10 Lighting Design Mistakes: Part 2

Lighting can make a massive impact on your overall project aesthetic. Despite this, lighting is often one of the most overlooked elements during any interior design project. Incorrect lighting can ruin the look and feel of even the most well-designed rooms. You can’t design a home which looks and feels luxurious, without taking lighting into account. When working on projects, there are 10 lighting design mistakes that we often see. Here is Part 2!

#6 Inadequate Lighting In Dark Spaces

Often, the function and size of the room are not taken into consideration when choosing the lighting. Yet, this is still an important consideration. Stairwells, utility rooms, wardrobes and other useful spaces should all have their own lighting. This means that you can both see what you are doing, and improves the aesthetic of the space. Ignoring lighting in these areas can make your home look and feel incomplete.

#7 Using Two Way Vs Dynamic Lighting Switches

A mistake we often see is the use of two-way switches when a dimmer switch would be the better option. Why? Two-way switches only allow you to turn a light on or off. Dimmer switches, however, let you control the level of light intensity in your room. This allows you to adjust the mood and atmosphere instantly.

When given the option, always go for a dimmer switch, especially in shared rooms such as the living room and bedroom.

#8 Not Taking Shadows Into Account

Shadows can throw off the harmony within living spaces and detract from the impact you want your decor to have. Using the wrong kind of lighting can accentuate shadows, making them look worse and exacerbating the problem.

For example, downlighting in spaces like closets can create more shadows, making it harder to find what you need. In this case, LED strip lights are a better option. These create a more uniform look and illuminate the whole space without shadows.

#9 Using The Wrong Size of Light Fixtures

When designing your room, you need to consider the size, placement and use of your lighting. A small light over a grand dining table would look very odd, as would a huge chandelier in a very small hallway. The wrong lighting fixtures can completely ruin the overall look and feel of a design. Therefore, understanding proportions in a room is important to help you avoid using the wrong lighting fixtures.

Another consideration is the use of accent lighting. This can be used as an alternative to strong overhead lighting to highlight the features in your room, preventing feelings of imbalance.

#10 Ignoring Room Aesthetics

Room aesthetics have a huge impact on the kind of lighting you use. Ignoring the overall aesthetic prevents you from getting the high-end finish you want. It can also cause your room to look disorganised and off-key.

Decorative lighting should have a similar colour and finish, even if the designs are completely different. Work with the shapes and the overall design in your room to add interest, texture and bursts of colour. Glass and mirrors can work well in smaller spaces to add depth and dimension. In contrast, natural materials such as wood and marble work better in larger spaces that do not need the reflection and refraction of light.

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At Astra Lumos, we believe that lighting your new home shouldn’t be stressful. We offer an end-to-end bespoke design and installation service.

Our friendly design team can tailor-make the perfect lighting features for you and guide you through the process of designing the lighting for your space and prevent you from making these lighting design mistakes.

To find out more, call us on 01386 904 000 or click here to book a discovery call!