamp shades (where possible) and contrasting shades with wallpaper is a great way to add impact.
Plan Early and Talk to Your Electrician
The world is your oyster when it comes to lighting! There are so many new and innovative ideas you can implement, but make sure you plan ahead. Especially if you are having any building works done.
Talk to your electrician, make sure your plans are feasible, and that he or she knows what you are doing. Getting these discussions in before the first fix is essential, especially if you don't want an escalating electrician's bill, and a grumpy electrician! Good electricians are happy to accommodate your plans, but they will get frustrated if they have to start threading new cables after the second fix, when new holes will need cutting and cables will need dropping, and the bill will certainly go up a lot more. It take a lot longer to add cable drops in later in the project, than it does at the beginning.
Browse for Inspiration
There are hundreds of lights to choose from, so feel free to browse our site for inspiration. We'd recommend setting up some mood board on Pinterest, or even go old-school and build a mood board on your wall at home.
Whichever way you do it, take your time and enjoy! Please don't forget to get in touch if we can help in any way.
