Spoilt for choice? Sol Luminaire draws from their recent project and shares four shopping tips for new homeowners.
Downlights, spotlights, track lights—if these terms leave you scratching your head, you’re not alone. While we’ve all heard how lighting can elevate or sabotage our renovation efforts, the terminology can be overwhelming, especially for first- time homeowners.
That’s why we turned to Sol Luminaire’s Senior Marketing Executive, Poh Cheng Kit, to share his nuggets of wisdom with beginners. His first tip? Always shop for lights in person.
“Since these purchases will be used daily at home, we definitely recommend visiting the gallery to experience the lights’ quality, brightness, and design firsthand,” he said, reminding homeowners to keep their floor plan handy so lighting advisors can make personalised recommendations.
To make your visit a fruitful one, let’s start with a crash course on light shopping and the often-overlooked considerations.
1. Know the three types of lighting
While ambient lighting serves as the primary source, ensuring your space is well-lit for visibility and movement, task lighting targets specific areas dedicated to activities, providing focused light to reduce eyestrain. For example, under-cabinet lights over countertops are perfect for food preparation, or for whipping up a quick supper without waking the entire family.
To complete the trio, accent lighting adds the finishing touches. “Accent lighting, like spotlights, adds drama by highlighting certain features, artwork, or other decorative elements. To add depth, aesthetic, and function to each space, we advise layering different types of light,” said Cheng Kit.
2. Tailor lighting to specific areas
Different rooms in your home have unique lighting needs, and understanding these requirements can help you choose the right fixtures and placements. For instance, as living rooms are versatile spaces, hosting everything from cosy movie nights to lively gatherings. Cheng Kit suggests a layered lighting approach.
“For this project, we used cove lights to create a soft ambiance, Gobula downlights to accentuate the display shelves, and pendant lamps to add character to the space.”
Meanwhile, as bedrooms are sanctuaries of rest and relaxation, they often feature wall-mounted reading lights perfect for late-night reading or, let’s be honest, doom scrolling.
But your lifestyle also matters. While kitchens typically feature a combination of ambient and task lighting, they took a unique approach for this homeowner who doesn’t cook frequently. They leaned into ambient lighting, using Gypsum Boba and carpentry lights to illuminate the kitchen and foyer.
3. Consider brightness and colour temperature
Believe it or not, this detail often slips under the radar. But just as you wouldn’t purchase an appliance without checking its specifications, you would be remiss to neglect the brightness and colour temperature of your light bulbs.
Brightness – measured in lumens – should be tailored not only to your personal preferences and the room’s activities, but also its ceiling light and surrounding finishes. Likewise, colour temperature – expressed in Kelvins (K) – affects the atmosphere of a space.
“Maintaining a consistent colour temperature throughout the home ensures a unified aesthetic and prevents eye fatigue,” Cheng Kit explains.
“A 3000K Warm White is ideal for this home as it strikes a balance between cosiness and practicality for everyday tasks. Models like the Gypsum Boba also allow for dimmability to 1800K Sunset Glow, perfect for a calming night in.”
4. Keep it smart and sustainable
Smart lighting systems are all the rage now, and it’s easy to see why. From controlling your lights remotely so you don’t come home to darkness, to mimicking natural light patterns to support your sleep health, the possibilities are endless.
For homebodies, the ability to calibrate perfect lighting modes—from movie nights to poker nights—is a real game-changer.
“These systems allow lighting to be customised for different activities and can be easily scheduled via timers. AEON’s Isa V3 Tunable White, for example, features tunable colour temperatures from 2700K to 5000K, suiting a variety of occasions and interior decor themes,” shares Cheng Kit.
Automation features, like lights turning off automatically when rooms are unoccupied, can also reduce your electricity usage and carbon footprint. To further enhance energy-efficiency, Cheng Kit recommends technologies such as Chip-on-Board (COB) LED luminaires.
“COB LEDs are renowned for their durability and extended lifespan, outlasting traditional incandescent bulbs by years and significantly reducing the frequency of replacements.”
“Selecting luminaires designed with sustainability in mind, like AEON® products, ensures components are recyclable, repairable, or responsibly disposed of during servicing processes, further reducing environmental impact.”
This post was adapted from an article originally published in the July 2024 issue of SquareRooms.
