While designing a new house, lots of elements come into play such as furniture, fixtures, textiles but one element that is often neglected but once done right creates a huge difference, that is the lighting. Lighting affects the feel of the house as you walk in. A well-designed home with poor lighting can look plain and lifeless whereas a minimal house can look beautiful with the proper and well thought lighting plan. Creating a suitable lighting plan earlier in the construction process saves cost and helps you consider other factors such as natural light and energy efficiency. This guide will walk you through the steps for creating an appropriate lighting plan for your new house. 

Why Do New Houses Need a Lighting Plan?

Lighting is not just about visibility, correct placement of lighting can enhance the living experience of your house. A smart lighting plan involves providing bright lights in practical places such as workspaces, closets, and libraries, and mood lighting at resting places such as bedrooms, living and sleeping spaces. Consider the following aspects while planning lighting for new house:

• Functionality

• Energy Efficiency

• Aesthetics

• Flexibility for future upgrades
  Natural light integration

Steps for Creating a Lighting Plan

Purpose and Emotion 

Lighting not only provides a source of illumination, it also affects how you feel when you walk in the house. Cold and flat light can create a sense of alertness and anxiety whereas warm and layered lighting promotes calmness. While creating a lighting plan, it is important to consider the purpose and emotion of the room where you are placing the lights. This depends on the daily routine of the members of the house. Identify the purpose of each room, note how each room is being used throughout the day, where focussed tasks take place such as studying, office work and where you relax and read a book. This mapping of the house based on purpose and emotion creates a well-thought lighting plan. 

Layered Lighting

The key to any successful lighting plan is layered lighting. Layering the lighting means to involve multiple types of lighting instead of just using a single type of light throughout the house. The main types of lighting used for layering are:

Ambient Lighting

This type of lighting provides overall illumination and makes a space functional. This is the light you switch on when you walk inside a room and it fills evenly throughout the room without creating shadows and setting a base brightness level. Ambient lighting includes:

• Recessed ceiling lights

• Flush-mount fixtures

• Cove lighting

• Large pendant lights

Task Lighting

Task lighting is the type of lighting directed for specific tasks like reading a book, working in the office, cooking in the kitchen, or applying makeup. This type of lighting is more bright and focussed than ambient lighting and reduces eye strain while performing tasks which require focus. Task lighting includes:

• Under-cabinet kitchen lighting

• Vanity lights in bathrooms

• Desk lamps

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting highlights architectural features and decorative elements in a room. It adds drama and visual appeal in a simple space by shifting the focus on art and textures. Accent lighting includes:

• Wall washers

• Spotlights for artwork

• Stair lighting

• Built-in shelf lighting

Natural Light

Before installing any artificial lights, harness the power of natural light first. Analyze how sunlight flows through your house throughout the day, which rooms get the most sunlight and which rooms are more dim and shadowy. Typically, rooms facing south and west receive more sunlight than those facing north. Rooms which receive less sunlight may need the support of artificial lighting. For such spaces with limited access to sunlight, installing artificial LED skylights can help as they create the appearance of natural daylight thus reducing the feeling of enclosed and dim areas such as basements, hallways, and bathrooms.

Color Temperature

Once you have decided which lights will go where then it's time to decide the correct color temperature as this influences the mood. Maintaining consistent color temperature in a room prevents visual discomfort. Color temperature is measured in Kelvins. 2500K–3000K represents warm white light, creating a cozy and relaxing mood, ideal for bedrooms and living rooms. 3000K–4000K provides focussed cool white light, most suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.

Lighting Plan for Different Rooms

Each room has a different purpose therefore their lighting plan is also different. Let's talk about the lighting plan for the most important rooms in a house. 

Living Room

This is a multi-purpose room in a house, requiring a balance of basic and mood lighting. It is used for relaxing and entertainment. Recessed lights can be installed in the living room to provide general illumination and floor and table lamps are used to create a relaxing ambience. 

Bedroom 

Bedrooms are meant for relaxing and sleeping. Here dimmable lights are installed to allow gradual light adjustments throughout the day. Soft ambient ceiling lighting and bedside lamps or wall scones are usually a good idea for a bedroom lighting plan. 

Bathroom 

Bathrooms require balanced lighting avoiding shadows. Bathrooms are usually enclosed spaces with minimal daylight so here artificial LED skylights are a good option as these lights mimic the daylight and improve visibility. 

Kitchen 

For kitchens, energy-efficient LED lighting solutions are the best choice as kitchens need both functional and ambient lighting. The LED lights offer significant brightness with minimum energy consumption. Under-cabinet lighting for countertops and pendant lights over the island are good options for kitchen lighting plans. 

Final Thoughts

A lighting plan is equally important as planning any other part of the construction of a new house. A well-designed lighting plan enhances the feeling of comfort and lights up the mood. By understanding the purpose of each room, analysing the natural light, and choosing the right color temperature you can create the perfect lighting plan for your house. 

The professionals at LEDOS Lighting Solutions can help you to come up with the best lighting plan for your home. We specialize in providing LED lighting solutions and advanced lighting management. Book  a consultation with us and build a lighting plan with us!

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is layered lighting?

Layered lighting means to combine different types of lighting such as ambient, task, and accent to create a balance.

What is the ideal color temperature for home lighting?

Warm white light (2500K–3000K) is ideal for living rooms and bedrooms while neutral white light (3000K–4000K) is ideal for kitchen and bathrooms. 

Are LED lights used in new houses?

Yes LED lighting solutions are a good choice in new houses as they consume less energy and provide greater illumination.