Manipulating natural and artificial light when designing for clients and their homes is one of the most vital elements in the design process. A designer’s job is to optimise the use of light within a property. This is an essential component for practical reasons, and it can also be a dramatic decorative element. Here are key tips on what to look out for within your home.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to the variety of lighting available. Ifyou want your home to be both functional, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, it’s vital to pay the right amount of attention to your lighting scheme.

“Mixing the type of lighting within a scheme is key; such as the following:

• Ambient light to create soft lighting, illuminating large spaces

• Accent lighting to add drama and highlight areas of interest, such as picture lights above art and small spotlights to highlight architectural or joinery features

• Task lighting to add brightness to a specific spot (such as a kitchen work surface), and pendant lights such as those suspended above a kitchen island.

The more variety in lighting, the better, so keep layering and adjust it as you go according to the natural light levels and your mood.

Lighting is vital when trying to create an atmosphere throughout the home, and it can also be used for dramatic effect, enhancing the ‘wow’ factor as you walk into a room. It’s often easy to tell when a designer has been involved when looking at this type of lighting, as the specific attention shines through, sometimes in areas where it’s least expected.

Another vital tip is having an attention to detail when designing a home to be practical for its designated usage. For example a house that is home to a family, make sure that you have good lighting in all of your storage areas including the eaves. It is so frustrating to be digging out the Christmas decorations and not being able to see what is tucked away in these awkward spaces.

Creating small niches in bathrooms and back-lighting them are also excellent ideas. You can use the niches for storing elegant bath oils and they will also break up an expanse of tiling, as well as providing a subtle glow which can be very relaxing.

*extracted from fineandcountry.com