Are you planning to build a new house, or perhaps renovate your current home? There are some things you need to consider when it comes to electricity and lighting for your property. Powered Electrical & Data has made a list of a few helpful tips you should think about while planning the lighting for your home.
Safety first
You don’t have to be a pro to complete simple electrical projects around your home, but a solid understanding of electrical wiring and outlets is essential to your safety.
Unless you are an experienced electrician, it’s advisable to leave things like electrical rewiring to the professionals. However, you should still know what your lighting goals are and be involved in the planning of your lighting installation.
Make a lighting plan
Lighting has the ability to transform the atmosphere of any room. Even the dullest of rooms can become bright and airy and the smallest of rooms warm and inviting with the right lighting. All it takes is a little strategic thinking to create a lighting plan that will make your space functional for your needs and style.
Every good lighting plan begins with a diagram. Knowing where you want to place your lighting fixtures, as well as the main areas that you want to illuminate, is essential to determine where your lighting installations should be placed. Here are some key steps for creating a lighting plan:
Step 1: Draft a floor plan
Measure your space and then rescale it on draft paper making note of any immovable objects such as windows and chimneys. You should also include the items of furniture in your room.
Step 2: Outline the function of each section of the room
To determine what lighting types you will need to install in each section of your space, you will need to assess the function of your room. Keep in mind that some rooms have multiple uses at different times of the day. Perhaps you want your living room to be practical during the day but warm and inviting for the family to relax in the evening.
Step 3: Specify where the light should come from
Once you have outlined your floor plan, you can choose the locations of each lighting source. Draw a circle where the majority of light will reach making sure that the lighting sources do not overlap or leave dark zones in your space.
Step 4: Identify where to install light switches
Mark light switches in convenient locations on your floor plan. Make sure that they are paired up with their corresponding lighting installation. To vary the brightness of your room, you may want to consider which lights you would like to be installed with a dimmer switch.
Step 5: Select specific light fixtures for each part of the room
Once you have outlined your lighting plan, you can begin shopping for your preferred lighting fixtures. Make sure to shop around and consider all options before making a purchase.
Lighting types
Adequate lighting is critical for your home to be comfortable and stylish. Think about your general lighting needs first, then about your specialised needs for specific areas such as your work station or dining area. There are a number of lighting options available.
Ambient lighting provides the room with overall illumination and accounts for the majority of lighting across a wide space. Ambient lighting is essential for creating a comfortable level of light that allows you to perform your day-to-day activities safely.
To create ambient lighting, we recommend the following:
- Chandeliers
- Recessed
- Floor-lamp torchieres
- Pendants
- Ceiling
Task lighting is used to illuminate a very specific area of work surface. This type of lighting is ideal in smaller areas that are used for detailed work such as a reading corner or kitchen counter. Task lighting that is installed in the correct location should increase the functionality of the space while preventing eye-strain.
To create task lighting, we recommend the following:
- Pendants
- Swing Arm Lamps
- Slim line bar and undercabinet
- Portable lamps
Accent lighting is another good choice for overhead lighting and is best suited for illuminating specific areas of a room. This is a very concentrated light that is used to draw the eye to a focal point and can be beneficial for artwork, furniture, bookcase displays, wall washing and enhancing the general architecture of your space.
To create accent lighting, we recommend the following:
- wall sconces
- Recessed
- Track
- Torchère lamps
Understand your home’s electrical load
You don’t need to be a professional electrician to know the capacity of your home’s electrical load. By having a basic understanding of fuse boxes and service panels, you will be able to use your energy in a more safe and efficient way.
If you are renovating an older home, you should take into consideration whether your current electrical panel will be able to withstand the electrical load of your lighting system along with modern appliances. Upgrading your electrical service could be an option if the electrical panel is not able to take the pressure of the added electricity usage.
Book an electrical inspection
All electrical installations weaken after years of daily use so it’s recommended that you contact an electrician to perform an inspection of the components of your lighting system to ensure they are in a safe condition for continued use.
The electrician will examine the entire electrical system to ensure all electrical wires and components meet legal safety standards.
An electrical inspection will:
- Detect any defective electrical work
- Discover areas that may need rewiring
- Reveal overloaded electrical circuits or equipment
- Uncover electric shock risks and fire hazards
- Identify adequacy of earthing and bonding
Contact Powered Electrical & Data
If you are looking for a professional electrician in Newcastle or Maitland for your next lighting project, call Powered Electrical & Data today at 0466 182 944, or fill in our online request form.