Clever Lighting Ideas You May Not Have Thought of Yet
Lighting tips you might find illuminating
Sophie Seeger
1 June 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Director of Seeger By Design; tutor for the Interior Design Institute, abstract artist and designer of rugs and textiles for soft-furnishings.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Director of Seeger By Design; tutor for the Interior... More
Most of us know about mixing general lighting with task and directional for a comfortable and functional home. We are, perhaps, familiar with the flat-mounted ceiling light, the recessed downlight, the drop down pendant, and the reading lamp. However, if you really want your home to shine, there are other options, too – little light bulb moments that will light up your life, and also your home.
Be a bright spark and follow these lighting ideas…
Be a bright spark and follow these lighting ideas…
Hide the source
Concealed lighting gives the illusion of natural daylight; and light in this linear format offers subtle general light or accents an interesting architectural feature.
From a concealed location, a wash of light can deliver an even coverage across a surface.
BONUS TIP: To ensure your accent lighting does the trick, make sure the light source is brighter than the rest of the light in the room.
Concealed lighting gives the illusion of natural daylight; and light in this linear format offers subtle general light or accents an interesting architectural feature.
From a concealed location, a wash of light can deliver an even coverage across a surface.
BONUS TIP: To ensure your accent lighting does the trick, make sure the light source is brighter than the rest of the light in the room.
Light up from the ground up
Concealed lighting under floating vanities casts a soft flood of light across the floor, giving the illusion of increased space – perfect for those tiny rooms.
10 ways to brighten low light bathrooms
Concealed lighting under floating vanities casts a soft flood of light across the floor, giving the illusion of increased space – perfect for those tiny rooms.
10 ways to brighten low light bathrooms
Make them float
Lights placed close to a wall not only eliminate glare but give the illusion of no joins – perfect for the ethereal look while also enlarging the space visually.
On a practical level, for those family members who like to go ‘moonlighting’, these linear lights can be attached to a dimmer as accents or night lights for stair safety; and being along the base of the stairs, other members of the family won’t be kept up at night.
Lights placed close to a wall not only eliminate glare but give the illusion of no joins – perfect for the ethereal look while also enlarging the space visually.
On a practical level, for those family members who like to go ‘moonlighting’, these linear lights can be attached to a dimmer as accents or night lights for stair safety; and being along the base of the stairs, other members of the family won’t be kept up at night.
Light up your stair handrail
This lighting can make an otherwise ordinary element into a feature. Apart from being an interesting alternative to a drop down pendant or wall lights, lighting under your hand rail offers soft overall stair illumination, too.
Get the look with LED strip lighting. If working on a new project, ask your architect or builder about installing a groove in your rail to carry the strip; and talk to your electrician about hard wiring it to the wall.
Alternatively, you could add this to an existing rail where a power socket is in easy reach. Purchase a light strip that has an adhesive backing (I recommend SAL), and the wiring can be painted the same colour as the rail and/or wall.
BONUS TIP: Ask your strip lighting supplier for flat wiring and to show you the range of lighting colours, as they are available from cool to warm.
This lighting can make an otherwise ordinary element into a feature. Apart from being an interesting alternative to a drop down pendant or wall lights, lighting under your hand rail offers soft overall stair illumination, too.
Get the look with LED strip lighting. If working on a new project, ask your architect or builder about installing a groove in your rail to carry the strip; and talk to your electrician about hard wiring it to the wall.
Alternatively, you could add this to an existing rail where a power socket is in easy reach. Purchase a light strip that has an adhesive backing (I recommend SAL), and the wiring can be painted the same colour as the rail and/or wall.
BONUS TIP: Ask your strip lighting supplier for flat wiring and to show you the range of lighting colours, as they are available from cool to warm.
Use metallic wallpaper
Choose a shiny finish for your walls for some reflected light.
Ensure you affix the light fixture close to the wall for that soft pool that introduces ambience and general light.
BONUS TIP: Opt for LEDs as they don’t get as hot as halogens and are thus safer.
Choose a shiny finish for your walls for some reflected light.
Ensure you affix the light fixture close to the wall for that soft pool that introduces ambience and general light.
BONUS TIP: Opt for LEDs as they don’t get as hot as halogens and are thus safer.
Take it outdoors
Gone are the days for the need for floodlights that blind not only your unwanted visitors.
Outdoor lighting is available as a continuous strip of light that acts as general lighting, but also looks sophisticated as accent lighting by highlighting the contrast between the top and base of the feature wall.
Easy lighting fixes for your outdoor area
Gone are the days for the need for floodlights that blind not only your unwanted visitors.
Outdoor lighting is available as a continuous strip of light that acts as general lighting, but also looks sophisticated as accent lighting by highlighting the contrast between the top and base of the feature wall.
Easy lighting fixes for your outdoor area
Mix it with up and down
For a stunning effect, use your drop cord lighting in combination with floor recessed spotlights.
Having your light source above and below will not only create drama, but will make your eye move up and down, adding height to a space.
BONUS TIP: When planning any lighting, think about what you want to achieve and then the direction of the light so that you’re aware of what the light will actually highlight.
For a stunning effect, use your drop cord lighting in combination with floor recessed spotlights.
Having your light source above and below will not only create drama, but will make your eye move up and down, adding height to a space.
BONUS TIP: When planning any lighting, think about what you want to achieve and then the direction of the light so that you’re aware of what the light will actually highlight.
Light up for function and fancy
Linear strip lighting attached to where ceilings and bulkheads join can create the illusion of space – they can make an otherwise awkward join into a feature, infusing the room with a splash of glamour.
Linear strips can also help demarcate a functional zone in an open-plan room, creating a room within a room.
BONUS TIP: In a studio apartment, why not raise your bed onto a platform to zone the space and insert a strip light around the base of the platform for function and drama?
How to get kitchen lighting right
Linear strip lighting attached to where ceilings and bulkheads join can create the illusion of space – they can make an otherwise awkward join into a feature, infusing the room with a splash of glamour.
Linear strips can also help demarcate a functional zone in an open-plan room, creating a room within a room.
BONUS TIP: In a studio apartment, why not raise your bed onto a platform to zone the space and insert a strip light around the base of the platform for function and drama?
How to get kitchen lighting right
Highlight unusual shapes
Use concealed lighting to your advantage – the trick of light is there to be exploited.
For awkward spaces, such as an attic room with a sharp or low pitched roof, use concealed lighting to create the illusion of height; and in conjunction with a light colour palette where the light can be reflected. It will also make a small room feel less poky.
TELL US
How have you used lighting to great effect in your home? We’d love to hear your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
Lighting Got You Confused? Get to Know the Basics
How to Create Powerful Lighting Effects for Your Home
12 Ways Perfect Illumination Can Make a Dining Room Light Up
Use concealed lighting to your advantage – the trick of light is there to be exploited.
For awkward spaces, such as an attic room with a sharp or low pitched roof, use concealed lighting to create the illusion of height; and in conjunction with a light colour palette where the light can be reflected. It will also make a small room feel less poky.
TELL US
How have you used lighting to great effect in your home? We’d love to hear your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
Lighting Got You Confused? Get to Know the Basics
How to Create Powerful Lighting Effects for Your Home
12 Ways Perfect Illumination Can Make a Dining Room Light Up
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Sophie, I love the staircase ideas. The floating stairs look, I am trying to figure out how I can reproduce this in my home as I have a similar looking concealed staircase.
My husband actually supplies the rail industry in the UK with LED hand rails but never thought of using them in the home.
Sophie, thank you for the great idea of lighting the stairs up with strips on the railing, what a wonderful idea.
Sophie, You really made me think outside the square with some of your above lighting ideas. I will pass these ideas onto my brother who's building right now. I also loved the stair rail being lit from underneath...Brilliant!