KEY TO YOUR HOME 2020

KEY TOYOUR HOME / 29 TIPS TO CREATE A FOOL- PROOF LIGHTING PLAN What goes into the ideal lighting plan? Here are some factors to keep in mind when you’re mapping your own lighting feature. 1 3 2 Image Courtesy of Weiken.com Image Courtesy of Fritz Hansen 1 Brightness and Ambience Typically, the first things to consider when it comes to lighting is the colour temperatures and the subsequent mood they create. Warm white (warm, yellow lights) are great as ambient light to illuminate a room, and cool white (bright, white light) is better suited for task lighting such as desk lamps. Don’t be afraid to layer and combine colour temperatures for a more interesting interior design. Similarly, you can also choose to play with the light and shadow effect to bring out the most of your desired ambience. For example, make use of floor lamps or cove lights to leave shadows and dim spots around the room, which thus creates a relaxed and snug atmosphere. 2 Strategic Placement Not only are the type of lights important, the position of your light fixtures also play a key role in sprucing up your home interior. Strategic mapping of your light sources is encouraged, so you do not end up with a spinning ceiling fan hanging over your recessed lights, creating distracting shadows that are also harmful to your eyesight. If light sources are meant to be concealed, ensure that they’re properly hidden. Cove lights under the bed for example, can create a “floating” effect that is pleasing to the eyes. If you use glossy flooring surfaces such as burnished mirrors of high-gloss laminates, the bulbs might be visible and ruin the illusion. 3 Cost Being ambitious with your lighting plan can rack up to quite a sum, during and post-renovation (in terms of electricity bills). As opposed to installing recessed or cove lighting in every room, opt for other niftier methods to brighten up your homes, that do not necessarily require actual light fixtures. For example, use mirrors to reflect light and enhance the space in your room, by placing them near windows where natural light is aplenty, and can subsequently be bounced indoors to brighten up the area. You may also want to layer your light sources to allow them a certain flexibility to be switched on selectively, only when you need to create a certain atmosphere or setting. Think track lights, and floor and table lamps!