Congratulations on building a home! This is a super exciting time.
One of the crucial steps in the construction process will be designing your lighting.
The right lighting layout not only makes your home more practical and functional, but it also sets the tone and ambience of your living spaces.
It’s not something you want to get wrong.
To ensure you create the perfect setup it is essential to work with your electrician on a plan as early as possible. That way, you will ensure you create a tailored lighting solution that meets your needs.
Here’s our guide to help you in this process.
The Process For Choosing New Lights
Step 1: Take Professional Advice
The key to getting the lighting setup you need to make your home both beautiful and practical is to start planning early. Involve your electrician in the process as soon as you can to ensure everything can be well coordinated between all the trades involved.
Your electrician will be able to recommend a lighting design that complements your architecture and interior layout. They can also provide expert advice on placement, wiring, and energy efficiency.
Step 2: Understand Your Needs
Every family will use a home differently, so it’s important to consider how you will use each of the rooms and choose a lighting setup that is appropriate for your needs. Rooms like kitchens and offices will need bright, task-oriented lighting and they will need to be placed correctly over your intended work surfaces. Living rooms and bedrooms can have softer more ambient lighting.
Think about the placement of your furniture and what you will do in each area to match a lighting setup to your needs. You don’t want to end up placing your desk in a dark corner of your office!
Step 3: Establish A Budget
Like everything in a build, lights cost money. So, you will want to establish a budget for your lighting. Many build packages will include a certain amount of lighting options, but you may need to spend beyond that to get the setup you desire.
Your budget will dictate the number of lights as well as your fixtures, switches, dimmers and installation. Working to a budget will help you decide on your best options while staying on track financially.
The Planning Stage
Planning is always essential with any project and lighting is no different. Here are some of the major things to consider:
Room Layout: Try to have an idea of your room layout, including your furniture, so you can position your fixtures and switches for maximum convenience and efficiency.
Natural Light: Natural is the best kind of light, so take advantage of natural light sources like windows, skylights and lightwells. You can then design a lighting plan that complements and enhances the daylight that is entering the room.
Wiring: By planning early, you can ensure the wiring and outlets are installed before the walls and ceilings are finished. This will allow for the smooth delivery of services and prevent trades from needing to cut into your new walls!
Future Needs: Now is a great time to consider your future needs. You might need smart lighting, an EV charger or extra lighting now. But, it will be much easier to include extra wiring and cabling for these things during the build phase. Then, when you are ready, installation will be a breeze.
Key Lighting Considerations
There’s actually quite a lot of thought that goes into a lighting plan, well there should be anyway!
These are your key lighting considerations:
- Functionality: It’s all well and good to have pretty lights, but they will soon turn into pretty frustrating lights if they don’t function well for your needs! Pick practical solutions that will help you use the room in the way you want.
- Energy Efficiency: There are plenty of energy efficient lighting options available, so take advantage of the technology to make your home more environmentally friendly. LED lights last longer and reduce your energy costs. But, you don’t have to stop there, you can go even further with smart lights or motion-detected options to ensure lights are only on when needed.
- Aesthetics: No one wants ugly lights in a brand new home! Choose fixtures that align with your intended style - modern, minimalist, classic or ornate are all options to enhance your interior decor.
- Lighting Controls: Lights are no longer simply controlled by a simple switch! Dimmers, smart switches and motion sensors all offer you greater control and flexibility when managing your lighting levels.
Different Lighting Options Available
There are several different options to choose from when putting your lighting plan together:
Ambient Lighting
This is the primary source of light in a room, providing overall illumination. Common options include ceiling-mounted fixtures, recessed lights, and pendant lights.
Task Lighting
Designed for specific activities like reading, cooking, or working, task lighting includes desk lamps, under-cabinet lighting, and focused pendant lights.
Accent Lighting
Used to highlight features such as artwork, architectural details, or plants, accent lighting includes spotlights, wall sconces, and LED strips.
Decorative Lighting
Fixtures like chandeliers, statement pendants, and decorative wall lights add style and character to your home.
Outdoor Lighting
For gardens, patios, and pathways, consider functional options like floodlights and motion-sensor lights alongside decorative features like string lights or LED garden spikes.
Bringing It All Together With Your Electrician
Your electrician plays a vital role in turning your lighting vision into reality, and we aren't just talking about the physical installation aspect!
Here’s the expertise the Retrolec team can bring:
- Customisation: We will work with you to establish your preferences and budget so that we can create a layout that perfectly matches your lifestyle.
- Energy Efficiency: we can recommend energy efficient solutions that will save electricity and reduce the cost of your energy bills.
- Seamless Installation: From the planning phase to installation, we’ll ensure everything runs seamlessly and safely.
- Ongoing Support: Need adjustment, upgrades or maintenance down the line? Our team are just a phone call or a message away!
Choosing the right lighting layout for your new build is a critical step in creating a functional, beautiful, and energy-efficient home. By planning ahead and working closely with our team, we can help you achieve a lighting design that enhances every aspect of your living spaces.
Ready to get started? Contact us today to bring your vision to life!
