A well-planned lighting scheme could transform your home in ways you might not have imagined. Jane Crittenden talks to the experts about what can be achieved

This layered scheme by Indigo Zest provides task spotlights over the sink and worktop, with decorative pendants for the island. Perimeter lighting above the cabinets combined with strip fittings at floor level deliver evening ambience. Different pre-set scenes can be toggled for cooking, eating and relaxing

Good lighting is often sensed rather than being immediately tangible. It stabilises our mood, improves our wellbeing and creates comfortable surroundings – whether we’re active or relaxing. Chhaya Landschultz, marketing director at Indigo Zest, says it isn’t always clear what ‘bad lighting’ actually is, only how it makes us feel: “Poorly lit rooms can feel cold, create unnecessary shadows, direct glare or eye strain. Equally, over-lit spaces can be too bright, lack atmosphere and will give rise over-stimulation if they’re not able to dim.”

Building your own house (or taking on a big renovation project) presents the ideal time to implement a properly designed lighting scheme. That’s because you’ll be able to ensure all your new spaces have the exact lighting you need for functionality and to enhance your home’s features.

Lighting design basics

You may wish to map out your own scheme along with your electrician, lean on your architect or hire a specialist lighting designer. Whichever route suits you, working with the experts will result in a layered lighting plan effective at different levels to add depth and interest to rooms.

Artificial illumination should work seamlessly with natural daylight and be positioned exactly where it’s needed, with different LED colour temperatures and controls to achieve the desired moods. “Lighting can also change a space,” says Sabrina Fiorina, design associate at John Cullen Lighting. “A small room can feel bigger by directing a downlight around the perimeter. Rooms with low ceilings benefit from uplights to lift a space, while a room overlooking the garden can have an extended view by lighting the outside.”