You’re probably interested in lighting design if you’re reading this. However, you may never have used a lighting designer / lighting consultant or know the way a lighting designer works. Read on to find out what you need to know…to make the most of this essential service on your home renovation project.

Involve your lighting designer early

The single biggest mistake people make when planning lighting is leaving it too late in the process. Don’t wait till you’re on top of first fix to think about lighting.  Plan early and you won’t have closed off any interesting options as a result of leaving things too late.

Do they listen and are they open to your ideas?

A good lighting designer needs to be able to visualize the space you want to create and interpret ideas and technology that may be difficult to articulate.  Good communication and empathy is a must – with you and the on-site team.

Consider the practical aspects and interior layout

Plan for how you’re going to use the space and what you need the light for. A lighting designer should be able to give you ideas for shadow-free task lighting on your work surfaces, good ambient lighting, and interesting accent lighting to pick out focal points and architectural features.

It’s OK to be absolutely clear on budget

Lighting can make or break a room, so hiring an expert can be a good investment.  Be clear with your lighting designer on how much you have to spend. A good designer will be able to work at different budget levels, find good value and tell you if what you’d like to achieve is realistic or not. 

Up-to-date product knowledge

Fittings, bulbs, systems, cabling and controls are varied and complex and expert knowledge is needed to avoid any nasty surprises (e.g. LED needs a different approach in design and controls to halogen).   Ask your lighting designer to show you lumières and controls and ask that they test the light sources you’ve selected to make sure you’re happy with the quality of light.

Your lighting design should be a practical pack with drawings, measurements, diagrams, images of your selected lights/fittings and a room-by-room breakdown of costs. Your electrician should feel confident they have all the necessary information to turn this plan into a reality. 

For advice and information about the benefits, and options available, to improve your lighting, contact us or book your free call.