Lighting is essential for any room in the home. Great lighting not only adds to the look and feel of your room, but must also act as a functioning light source. To help you find the best lighting solutions for your needs, we have broken down each room in the home in this easy to use informative lighting guide.
Bathroom Lighting
Bedroom Lighting
Office and Study Lighting
Children's Lighting
Kitchen Lighting
Dining Room Lighting
Living Room Lighting
The most important area of any bathroom is the mirror, so it is equally important to provide adequate lighting for all the different tasks you do in front of the mirror be it putting on make-up or shaving.
To achieve this it is recommended to place wall lights on both sides of the mirror as this reduces the shadows on the face or alternately use a halogen strip light above the mirror.
It is recommended to use halogen lighting whenever possible in the bathroom, as halogen lighting provides the most accurate light source available making sure that your skin tone and makeup colours are truly represented in the mirror.
Alternately the new generation of bathroom mirrors have light bulbs built into the mirrors themselves. This is a very effective way of generating an evenly balanced light ideal for highlighting close up areas of the face.
For general illumination for the rest of the bathroom it is considered best to use halogen down lights for their refreshing lighting, or a high output flush ceiling light that would suite the décor of your bathroom, alternately as portable lighting is not permitted in the bathroom a mounted directional spotlight can add atmosphere or interest to a specific feature.
As with any lighting equipment near a wet environment it is paramount to abide by the safety regulations. The following guide is to help you understand where what lighting fittings can be placed where. This is not an installation guide and reference should be made to the IEE Wirings Regulations (16th Edition) or a qualified electrician.
Most bathroom lighting and outdoor lighting is IP rated. IP ratings are used where water is present near a light source. IP stands for Ingress Protection and consist of two digits, the fist value is between 0-6, the second 0-8.
The first digit represents protection against particles or foreign objects, the second
digit represents protection against ingress of liquids and moisture.
Here is a table listing all the possible combinations of IP ratings along with a short description.
These two numbers refer to the level of protection and it is important that you choose fittings with the correct rating according to where they are to be sited within the bathroom.
The diagrams below show a bathroom split into four clear zones: 0, 1, 2 and 3.
- Zone 0 – is inside the bath or shower itself. Any fitting used in this zone must be low voltage, (max 12v) and be rated at least IP67 which is total immersion proof.
- Zone 1 – is the area above the bath to a height of 2.25m from the floor. In this zone a minimum rating of IP44 is required. If the fitting is 240v a 20ma residual current device (RCD) must also be used to protect the circuit in this zone.
- Zone 2 – is the area stretching 0.6m outside the perimeter of the bath and to a height of 2.25m from the floor. In this zone an IP rating of at least IP44 is required.
In addition it is good practice to consider the area around a wash basin, within a 60cm radio of any tap to be considered as zone 2.
- Zone 3 – is anywhere outside zones 0, 1 and 2 (subject to specific limits) and where no water jet is likely to be used. No IP rating is required.
Full details can be found in the latest copy of the IEE wiring regulations
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Lighting for the bedroom is often overlooked, but considering the number of functions required of this room it is important to have a good mix of task lighting and background lighting.
For rising in the morning and getting dressed you will need general illumination from a ceiling light, or if your partner has to rise at a different time, a well placed down light or floor lamp will help in creating a pool of light that won’t disturb them.
Many people also like to read in bed, and with a double room it is important to have bedside table lamps that are individually switched and adjustable as not to disturb your sleeping partner. These bedside lights add pools of light that will add to the cosy effect of the room. Dressing tables used for make-up will need more specific lighting and the use of two slender table lamps either side of a mirror gives a good working light without glare.
Your study or office will need a general light source from either a ceiling light, wall light or floor lamp to illuminate the room. For your work desk choose a table or desk lamp that is adjustable for height and will stretch over your work area to avoid working in shadows. If you are using a computer it is easier on the eye if the area behind the screen is illuminated. It is also important to make sure the other lights in the room do not reflect on the screen.
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Making a focal point of your child’s room especially for younger children is important and can be achieved by using novelty pendant lampshades or with lighting itself. Here at litecraft we offer a great range of children’s lighting.
Alternately for older children add a lava lamp to there room to add a funky lighting source.
One of the most used rooms in the house it is important to have a good mix of task lighting and background lighting as good illumination in the kitchen can stop accidents. Fluorescent tubes under wall mounted units or well placed down lights can cast an efficient light over work surfaces to ensure you have an adequate light source to prepare food in.
A central light is also important in a kitchen to provide a general level of illumination the use of halogen spot lights mounted on the wall will help to add accent lighting alternately you could use a fan light that creates a breeze chill effect keeping you cool in summer and circulates warm air in winter.
If you have glass fronted display cabinets in your kitchen the use of small halogen lights specially designed for the purpose will add interest or well place LED lights will provide a great lighting effect.
The main lighting source in this room should be place over the dining table to create a fantastic focal point. To achieve this use a pendant light or a chandelier to create the perfect ambience and talking point for when entertaining guests.
Don’t hang a pendant so low that your diners have to peer round it; about 60cm above the table is about right. Adding a dimmer switch can also add effect to creating the perfect ambience.
To create a relaxing and interesting lighting effect it is advised to avoid using a single central lighting source instead aim to use plenty of light sources to create pools of light.
A great way to light your living room is to use two or three different table lamps around the room this will give the room a more spacious feeling as the light radiates inwards. These small pools of light also create interest.
To illuminate bookcases, pictures of objects of interest use
picture lights, or LED lighting.
When you need to raise the level of lighting in the living room well placed wall lights or a ceiling light are essential for illuminating your room. Add a dimmer switch to create the perfect ambiance.
Floor lamps are an excellent alternative, and can be very effective in lighting an area where wall lights, ceiling lights and table lamps can not be placed; these floor lamps give a bright wash of light to the ceiling and illuminate the room.
