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HOME STYLE
How To Up Your
Lighting Game
Lighting is an integral part of interior design and the key to making a room feel homely and cosy. Read on for how with a few clever lighting choices, you can get a year-round feel good factor in your home,
Lighting is an integral part of interior design and the key to making a room feel homely and cosy.
Read on for how with a few clever lighting ideas, you can get a year-round feel good factor in your home,
The 3 Types of Layered Lighting
Lighting can add depth, highlight and draw the eye but what are the 3 types of lighting, a question Abi is often asked.
In the biz, there are three types of lighting: ambient, task and accent. You need to mix a range of these types of lighting to stop your space from feeling flat and gloomy.
Use ambient lighting to create soft lighting that illuminates large spaces. Task is great to brighten a space and is focused in one position. Use accent to create little glowing pockets of light for atmospheric, cosy, intimate spaces
1. Ambient Lighting
These are your overhead lights, recessed, pendant or chandeliers. Don't make them the only lights in the room and ideally you need to have them on dimmers, so you can change the vibe of a room by lowering the light levels. This will prevent your house feeling all lit up like an airport lounge!
2. Task Lighting
These are the practical lights you need in the room, so desk lamps, reading lights, under cabinet lighting for preparing food in the kitchen, mirror lights in the bathroom, motion sensor lights in cupboards and drawers etc. Task lights are practical and functional, but they also make a room feel more beautiful and harmonious because you get little pools of light dotted around the room.
3. Accent Lighting
These are the lamps that you can load up on everywhere in the room, and Abi's favourite design trick. Plop lamps everywhere and anywhere, on side tables, consoles, on central islands and on the floor. These little glowing pockets of light create atmospheric, cosy, intimate spaces. As you enter a beautifully lit room you immediately get that feeling of squishy contentment. Use them to highlight architectural features, add a soft to glow alcoves or along stairtreads. Hidden backlights tucked behind headboards and above kitchen cabinets give an unexpected extra layer of glow. Or the lighting can be a feature in it’s own right, like a stylish floor lamp or a cool neon wall sign.
These are the lamps that you can load up on everywhere in the room, and Abi's favourite design trick. Plop lamps everywhere and anywhere, on side tables, consoles, on central islands and on the floor. These little glowing pockets of light create atmospheric, cosy, intimate spaces.
As you enter a beautifully lit room you immediately get that feeling of squishy contentment. Use them to highlight architectural features, add a soft to glow alcoves or along stairtreads. Hidden backlights tucked behind headboards and above kitchen cabinets give an unexpected extra layer of glow. Or the lighting can be a feature in it’s own right, like a stylish floor lamp or a cool neon wall sign.
Discover Pendant Lights and Chandeliers
Discover Pendant Lights and Chandeliers
Drongo Pendant
Todi Chandelier
Ballroom Chandelier
Mera Pendant
Take your lighting to the next level with our covetable collection of pendants and chandeliers.
Discover Lamps
Porter Table Lamp
Add curves to your space with this dome-shaped lamp. Golden and elegant, the light will glow so beautifully in any room you choose to put it, brightening even the darkest of corners.
Rylan Floor Lamp
Tall, dramatic and dynamic, this grey linen lamp will not only give your space a sophisticated edge but with a bulb in the base and shade, it will also have a beautiful warm diffused glow too.
Maeve LED Lamp
The Maeve cordless lamp will light up your home anywhere you decide to place it. Amber coloured glass, reminiscent of a beautiful shell,
Oakley Table Lamp
With its textured surface, sophisticated silhouette and luxe linen shade what’s not to love about the Oakley Table Lamp.
Hue Lamp - Large
Smoky glass base and large natural jute shade will look so perfect gracing your tables, countertops, bedsides and mantles.
Otis Table Lamp
With a sleek dome-shaped shade and sculpted base, and super chic black marble pattern, Otis is a truly transformative piece of lighting.
Create cosy pockets of glow.
Abigail’s Top 6 Home Lighting Tips
One.
Use lighting as a spotlight
on what you love
Chandeliers and pendants should never be the only light source in a room, you’ll need oodles of lamps and sidelights to help them out. Enliven cosy corners or showcase your favourite piece of art and decorative sculpture. Create intriguing shadows and you'll be amazed how the right lighting design can transform the feel of any room.
Two.
Pair with mirrors
Use mirrors to make a space feel larger by reflecting surfaces and light and maximising your natural light. The bigger the better! Remember you can also play with scale so don't always go for a small or tall mirror, go big and bold to mix things up!
Three.
Opt for low wattage
With so many light sources in a room it’s super important to have bulbs that are relatively low in wattage as they create a far more beautiful atmosphere. And I know I’m telling you to go overboard with the lighting but please please don’t eradicate all shadows completely. It’s the contrast between the light and shadow that makes all the magic happen.
Four.
Use dimmer switches
to mix up the ambience
Dimmer switches are an absolute must.
They allow you to choose the amount of light you want in a room. Whether you wan't use a soft light for an intimate dinner party with friends or crank up the light to when you need to make everything brighter.
Five.
Limit recessed down lights
If you’re wondering why your room doesn’t feel right, a common mistake is too many recessed down lights (One of Abi's pet peeves). They tend to be a little harsh and soulless which is why they rank a big fat zero Abi's design-ometer. One solution is to ensure you have a dimmer switch installed (see point 4).
Six.
Aim for 8 light sources
per room(at least)
One of Abi's absolute golden rules is to have at least 8 light sources per room. Sounds a lot I know! Look around your room, count up the lights and lamps and award yourself half a point for each one. Lighting is an integral part to making a room feel homely and cosy so don't hold back.
More lighting inspiration
Home for the Holidays
Tune into your Christmas senses and embrace the cocooning comfort of home, family, friends, sharing and connection.
Inspiration Board - Lustworthy Lighting
Why not take a peek at our Pinterest boards for all the inspiration you need to create a magical home that you'll never wan't to leave. Discover our curated collection of trend-defying homeware and delve into luxurious lifestyle inspiration.
Inspiration Board
Lustworthy Lighting
Why not take a peek at our Pinterest boards for all the inspiration you need to create a magical home that you'll never wan't to leave. Discover our curated collection of trend-defying homeware and delve into luxurious lifestyle inspiration.