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In this lighting feature we ask Lightcom’s Jai Turner to give us some practical advice and tips on what lighting features can easily be added to an existing room.
Lighting is one of the best ways to add interest and drama to a room. It can define, highlight, and contribute to the ambience of a space.
As an integral part of architectural design lighting must be taken into account as the first elements of a building project, but what if the villa has already been completed and this is not possible?
In the case of bad lighting design or no design whatsoever cabling restrictions are usually the main issues. The best place to start is to determine the selection of fixed lighting available for the installation. Sometimes concrete ceilings severely limit the selection so depending on the project it may be a good idea to install a smaller drop ceiling, preferably with a cove. This will allow correct positioning of lighting and also conceal unsightly cables.
For open type roofing, clever cabling is usually the only way you can reduce the visibility of cables but thought must also be given to the position of transformers if they are to be used. Once you have determined your up lighting &/or down lighting requirements the next step would be to look at decorative lamps, combining floor, table lamps, pendants or chandeliers into the room to enhance or compliment the interior design.
What are the practical secrets behind the manipulation of light and space? When planning lighting, focus on layering various types of lighting to accommodate the three elements that need illumination: people, architecture, and key objects such as art and collectables. There are no predetermined rules but it helps to separate lighting into its different elements, each of which can be used individually or in combination. Once you have a sense of which tool is best for which purpose, you can then be as creative as you wish in putting them together. Each lighting type gives its own character to a space. Some rooms may only need one or two lighting types, while complex spaces may require more. The objective when lighting any room; however, is to build up your lighting design progressively so as to create a harmonious balance. There are six core lighting tools to consider;
Down lighters are generally recessed into a ceiling, although they can be wall or ceiling mounted. As the name suggests, they direct light downwards. Why not take down that tired ceiling fixture and replace it with down lights or track lighting that can be directed at walls, artwork, or straight down. This is a great solution for dark hallways. Stairs and corners, and will add drama to any room.
Tip - Under cabinet down lighters: Used mainly in kitchens, home offices, and work areas, under cabinet lighting brings light directly to a work surface. An electrician can install several fixtures that work off one main switch. Or, just install one or two and use the fixture’s built-in switch. These are useful for any task needing to be well lit.
Up lighters wash the ceiling with light, which is then reflected back into the room as diffuse, even lighting. Usually mounted above eye level to avoid glare, these are a favourite with interior designers and are very inexpensive fixtures with only a simple plug-in required
Tip - Set them on the floor behind a plant, on top of a large dresser, or behind furniture to throw a pool of light across a wall. (Use these with caution, if you have small children or pets.)
Wall washers can be recessed or surface mounted and are designed to cast light evenly across and down a wall.
Decorative lamps can be used to echo the style of an interior whilst taking advantage of the effects that modern lighting has to offer. Examples are; table lamps and chandeliers.
Tip - An easy and inexpensive way to update any room is to replace lampshades if they are looking a bit tired. You can try coloured shades to compliment your existing décor.
Lighting experts are always talking about Colour Temperature, what is it?
Artificial light comes in subtly contrasting shades. The crisp white light of a low voltage halogen is different to the glow of the standard tungsten bulb, used in everyday lamps. The cool white of a halogen lamp is more compatible with daylight, whereas Fluorescent light emits various shades of white ranging from a very cool, almost daylight tone, which can be quite harsh, to a warm, pink glow.
The Four types of bulbs and when to use them:
Incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, and full-spectrum - Rooms with little sunlight can benefit from halogen lights. It is the most like direct sunlight—cooler and clearer than incandescent and warmer than fluorescent. Cool-toned lights look best when illumination is highest. Warm-toned lights look best at low levels of illumination. Halogen is an excellent choice for brightly lit interiors. Incandescent lights or even candlelight will complement low-lit rooms best. Consider full-spectrum if the level of daylight is low. Full-spectrum lighting renders colour more accurately than any other light.
Lighting Control. This is the final tool, with your lighting system divided onto different circuits, each element can be individually controlled and the entire symphony balanced to achieve your desired effect. You may have preset controls in every room, programmed to suit different occasions. Or you may simply have a single dimmer switch for a change of mood. Browse lighting stores for “convenience switches” including motion activated and light-sensing models. These turn lights on automatically in problem areas like stairways and garages, or in any space where you might enter with your hands full such as a laundry room or nursery. When used to its best effect, light is never noticed, generating maximum impact with minimum intrusion.
How can one mix the different elements, and kinds of lights to create certain effects?
Fibre optics fitted with colour wheels, or recessed colour-changing LED’s, can literally change the colour of your walls at the touch of a button. For fun these light sources can be run as a sequence to create a kaleidoscope of continually changing colours.
Patterns with light, Pattern is not only introduced through fabric and wallpaper, light, too, creates an array of patterns through the interplay of light and shadow, from fragmented, kinetic and frosted patterns to round arcs, directional lines and projected abstract shapes
Where and how to position lights? Ambient: Soft general illumination to humanise a room Ambient lighting provides overall illumination enabling one to see and walk about safely. It fills a room with a gentle, pleasing overall glow that humanises the space. To create good fill light, modern lighting design bounces illumination off walls and ceilings so the lighting is sensed only after being reflected. Also known as general lighting, It can be accomplished with ceiling fixtures or wall mounted fixtures, recessed or track lights.
Decorative: Luminaries that generate sparkle The job of decorative luminaries, such as chandeliers, table lamps and wall lamps, is to add shimmering texture and give the illusion of providing the room’s ambient illumination. However, this type of lighting must be supported by a well-designed layer of supplementary lighting since decorative luminaries cannot be the source of overall illumination without overpowering the space.
Task: Fixtures geared for work
Task lighting is the tightly focused, clear, intense light required to perform specific tasks such as cooking, hobbies, and games or browsing through the latest issue of HOT! Task lighting should be free of distracting glare and shadows and should be bright enough to prevent straining your eyesight.
Accent: Lighting that highlights
Accent lighting carefully uses focused beams to illuminate an object, artwork or architectural detail and textures. Artistic effect is the main goal. Accent lighting requires at least three times more light on the focal point as the general lighting and can be provided by recessed adjustable luminaries, wall mounted fixtures, track lighting or portable luminaries.
Tip - Picture Lights - Beautiful artwork lacks lustre if left in the dark and deserve to be specially lit. There are a variety of picture lighting options available to compliment most interior schemes.
What are some useful tips taken from your everyday experience?
Yet all too often, people add lighting as an afterthought – ‘Oh yes, let’s also do some lighting’ – after the architecture has been finalised and the construction has commenced. This is a huge mistake. Along with all the other design components, lighting must be considered at the commencement of the design process. Anyone taking on an interior project needs to study at least the basics of lighting design so they can contribute to vital decisions about lighting. Unfortunately, too many architects, interior designers and contractors have had insufficient training in this area of expertise. The best useful tip I can offer is to always use a lighting consultant from the earliest possible stage of design.
In gardens it is worth giving thought to how you will use your outdoor room and how different areas will relate to different functions. The aims and objectives when planning garden lighting are the same as for an interior, but the way you achieve them will vary. The same tools are available which can be layered to create exciting yet harmonious effects. Above all else, the ‘football stadium’ approach, with its glaring floodlights, is to be avoided. A garden is much more magical when small pools of light appear within the darkness, it’s mystery created by lit and unlit areas.
How can one create accent and dynamic relationships between different areas?
By utilising the lighting control system, dramatic scenes can be created. For example a statue at the end of a hall can be accented with a single narrow beam lamp.
What are some basic techniques? For living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms.
Living rooms – lighting in this area should be as flexible as the rest of the homes components. Lighting for entertaining in the living room is important, but your main concern should be adequate illumination for day-to-day activities. Lighting here can also be more adventurous and creative using a range of decorative, accent, task and ambient luminaries.
Kitchens – lighting in the kitchen should be as inviting as the rest of the house. Kitchens, too, must have controllable lighting levels, so that guests look good and feel comfortable. The colour temperatures of the lamps should match, or at least be similar to the rest of the house. Good task lighting above preparation work tops are also key.
Bedrooms – People are the main event in the bedroom. Help erase dark circles and soften age lines by providing adequate ambient light, which can be dimmable and consider task lighting for reading.
Bathrooms – well designed lighting is of the utmost importance in the bathroom especially at the vanity. The most ideal task lighting at the vanity position would be two fixtures on either side of the vanity at eye level along with adequate overhead ambient lighting. Remember no single luminary can perform all the functions of illumination at once. A layering of various light sources is essential. – HOT!
Lightcom provide lighting consultancy, custom design and manufacturing services along with a whole range of exciting lighting products in their retail store in Kuta. Lightcom work closely with Interior/Landscape Designers, Property Developers and directly with owners to realise their visions and can work with you in any capacity be it design only, supply only, supply & install, design/supply and installation, refit and/or maintenance of your existing systems. For more info email:
By Jai Turner
