If we manage to understand the concept that light sets our mood, governs what we see and silently holds the visual pulse of the world around us, then its importance in the home would not be a point for discussion but a reality that needs to be carefully planned.
Lighting needs to be planned from the very initial stages, when your home is still in shell form or at the very basic concept phase, not because of complexity but to maximise its integrity in any living space.
With so many available lighting tools and techniques, ideas can become reality, even at the design stage. Virtual cutting-edge walkthroughs usually bring the mathematical aspect of light a little bit closer to the client and can potentially portray what residential lighting, designs and schemes would look like once a place is set up and furnished.
Light is one of the most important elements in design, an integrity of calculations and aesthetics. It can turn the most ordinary of spaces into the most extraordinary ones, full of drama and contrast. With a few added ingredients, such as controlled dimming, light can create highlights and can also play with colour and shadows, allowing for more flexibility.
Yet beauty comes at a price, and good lighting design needs ample planning at an early stage. Having its own list of priorities, lighting needs to be planned independently from other house issues. It is not just a question of having a simple spotlight neatly illuminating or highlighting a painting. Works need to be carried out before any plastering is done, and it is useless creating different throws and light angles, wiring them up on one circuit, if you're eventually going to end up with a flat atmosphere. So control and flexibility are a must.
In open plan areas intended for relaxation and entertainment, feature lighting is a crucial ingredient. In this kind of environment, decorative objects are usually a source of contemplation, making purposely designed light sources invaluable. A beautiful sculpture will look magical if illuminated with a narrow beam downlighter. Plants and flowers are perfect subjects for focus, because light brings out the beauty of texture and colour.
An architectural element can be thrown into relief if highlighted by a recessed uplighter, showing off a room's best features. A single downlighter over a dining table will draw guests like moths to a flame. Accent lighting adds sparkle to glass and tableware, while a level of general lighting will provide infill.
Transitional spaces need to be designed with equal importance; the tendency is to ignore corridors and staircases. The emphasis is more on architecture, even if at first glance it might look flat and plain, but highlighting steps and the inside of arches, adding different light levels, will make these places interesting, creating depth and shadows out of practically nothing.
Bathrooms too are often forgotten. These can be transformed with feature lighting, from a bright functional morning space to a relaxing evening oasis. Using tight spot tungsten halogen fittings, a focal point on a collection of pebbles or perfume bottles, would definitely add a lot of interest. Feature lighting excels when used to highlight treasured possessions.
No corner is to be ignored; each space needs to look its best.
Bedrooms, too, are a world of opportunities. The mixture between general lighting, task and feature lighting needs to be planned meticulously. There are quite a number of items to consider in a bedroom, especially if it incorporates a bathroom and study.
You must keep in mind that there is a need for substantial and efficient lighting if you're working at your desk or if you want a star-studded ceiling with a shimmer of sparkles above your head to make you feel as though you're sleeping under the stars. Subdued lighting is also essential not to wake up your better half if you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
How often are outdoor spaces forgotten? We should look at these spaces as an extension of our living room and as areas that can be enjoyed all year round.
If a wall on a terrace or verandah is uplit from recessed floor lighting, even during the winter months while entertaining indoors, this will provide added depth. All is possible. The most important element is planning and, most of all, knowing exactly what the lamp inside a particular light fixture can do for your living space.