» Lighten Up
To make the most of your home, sort out your illumination situation
Let some light into your home. Like paint and wallpaper, the right lighting can make rooms feel bigger, brighter and generally nicer to spend time in. Light – its form, colour and direction – is part of your home décor. Enhancing your living space with light is easier than you think, so where should you start? This month Latest Interiors brings you the lowdown on home lighting.
L-R: Design Studio, 58 Western Rd., Hove, www.design-interiors.com - Sprite ceiling light £250, www.johnlewis.com - Design Studio
Light forms
Generally, lighting can be categorised into four types: ambient, accent, task and information, and most homes will need light from all four categories somewhere.
Task lighting allows a specific activity – such as reading, food preparation or tooth-brushing – to be carried out. Task lights include angled lamps and recessed downlights, and generally cast a bright, directional beam. Information light provides direction or help. Stair, hall, outdoors or door lights fall into this category.
Accent light tends to be low-level and focused, and is used to highlight points or features of interest. Backlighting a recessed area to display flowers, or illuminating a favourite picture, are examples of this. In contrast, we use ambient light to see everything. It replaces or supplements natural light, and every part of the home requires some. The most effective way of producing ambient light is usually through a variety of sources: recessed downlights, standing lamps and a pretty pendant used together can create atmosphere and warmth. It’s here that most people slip up: insufficient ambient light can make a large, warm room seem dark and cold. Get it right, and you can double the sense of sunlight streaming through the windows.
Brighten up
When renovating or redecorating, think about lighting at the same time as you think about paint, colour and furniture. Draw up a lighting plan for the different types of light in your home, which will probably incorporate all four types at different points.
Task, accent and information lighting can be discreet and functional: unless you want to make a statement with a classic angle poise lamp, this type of light just needs to do its job. You can get more creative with the ambient light. Use colour and shape to change the feel of a space. Architectural lights are in style at the moment – large, statement pendants that are a feature in themselves. Combine a statement pendant light with subtle, coloured downlights and dimmers.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Beautiful lamps, modern chandeliers, fibre optics and the right ambience turn lighting into an art form, transforming your space at the flick of a switch. Enlightened? You should be…
Lights featured down side - Sphere table lamp, £130 Debenhams - Ice Cube light table £250, John Lewis
