This is super quick guide to the essential 3 things you need to know before choosing any light – for the ceiling lights, wall lights, outdoor lights, bathroom lights or just a table or floor lamp.

Different rooms require different kinds of lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms need to be bright but living rooms reflect your mood and the lighting should be flexible so it can change with the mood you want to create from bright and clear to warm and cosy; it’s the same for dining areas, these can be bright for everyday use but dialled down to set a more intimate atmosphere for entertaining. These effects can be achieved by layering your lighting by using ceiling lights, wall lights and picture lights, table or floor lamps and using technology from simple things like dimmer switches and smart lamps all the way to lighting control systems We are not going to go into creating these types of looks, we are going to stick to the essential things you should consider before you buy any light, even one to fit into and existing scheme.

The 3 Essentials To Perfect Lighting

1. Size Of The Light

Knowing the dimensions of the room or space the light will illuminate will help decide the size of the light you need and how much light (lumens) it provides.

2. How Much Light – Lamp Holders & Lumens

What is it that you want the light to do? – For example;  should it be bright enough to illuminate the whole room? Add light for dark corners or spaces? Be bright enough for working or reading? To create an ambience? To add a feature to your interior design? – this will determine the design and functionality of your light.

Do you want to be able to vary the amount of light?  This can be done by using dimmer controls and switches or by layering your lighting and using a number of different lights.  This will help decide if you want one light or more than one.

3. What Colour Of Light?

There are different shades of white, as paints can be both warmer and colder, effective the feel of the room. Lighting is just the same, there are many different shades of white, in general we talk of Warm white being more yellow and giving a cosier feel, or Cool white being more blue giving a feeling of clarity.

What colour light do you want – bright cool light or a warmer cosier light? This will help determine what type of lamp or LED you may want.

1. Size Of Your Light

Diameter Or Width – Deciding The Right Size Of Your Light

Ceiling Lights

If you are looking for a light to hang in the centre of a room then start with the size of the room.

The most common mistake in choosing a centre light that is too small. There is no substitute for seeing a light fitting before a decision is made but if you are unable to visit a lighting showroom, see our stockists page for a list of local lighting experts. Get out the tape measure and check the dimensions of any light you are looking at against the light you currently have. If you do not have a light in place cut a circle out of old paper to represent the diameter you are looking at and hold it up in the place you are thinking of putting the light. Does it look the right size?

As a very rough guide interior designers use a quick calculation to guide them. Take the length and width of the room or space, add them together and then take 8.3% of that number. This will give you a guide as to the ideal diameter of a light for that room.

Room size 3.5 meters wide + 4 meters long = 7.5m x  .083 = 62cm diameter.  This a rough guide and individual styles vary but it gives a good starting point.