Lighting is one of the most important areas to consider when embarking on a new build or refurbishment project.  It’s about more than just being able to see what’s around you, which is of course important, but rather about how it makes your feel.  Lighting has a unique ability to impact our human senses, creating ambience, mood and an emotional reaction and so planning for the end result should be carefully thought about and potential product ranges fully explored.

With the vast array of lighting solutions now available on the market, and with the shift to smart lighting it’s fair to say that conventional lighting is no longer hitting the mark in homes that want to be fully connected and make a statement with their lighting choice.

Recent developments in the LED market have transformed the products available and the component market that supports it is now racing to keep up, meaning there is far more choice that ever available to the home builder.  This, combined with the aesthetic advances of freestanding lights such as lamps or even string lighting means there really is no rule book as to what lighting you should have – simply that there’s something for everyone out there.

The benefit of planning a lighting system as part of a building project is that it can be incorporated into the first and second fix process meaning your choice of system doesn’t have to be compromised by lack of access to sufficient wiring, or the cost to undertake a wholesale re-wire.

There are several considerations to make when thinking about a home lighting system.

The size of each room is the starting point, as this will dictate to an extent what lighting needs to be hard-wired in as well as giving scope for lamps and freestanding lighting.  It will also help you understand the wattage that is ideal for your space so that it’s neither too bright or dull, too warm or too white.

Decoration and availability of natural light are also key considerations too as both will change the ambience your lighting helps to create.  In darker or smaller rooms, the requirement is different to a big, airy, high-ceilinged room with lots of windows.

One concept to follow is the idea of layers of light.  By complimenting house lighting with mood lighting and then building in task lighting for a specific purpose, such as cooking or home office working, you can create a multi-tonal home with shade, atmosphere and a feel-good factor.

General light – this is typically the central lighting in a home, however for older period properties it is sometimes the wall lights.  Wherever it is placed, it is the primary lighting for the room, although the move to smarter lighting and a broader variety of light-bulb typed available means this is increasingly one part of a rooms lighting.

Mood lighting – this is lamps, wall lights and even spotlights that give added interest to areas of a room or to specific installations, such as pictures or a piece of furniture.  You can achieve different effects with glow, flicker and dimming functionality to achieve the look and feel you desire.

Task lighting – this helps you get things done and is often the brightest, most functional lighting in the home.  It applies to things like desk lamps in a home office or spotlights in a kitchen to shine the light where it’s needed the most.

Light is something you can have fun with; shade, reflections, warm and bright light, spotlights and directional light are all readily available to experiment with.  With so much choice and flexibility available, the tricky part is narrowing it down to what you actually want!

With over 20 years’ experience of transforming commercial space, Sigma provide a true end-to-end service; from fixtures and consolidation, to construction, projects and M&E.

www.sigmagrp.co.uk