Where To Begin With Architectural Lighting Design?

The beginning of any residential makeover, interior design project, or new-build development holds a lot of excitement and creative aspirations. From selecting colour schemes, patterns and finishes, through to furniture, decorations and artwork, your space can be designed and fitted just the way you want it.

However, creating an ambitious and unified design idea can become overwhelming quite quickly. You might bring an architecture on board to help shape your new home, an interior designer to bring your vision to life, and even electrical engineers, plumbers, and carpenters to ensure you have the functionality and finishing touches your project needs. But have you thought about architectural lighting design?

Good architectural lighting design can really enhance your home. In fact, it can turn your home into an experience every time you enter it.

The point is, architectural lighting design should be considered from the very start of your project. Not as an afterthought. It allows for a smooth and collaborative process that brings an extra dimension to your home.

So, if you’re looking for architectural lighting design and wondering where to begin, you’ve come to the right place.

As architectural lighting design specialist with over 20 years’ experience, our team at Hampshire Light have the creative and technical excellence to transform your home. Here’s a collection of architectural lighting design ideas that could be discussed for your next project.

Staircase lighting design

Staircases are the central hub of most homes. They provide an extremely important function whilst contributing to the aesthetics of a space too. In fact, staircases are typically one of the first integral parts to be laid out during a new construction, and often dictate the layout of an entire property.

Given their importance, you should look to enhance your staircase with decorative and functional features – and architectural lighting design does this particularly well.

Not only can lighting improve the aesthetics of your staircase (and surrounding area), but serves a real purpose in the light of safety.

When it comes to enhancing your staircase, there are three main ways to incorporate light, which include:

• Wall lighting
• Step lighting
• Handrail/bannister lighting

Often, one type of staircase lighting is enough to provide the aesthetics and safety you’re looking for, especially when combined with overhead lighting. But depending on personal preferences and what you’re trying to achieve, you may want to opt for a combination.

Take a look at this wonderful staircase lighting example, utilising both wall and step lighting design to create an eye-catching statement piece in the centre of the room.

Kitchen lighting design

Aside from the obvious (cooking) many of us now eat, socialise, and even relax in our kitchen – it’s one of the most important rooms in a home.

Because of the time we spend in our kitchens, it’s extremely important to incorporate lighting design that not only improves its looks, but helps complete every-day tasks effectively such as preparing food, eating, and cleaning.

Architectural lighting design can be layered with ambient, task, and accent lighting to offer your kitchen with a lighting scheme it deserves. But it doesn’t stop there. You can also include home lighting control systems to provide a seamless and flexible lighting solution, perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re watching TV in your kitchen, enjoying a family meal, or simply socialising, lighting controls give you the ability to set the perfect mood with the push of a button.

A recent project of ours demonstrates kitchen lighting using smart controls extremely well, which can be seen directly below. Use the clickable scenes on the right-hand side and watch the lighting scheme adapt to each scenario.

Living room lighting design

Your living room should be a comfortable and relaxing space to spend time in, and lighting design plays a big part in this.

If your living room lighting is too harsh and uses a cool colour temperature, you won’t benefit from a relaxing atmosphere that warm, gentle lighting can create.

Lighting must be layered too, with an emphasis on accent lighting. Living rooms tend to feature wall art, centrepieces, and other decorations which can be brought to life with concentrated spotlights, wall sconces, and even lamps.

Bedroom lighting design

We all know what a good and bad night’s sleep feels like. You either wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy, or unmotivated and lethargic. Sleep is important for both our physical and mental wellbeing.

A good night’s sleep can even help improve things like memory, judgement, decision-making, and our ability to learn.

Perhaps a surprise to some, lighting plays a key role in how our bodies and minds function. So, ensuring your bedroom lighting provides you with a full and restful night shouldn’t be overlooked.

You should also consider things such as reading or watching TV from your bed – keeping bright, harsh lights out of your eyes in these circumstances should be a priority before sleeping.

All in all, a gentle, dim lighting scheme will allow your body and mind to unwind properly for a better night’s sleep.

Architectural lighting design from the experts

Over the last 20 years, our expert lighting design team at Hampshire Light have provided the creative and technical expertise to transform high-end spaces across Hampshire and beyond. Whether you’re looking to transform a single room, full building, new build, or entire complex with light, we can provide the lighting services you need.

For more information on our architectural lighting design service, download our brochure today, or contact our team with your lighting-related questions.