Interior Design
Notes On Design By Nicole Salvesen
To brighten your January, we’ve put your burning lighting questions to Nicole. Whether you have the benefit of creating a lighting plan from scratch or you’re just looking to illuminate an area without the skills of an electrician, Nicole shares her expertise on the topic.
Lighting
At what stage of an interior project do you plan the lighting?
It’s important to always consider the lighting plan at the beginning of the project. Ensure there is a good mix of lighting levels within a room including table, floor, wall and ceiling lights so that you have varied options to create both mood and task lighting.The key to lighting a room is making sure that individual lighting groups are on a separate circuit so they can be turned on independently. With table lamps for instance, we would ensure, where possible, that they are turned on at the light switch, so that you're not having to walk around your room turning them all on. A five amp circuit will solve this and as with all the different lighting elements has to be planned when we are doing the initial design phases.
How can I achieve a layered look of lighting without involving an electrician?
Table and floor lamps are a great solution to adding layers of lighting without major work by a professional. Furniture placement is often dictated by where we think lighting is required. We often encourage clients, for example, in a sitting room, to move a sofa forward and put a very slim console table behind and top with table lamps.There are obviously lots of solutions now that are remote controlled or battery powered lighting, and these are improving all the time. And we also work with some electrical companies who have developed wireless switching enabling new switching to be added without the need for extensive works.
Little plug in up-lighters in the corner of a room can sit on top of a piece of furniture, for example, these could be angled at art or just used to create another level or warm lighting for the evening.
What are your thoughts on downlights?
We try and avoid downlights if possible and suggest they should only be considered for task lighting. Do check the lighting plan when it is issued by an electrician or architect and then consider it alongside the decorative lighting that is planned for a room as it is often the case that the number of downlights can be reduced.
We particularly opt not to use downlights in more formal spaces where there is more abundant decorative lighting and spots in the ceiling just become an eysesore. However, there are absolutely rooms where downlights are appropriate. These include back of house spaces such as utility rooms, kitchens or a pantry as well as areas when you might need high level of lighting from time to time such as a bathroom.
We suggest installing dimmer switches on all lighting in a home to give flexibility but this is particularly true with downlights. Allowing you to dim them in the bathroom for example when you are there to relax. Finally choose quality downlights that are more discreet to limit how much they stand out on the ceiling.
What's the best way to illuminate art?
We illuminate art in different ways, and this can largely depend on size and the type of art in question. If the piece has glass, then you need to be careful when illuminating to avoid the light reflection so choose something that sits a bit further away, often a ceiling mounted spot light.
If we are using a light that is more traditional in style then we would usually design this to be fitted to the back of the picture rather than the wall so there is flexibility for art be changed at a later date. Don’t be overly worried about ensuring you have chosen all your art and picture lights in the early stages of your project when you are planning the layout but do highlight key spots throughout your home for art and future proof by asking your electrician to fit ‘clock points’ that a picture light can be fitted to at a later date.
Where do I start with planning kitchen lighting?
Think about the different types of lighting you will need in your kitchen, brighter lighting for the morning, task lighting or gentle lighting when you might be entertaining. The same rules apply as in other rooms, light from the ceiling is more key here but consider where you can get lighting at lower levels such as wall lights or a table lamp on a console.We often suggest a decorative pendant over an island or kitchen table as it is a great way to add additional texture & colour which can be hard in a kitchen because by its nature, it is more utilitarian.
We might add a decorative table lamp on a kitchen worktop as well, which is a little unusual but it just makes a room feel more considered.
What's the best way to illuminate inside wardrobes?
Task lighting is very useful in wardrobes, even if we have eschewed downlights elsewhere, we might be inclined to use them in wardrobes or a dressing room as good lighting in these areas is critical to how you use the space.
We have seen lots of examples of lighting wardrobes that hasn’t been done very discreetly. The key to doing it well is considering it part of the design of the joinery so it is only visible when turned on. Do consider how the lights turn off and make sure the light doesn't escape through the gaps. Also think about the lighting within a room outside of the wardrobe itself, perhaps use a down light that's angled and shines inside the wardrobe.
What are your go to bulbs?
The most go to bulb is a golf ball bulb because they are a great shape and size and won’t risk peeking out the top in the way a candle bulb might. Though if you are going to be able to see a bulb on a pendant or wall light we would opt for a candle bulb. We usually buy them from Zico.I would recommend a mid-wattage, such as 40w or 60w, especially if you've got dimmers, you can always dim it down. Always check that they're compatible with dimmers otherwise you will find that your lights will flicker.
How big should the shade be compared to a lamp Base?
As a rule a shade should be two thirds the height of the base. I think often, what tends to happen is that they are too high on a lamp so you can see the stem of the lampholder (where your bulb sits). The best way to combat this is to use dublex shades and adjustable shade carriers but often this isn’t an option with more off the shelf offerings.Also worth considering is choosing a variety of shades in a room. Avoid having all your lampshades in cream card for instance. Have a look at other formats such as gathered shades, like our Zig Zags and laminated shades like our large great check shades that add softness. Shades can be a great way to pull a scheme together or update a space.
What's the rule of thumb for how many sources of light there should be in one room?
There isn’t a specific rule of thumb here but do ensure that all your needs in the room are covered. List what you will be doing in a space and what level of lighting you will need to each task and then make sure you have included a suitable light for that need. Don’t be afraid to include one or two additional light sources that provide a decorative element such as a pair of lamps on a table that add to the layout and architectural scale of a room.Shop Salvesen Graham Lighting
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