September 11, 2019 Castle Lighting

5 Lighting Tips for New Build Homes in Ireland

With the new look Castle Lighting store now open daily from 10am we reveal five top lighting tips for new build home projects!

1) Plan Ahead:

All too often the lighting design scheme of a new build house or extension is an afterthought. Many of our customers love the idea of a special lighting effect or fitting, only to find that there isn’t enough space or height to fit it or they haven't provided provision to make it happen e.g. necessary wires, sockets etc.

In order to achieve the best lighting outcome for your budget you need to create a 'Lighting Plan'. To help you with this plan take time to gain a good understanding of what each space within your home is going to be used for.

As a guide you should begin to create your lighting plan at the same time you are doing your plumbing plan. Castle Lighting can assist you with this plan and will help give recommendations on lighting products and potential lighting effects that you may not have thought to create.

2) Kitchen Lighting:

In the kitchen, try and light the work surfaces separately in order to help create layers of light. It is important that your kitchen light is not coming from just a single source.

Simple ways to achieve layers of light is the use of statement pendant lights or strip lighting under and above your kitchen cupboards. For those that want to make impact low-level lighting set into the floor to illuminate some interior features, such as exposed stone or brick looks fantastic.

Downlights should be your last resource for layering light into your kitchen! Even though they are the cheapest and easiest option, they are the most boring! Downlights should be seen as a functional form of light.

3) Open Plan Designs:

When it comes to an open plan space, be sure to keep the location of your furniture in mind rather than simply focusing on what is on the ceiling. By doing this you can light the different zones more effectively.

As mentioned above, don’t rely solely on overhead lighting or lighting on only one level. Make sure to include both additional wall and floor sockets for secondary lighting such as floor and table lamps and if the budget allows consider other areas such as shelves or alcoves. Not only will these elements help to dress a room, they will create atmosphere when switched on.

It is also advised to have separate circuits to control the overall mood of the open plan space. The ability to be able to dim the lights is of utmost importance if you want to create ambiance.

4) Staircase Lighting

A staircase is the central spine of your home, linking rooms and people together. Have you considered lighting on your staircase? Not only can it be very functional in terms of safety it can also add atmosphere to your home.

There is many ways that you can add lighting to your staircase and one of the easiest and effective ways if you plan ahead is to include wall recessed stair lights within your plans.

If you are thinking of using an open riser staircase, the light source can be hidden from view under each tread. Staircases are often overlooked when it comes to lighting but is an effective way to make your house stand out from the norm.

5) Garden:

Often an afterthought when designing a new build home is the garden lighting. Carefully thought out and well positioned outdoor lighting can have a major influence on the overall atmosphere of your home.

As an example have you considered the viewing points from within your house? You are likely to spend more time looking out onto the garden than you will spend in your garden at night. Your lighting plan should therefore be designed to highlight vocal parts of the garden rather than just lighting it functionally. This could be a tree, a bed of plants or a water fountain.

Similar to layering light within your home you should also do this outdoors. Try to only use sensor lights or floodlights when it is a must.

Ideally you will need what we call in the lighting world 'task lighting' for the BBQ, step lights for any stairs, and some ambient lighting as mentioned for key features such as the water fountain. But don’t overdo it, you don’t want to undo the feeling of being outside at night!

For good measure a bonus tip is to consider how your home will change with the seasons. As an example have you always dreamed of fairy-tale lighting on your staircase at Christmas?

So there you have it five top lighting tips for your new build home. For more ideas and inspiration please visit us in-store where you will find a stunning selection of lighting products to make your new home truly special.