Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in Interior Design.
Lighting is one of the key elements of a good interior design. It can control, enhance and completely transform atmospheres. When used correctly, lighting can be a very powerful tool within any space. When used creatively, it is a unique and desirable feature.
Lighting is more than just placement and illumination. It is more than just function and necessity. Think of lighting in your home as a way to incorporate fun and personality into your home.
The good thing is that you can create strong lighting features in your own space even with a small budget. It is about thinking outside the box, using materials in inventive ways and grouping fittings together to create more impact.
The lighting in the image below is custom lighting from our Tootoomoo Whetstone, restaurant design project. To create a strong feature in the rear area of the restaurant, we created different sized basket lights. The lights were then hung in a cluster and staggered in their drop height. This was a simple way to add originality and interest into the space.
Make sure when upcycling items to lights to consult with your engineer about fixtures and compliance with regulations. Think safety as well as creativity!
We love playing with lights and using lighting as an inevitable part of each interior. Another way to add interest is to mix and match different pendant lights, grouping them together but staggering the height.
In the image below, from Hillside Residence, the style of the interior was clean, white and simple. It was more about subtle features and statements, so we kept the lighting all white in colour and added variety through shape and material. As with everything in your home, the space and details should reflect your own personal taste.
Each project is individual and has its unique style and therefore the choice of correct light fitting is a crucial part of the design process.
Another way of playing with lighting is to be experimental and brave with scale. Oversized tends to be more impactful than safe and small. There is nothing worse than walking into a grand, high ceiling space and to see a puny light fitting. I say embrace the space! Play with heights, scale and work to add vertical interest to your home.
In the design below, the DFS Showhouse in the Ideal Homes Exhibition, we created a strong feature over the bath. In this case it was all about scale and impact. We used five matching pendants and staggered them in a line over the bath. The subtlty of the glass kept things simple but the filament in the bulbs added interest and an industrial feel.
Another safety note to point out here is to be careful when selecting bathroom fittings. The photo above is for an exhibition stand. Fittings in working bathrooms need to be IP rated. Please consult with your electrician.
TOP TIPS:
1. Create lighting clusters and feature chandeliers by grouping fittings together.
2. Experiment with scale… there is no such thing as too big!
3. Use unusual materials to create your own fittings.
OUR FAVOURITES:
1. Check out Mullan Lighting. They have an awesome variety of fittings and the service is outstanding; all of the fittings that we used recently at Ideal Homes Show were from there.
2. We are currently lusting after Atelier Areti. Their streamlined shapes and forms are simply stunning!
3. After visiting Maison et Objet. our lighting lust list has more than doubled! Keep an eye on the blog for some features on our favourite new suppliers.