Update your Lighting

Interiors By Katherine Sorrell Update your Lighting 2 1

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During winter we rely on artificial lighting, so now’s the time to assess what works in your home and plan improvements.

Plan lighting as early as possible

A good time to upgrade lighting is when redecorating, especially if replastering. Consider adding wall lights above the living room seating in the living room for greater flexibility or mounted either side of a bed to free up bedside table space. Other options are a row of lights over the dining table, a picture light above a painting or photograph, or spotlights above your home-office desk.

Light in layers

‘Layer’ lighting from several different sources and directions for both practicality and aesthetics. Professionals think of four types of lighting: general, task, accent and atmosphere, and you can mix several types in each room using a combination of ceiling lights and pendants, wall washers, floor or table lamps, and special shelf or picture lights. It is easy to introduce flexibility using floor and table lamps for better illumination at mid and higher levels around the room.

Get the best bulbs

Choose modern LED energy-saving bulbs – although expensive initially, they are cheap to run and should last for years. For a warm, welcoming light, look for bulbs marked around 2,700K. For brightness, consider lumens (lm) rather than wattage – use around 470lm as the equivalent to a 40w bulb, or around 800lm for a 60w bulb. Note that dimmer switches make all lighting schemes more versatile but it can be trickier to dim LEDs, so consult your electrician if you’re unsure.

The latest in lighting

Lighting technology is moving fast. LED lighting allows for very small, slim fittings in places that were not previously possible. Strip lights can be placed around the home to create interesting effects, while the energy efficiency of LED means that cordless, battery-powered lights can be placed almost anywhere. Meanwhile, ‘smart’ lights that wake you up, turn on as you walk into a room or change colour in time to your music are pretty standard now, and can be controlled via an app, a remote control or even voice commands. Futuristic innovations include lighting that supports bio-rhythms via adjustable light levels and light panels that look like skylights to bring ‘daylight’ into windowless areas. All electrical work in the home in the UK must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, so for anything other than the most minor works use an electrician who is registered as a ‘competent person’. Lights fitted in bathrooms and outdoors must be specially rated, usually to at least IP44, but check with your supplier and/or electrician before installing.

1 Lucca uplights by John Cullen Lighting frame the kitchen doorway; within the panelling is a small Polespring downlight. 020 7371 9000; johncullenlighting.com 2 Recessed linear bar lights, £249.99 each, Decked Deco: 07582 800 002; deckeddeco.com 3 ONE cordless LED table lamp in gold, £129, Lime Lace: 01423 900 522; limelace.co.uk