Let there be light!

Lighting is still a mystery to most people despite the multiple choices available to them. Lighting a room can be very simple or hugely sophisticated. Nowadays, anything is possible: up lights, down lights, wall lights, table lamps, pendants, tiny LEDs and concealed lights, all working together to create harmony.

Colour scheming
The first thing to look at is how the room is to be used. The furniture in each room is important, as good lighting is about illuminating what you want to see and concealing what you don't. Your colour scheme will influence your lighting choices: a white space needs far less lighting than a dark space. Similarly, light coloured furniture in a room means fewer lights to be used. Spotlights are also useful to highlight a picture or a curio in your drawing room.

Bathroom essentials
A bathroom is where you need to have good light for practical needs such as applying makeup but you also want soft light for enjoying a relaxing bath. But as the bathroom increasingly becomes a place to relax and recharge, complete with steam shower and spa tub, the lighting requires extra thought. After all, this is the room where you start and end your day. A good bathroom lighting plan is placing ample light where it is needed for showers, shaving, or putting on makeup, while other light sources enhance the overall mood of the room.

Vanity lights
Whether you have a separate dressing room, or you use a space in your bedroom for grooming, vanity lighting gets top consideration because it is hard to illuminate the head and face well enough. The most common mistake people make is putting recessed ceiling fixtures directly over the mirror. These cast shadows on the face, making daily grooming rituals more difficult. Vertical fixtures mounted on either side of the mirror are best for casting an even light across the face.

Feisty fluorescent
Fluorescent lighting can be useful as it creates great fake daylight and comes in a variety of colours. LED lights are energy-efficient but have a kinder, light than fluorescent tube lights. You hardly ever have to change the bulbs and new fixtures are being designed all the time, such as flexible tube lighting that can be concealed in shelving and much smaller wall washers.

Dining table lighting
When it comes to dining table, keep in mind how you’re going to be using the space. Do you use your dining table as an office? Do your kids do their homework there? If so, you need plenty of light for those activities.

Kitchen
The right recipe for lighting your kitchen depends on the size and fixtures in the room. Small kitchens may require only a central ceiling fixture and task lighting tucked under a cabinet. More elaborate kitchens will demand a blend of general, task and accent lighting.

Energy efficiency
If you are concerned about energy efficiency, make sure you talk with a Lighting Specialist for specific savings opportunities. Here are some options to save money.

Use dimmers everywhere. Dimming only 10 per cent doubles your bulb life. If you don’t care for the look of fluorescent, check in with lighting professionals for the latest trends because there are new options for energy efficiency coming out all the time. It doesn’t cost you extra money to consult a lighting specialist. Most lighting shops have experts who are only too happy to help you.

Garden
There is any amount of choice when it comes to garden lights. From strings of lights to light up shrubs and trees, to waterproof lighting, there are different types of decorative garden lighting that come in the form of candlelight, solar light, electricity, battery or kerosene fuel. Electric decorative garden lighting can be in the form of string lights or lanterns that can hang from garden trellises throwing light on plants and garden furniture.

Battery operated garden lighting is usually in the form of small lanterns or garden statues that can be turned on and off as desired. Garden torches are highly sought after for garden parties and outdoor activities and provide a great deal of light in the garden as well as a calming flicker that many people enjoy. The size of decorative garden lighting varies per the size of the garden and the overall look the gardener is seeking. For a dramatic effect, torches, small lanterns and large ceramic statues may line the entire garden or outdoor deck area.

Trellises and gazebos can also be lit up by small, electric string lights to showcase the design of the structure creating an elegant touch for evening outdoor cocktail parties. Paper lanterns hung from branches can cast a light glow throughout a balcony or garden area that is perfect for relaxing on a summer evening.

By:Beyniaz Edulji