In short
Good residential lighting is planned in layers: ambient light for the room, task light where work is done, and accent light for character, with a consistent warm colour temperature, controlled glare and simple controls. It is decided on the ceiling plan, before the ceiling is built.
Key points
- Plan three layers: ambient, task and accent; each has a different job.
- Keep colour temperature consistent within a space; warm white suits most living areas.
- Avoid glare: no bare lamps in the line of sight, and indirect light for coves and ceilings.
- Put every light on the ceiling plan and agree circuits and dimming before construction.
Lighting decides how a home feels after sunset, and it is one of the few things that cannot be fixed easily once the ceiling is closed. It is planned best in layers.
Three layers
Ambient light fills the room evenly so you can move through it comfortably. Coves, indirect light and evenly spaced downlights do this job.
Task light is where work is done: the kitchen counter, the vanity mirror, the reading chair, the inside of a wardrobe. It needs to be brighter and well placed, without shadows from your own body.
Accent light gives a room character: a lit wall finish, artwork, a niche, a decorative pendant over a dining table.
A room with only one layer usually feels either flat or gloomy. Combining them, with the ability to switch them separately, lets one room work for different moments.
Colour and glare
Keep the colour temperature consistent within a space; mixing cool and warm whites in one view looks accidental. Warm white suits most living areas; slightly cooler light can suit kitchens and work areas.
Glare is the most common lighting fault. Bare lamps in the line of sight, downlights directly above a sofa or a bed, and reflections on glossy finishes are all designed out on the drawings.
Controls
Separate circuits for each layer, dimming where mood matters, and switches where you expect them. Smart controls can help, but the basic layout must make sense without them.
Decide it on the ceiling plan
Every light, its type and its circuit belongs on the ceiling plan, coordinated with air-conditioning grilles, sprinklers where required, and the joinery. Once the ceiling is built, changing a light position means opening it again. In our interior projects, lighting is drawn together with the ceilings and joinery so that the room you approve in the visualisation is the room that is built.
Questions
How many downlights does a room need?
There is no fixed number; it depends on the room's size, height, finishes and use. A lighting layout on the ceiling plan answers it for each room.
Is concealed cove lighting enough on its own?
Rarely. Cove light is soft and indirect; most rooms also need task light for reading, cooking and dressing.