Living rooms

Living rooms are the space we should feel most comfortable at home, whether that’s binging a TV series at the end of the day, or hosting guests for drinks on a Saturday night.

‘It’s a moodier feel, as most of the time you are watching television and don’t want the glare on the screen,’ explains Mandi Kontos, architectural lighting designer at The Beacon Design Studio.

With that in mind, living room lighting is all about creating ambience through soft and warm styles, achieved with a combination of ceiling pendants and floor lamps. ‘I would look at washing light against the walls to help highlight features like trim or art,’ says Mandi.

Look for pendants and lamps with transparent shades that allow light to easily pass through and illuminate the space in a balanced manner. Think paper, cotton, linen and silk, rather than stone, metal, or glass styles that can provide a harsh ‘spotlight’ effect.

If working with a large living area or high ceiling, this is an opportunity to play with scale and introduce one or multiple statement lights that double as a design feature.

Since this room is the most on-show area of the house, applying attention to detail to smaller elements, such as light switches, can really elevate the space. The MFL Forge range by Beacon Lighting is a premium collection of customisable switches expertly crafted from high-quality stainless steel with painted matte and electroplated brushed finishes. Beacon’s MFL Axis collection offers large-format switches and powerpoints made for modern interiors.

Kitchens

We love a beautiful looking kitchen, but they are first and foremost a practical space, and should be treated as such when it comes to lighting.

Mandi says, ‘The lighting that is the most important in the kitchen is that which is task orientated. Putting lighting over your bench that shines directly down is the best for prepping food, and using undercabinet lighting next to your stove top is also a great option.’

If you have an island bench, hanging a linear style pendant above is a practical choice that also helps visually elongate the space. Incorporating dimmable settings will ensure this area feels atmospheric when hosting guests, or brighter for children who may be doing homework at the counter before dinner.

A common kitchen design mistake is over lighting the space with too many downlights. To avoid this, Mandi suggests, ‘Look at how you will use the space and work back from there.’

Bathrooms

Perhaps the most practical room of all are bathrooms, which require great natural light, as well as good artificial lighting for applying skincare and makeup at any time of day.

To achieve this, ‘Ensuring that there is enough light in front of you as you get ready is a must,’ says Mandi. ‘We recommend putting your lighting either side of your mirror or at the top. This will ensure that you have precise light every time.’

Wall lights and sconces in easy to clean materials such as glass and metal are your best options in this space. Think of two lights one either side of a mirror as the jewellery this space needs to complete the outfit.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms are where we start and end the day, so the lighting in this space needs to promote calm and relaxation above all.

Mandi adds, ‘‘This is a respite from the whole day. Our circadian rhythm needs cues that it’s time for bed, or to wake up, as a reminder to function at our best.’

You want to avoid having direct lighting in your eyes before you go to sleep. That’s why it’s important to group overhead lighting, like downlights, towards the end of the bed. Or, table lamps, wall brackets, or pendants are a perfect way to add a bit of a softer glow, without going over the top.

Discover Beacon Lighting’s range online or at a store near you