Published: 16/02/2021
Lighting is essential, both for day-to-day living and when the time comes for you to sell your property.So let us enlighten you...
Always follow the rule of three
A simple trick used by interior designers and home stagers is to have a minimum of three light sources per room. The thinking behind this is it allows you to mix things up and create the right mood at the right moment, no matter the time of day or what the weather's doing outside.
However, the real key to pulling this off is to have three different light sources, but three different types as well, which fall into the following categories:
Ambience - These are your bread and butter primary sources of light, be that downlights, pendants, or even chandeliers
Specific - These lights are usually task-oriented (think reading lights, under-cabinet lighting, table lamps, etc.)
Accent - More decorative than functional, this lighting type creates atmosphere and mood in your room. Candles are an excellent example of accent lighting.Concentrate on corners
Corners are dark spots. A single, pendant ceiling light will inevitably leave you with dingy corners that can look neglected and unloved, which is far from the feel you want anywhere in your home.
If you have furniture there, would a table lampwork? Or up-lighters? Each room is different, so there's an element of decision-making to be done here, but it's well worth the effort.
Size matters
There are a couple of things to consider: the room's size and the size of the light. Generally speaking, the bigger the room, the bigger the light you can get away with, but not always.
Sometimes a large lamp can create a focal point in a small room. Be careful not to overwhelm a space that cannot cope with that prodigious pendant!
Get reflective
Simple but effective, it's time to get reflective. Mirror mastery and gloriously glossy glaze help bounce light around your room.
These work exceptionally well with natural light and, if cleverly angled, can help overcome the dark corners without switching on table lamps in the daytime.
However, such items do not create light but help you make the most of what you have. In properties that suffer from a lack of natural light, this slight adjustment can make a massive difference.
Forget one direction
Utilising multiple angles in a room dramatically impacts both its feel and look, so experiment with downlights, uplights, and everything in between.
Add to the underside
One room where downlights can't be beaten is in the kitchen, specifically underneath the wall cabinets. These handy strip lights can make all the difference to your culinary experience, brightening up your worktops and making everything a whole lot easier.
Want the right light? Think about your shades
Some rooms call for warm tones, while others benefit from a cooler, more clinical feel. If you have space on either end of the spectrum, selecting the correct light bulb will do everything you need. But then some rooms are better served by both? Select the right lampshade but remember that white shades keep it cool and deeper shades add warmth.
Don't dismiss dimmers
Adjusting the light given off by our overhead light source switches from ambient to accent, transforming the mood and feeling instantly.
Clean your windows
Nothing comes close to natural light, and cleaning your windows allows you to enjoy as much of this as possible. It does make all the difference.
We hope reading this brightened your day.
Circa London is a London Estate Agents. We'd love to hear from you if you are thinking of moving.
