When you’re decorating your home, thinking about elements such as ambiance, atmosphere and the flow of space can make all the difference.

The same can be said for lighting; in fact, you should consider your lighting as carefully as you would all your other interior home décor details.

Lights can change the mood and atmosphere of a room instantly. Bright lights can make you feel awake and alert while soft, dim lights can make you feel relaxed.

The right lighting and fixtures can make small apartments look larger and empty rooms cosier.

There are all shapes, sizes and colours when it comes to lighting. From luxurious, statement chandeliers from hudson valley lights to understated downlights, there are so many options available. But how do you know what’s right for your space?

Here are eight expert tips for choosing the right interior lighting for your home.

1. Plan it out

Whether you’re just starting to decorate or you’re giving your home a much-needed makeover, creating a brief lighting plan that contains the basics will make lighting your interior beautifully that much easier.

Consider what activities occur in each room (like cooking, eating, working, sleeping etc), what areas you want to draw attention to, and what structural limitations you may encounter.

The key elements you’ll need to think about before making decisions are scale, output, style and even the colour temperature you want in each room. By planning everything early, you’ll avoid making rushed decisions and eliminate headaches at a later date.

2. Create layers

To create interest and ambiance in your rooms, opt for a layered approach to enhance your space. You can achieve this by using light sources at different levels.

You can make the most of a small room by uplighting it to make it feel bigger, and you make a ceiling feel higher by using low-hanging pendants. For large rooms, adding clusters of light will make the space feel cosier.

3. Make sure lighting is practical

What tasks you’ll be performing in each room need to be considered when choosing light fixtures – your choice of lighting can hinder or help you.

For instance, cooking requires bright, concentrated light, so a combination of recess lighting above the cupboards and stove-top and bright downlights will be the most useful.

For rooms where you’re going to read, directional, flexible lighting that’s aimed away from you is optimal. In bathrooms and cloakrooms, combinations of downlights and sidelights work well. Dimmers are a great way to instantly alter the warmth and atmosphere of a room.

4. Choose the right bulbs

Instead of picking up any old bulbs at the supermarket when they blow, you should regard them as tools to enhance and transform your space and provide enough light for your needs.

Consider how many watts you need (brightness), the colour temperature you’re looking for (lower temperatures resemble candlelight, higher temperatures are more like bright sunlight).

You should also think about how often you use certain lights to determine if you need energy-efficient bulbs, or if you’re using your lighting as a statement piece.

5. Place spotlights in favourite areas

You can use lighting to highlight your favourite pieces or features in a room. Shine spotlights on architectural elements, statement décor, items of furniture or wall art.

You can arrange wall lights symmetrically on either side of a statement mirror or mantelpiece to add a touch of sophistication and warmth to any room.

Spotlights can also make guests feel more welcome; installing a downlight above a table and pointing it at the centre can help draw people in.

6. Guide with lights

Waking up at night to use the bathroom becomes disorienting when you’re relying on a single harsh, overhead light that blinds your bleary eyes when you flick it on. Rather, invest in soft, directional floor lights in your bathroom and hallways to gently guide the way.

7. Electricity usage

We’ve already touched on using low wattage and low-energy LED bulbs. Using these will help keep your electricity bills low. However, another good idea for keeping your electricity usage in check is to make use of timers. If you have table, floor or night lights that you leave on overnight, plug timers into the sockets. You can then set the lights to switch off at dawn rather than when you wake up and turn them off manually. Timers are also helpful for when you’re away on holiday. Have a couple of lights wired up to timers and set them to come on at dusk and off again at dawn. This can make it appear as though someone is at home and deter burglars looking for vacant properties.

8. Less is more

When it comes to lighting, try to keep it as consistent as you would your colour schemes, finishes and soft furnishings.

Using too many different styles throughout your home can quickly become overwhelming and confusing to the eye; too many different shapes, patterns and colours can make rooms seem small and cluttered and they can even make you feel slightly uneasy.

Opting for lighter, neutral tones will open up spaces and make them appear larger and airier. Adding statement pops of colour – like coloured and patterned lampshades – can add interest, and darker tones can make rooms seem more comfortable and luxurious. The key is to keep it simple.

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