Lighting Do’s and Don’ts

Have you ever thought your room somehow just doesn’t look complete, or wondered why that light you saw on an advert or in store doesn’t look as good in your space? It may just be a small tweak to get your room looking perfect. Here’s a few tips and tricks to follow from before choosing your light all the way to after it’s already installed in your space.

DO…

Find out how much weight your ceiling can handle before choosing your light. This is crucial and can save you a lot of money by not only buying the right light the first time but also sparing your homes structure from any damage. Remember, although a light does not look very large or heavy, you need to know the light’s weight to avoid exceeding your ceiling’s weight limit. Lights with material such as crystal, glass, and metal can add significant weight to the fitting. Some ceiling lights, in particular stairwell lights, dining lights and large pendants tend to be reasonably heavy, with some of the larger ones even weighing over 40 kilograms. It is this reason that it’s crucial to get a professional’s opinion on how much weight your ceiling can withstand before deciding on a suitable light. This weight limit can vary from home to home depending on variables such as ceiling height, the age of the house, the roof’s structure and many others. This tip may help you to avoid losing money in the case the light you purchase is too heavy for your ceiling and you are unable to return. You can find products weight of our lighting in the size & details section on our website.

DON’T…

Hang your ceiling lights at the wrong height. This can completely alter the look and functionality of the light. To avoid this, take measurements of the room and the light to figure out the perfect height for the room. The general rule of thumb is 1 foot for every 3 inches, meaning that for every foot in height your room is, the ceiling light should hang about 3 inches. This will also vary from home to home and will change when a light is hung above furniture such as a dining room table for example. In that case the light should hang around 30-36 inches above the table, as this will illuminate the entire table while also not becoming a hazard. Most of our pendants and chandeliers are height adjustable, so as long as you have the right spot for them you can adjust the height at any time. For certain homes with low ceiling heights, most commonly new build homes with an average of 7.5-8ft ceilings, opting for a semi-flush or flush light is ideal to ensure you have enough room under the light. You can find more in depth information on this in our blog “How to hang your lights at the perfect height”.

DO…

Use dimmers for your lights. Dimmers can be perfect for anyone wanting to change the feel of their room with just a single button. They are perfect for seasonal changes like autumn into winter when the nights begin to get darker and you want to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. You may want to turn the light up if you have guests round or dim it down and sit around the fireplace for a nice cosy evening. A dimmer can alter the tone for any occasion and is a must have for those looking to spice up their home regularly. When adding bulbs for your light, choose the dimmable option. We have a wide selection of dimmable bulbs in every colour temperature, size and style as well as a selection of dimmer switches in multiple finishes to match your décor. We recommend that you show your electrician your dimmable bulb and dimmable switch to ensure they are compatible with one another upon installation.

DON’T…

Underestimate your space. We suggest living in the space for a few weeks first to determine how you use the space and how you need it to function. This helps you narrow down lighting options that you may not have thought of when first seeing the space. For example, you may think that a pendant may be better suited to a room with higher ceilings or more space, however they are a great option in a space that is needing a specific are to be illuminated. A breakfast bar or dining room benefit greatly from multiple pendant lights rather than recessed lighting or a singular fitting. In other rooms such as kitchens it can be quite crowded with important appliances or cupboards which need space at head height to be opened. In this case, recessed downlights or flush lights are often more commonly used above these areas as they give you a lot more room to be effective within that space and illuminate the right areas. Lighting such as recessed downlights are better for rooms with lower ceilings such as a bathroom whereas pendants and chandeliers benefit from a more open area like a living room due to their further reach and larger frame.

DO…

Design your home with a tone or multiple tones in mind. When designing your home its important to lay down a foundation for most rooms with layout and colour tones at the top of this priority. Every room should have a centre piece which will usually be a chandelier or a pendant and should complete the look rather than alter it. Try to keep similarities between lights to strengthen this feel of “the same but also unique” appearance. An example of this would be owning 2 different lights with a similar metal frame finish and crystals however one may have more tiers and a different shape. This gives each light individuality and helps both stand out amongst each other more.

DON’T…

Leave wires exposed. You can always make sure wires and excess chain are hidden from view when installing your light. This is much easier when dealing with interior lighting, as they can be hidden in the ceiling or decorative ceiling mount. When considering exterior lighting, it is crucial that the wires are out of the way to avoid them being damaged. If they are left out they can get damaged by things such as a lawn mower or weather. You may just be tempted to cover them with grass or mulch which works short term however will also be ineffective as rain or wind could uncover them, leaving them exposed. Burying the wires is always a better solution, we advise hiring an electrician to install exterior lighting.

DO…

Layer lights to combine different types of lighting. This type of styling allows for each light to serve a unique purpose within the room by combining accent lights such as table lamps or wall lights with a ceiling light. This creates an effect where the smaller lights act as the accent lights by illuminating smaller areas of interest whilst the ceiling light acts as the decorative center of the room. This helps give the room layers of different lighting which all share the same tone and feel. Throughout our website we have collections which have coordinating wall lights, ceiling lights and even table/floor lamps too which helps with easily identifying a particular style you want to layer your room with.

If you have any questions about designing your home or choosing the right lighting for your space you can check out more of our how to guides in our blog section which go over commonly asked questions such as “how to choose the perfect light for your space”, “how to light you dining room” and many more. You can also contact us with any enquiries you may have by email at info@cplights.com or call us at 0191 440 1111.