Julian Owen
If you’re a theatregoer, you’ll probably have noticed how effectively the drama is emphasised and enhanced by the way the stage is lit. Exactly the same principle applies to your home’s artificial lighting – not only does it have an important functional role, but it can affect the mood and encourage an emotional response. Many self builders don’t think about the lighting scheme until quite late in their project programme, but planning it before you start building will help you to maximise all the potential benefits that a good illumination design can offer.
Fitting a new lighting system in an existing room can be messy and expensive – the wiring will need to be chased into the walls to conceal it, requiring complete redecoration afterwards. But if you are building from scratch (or totally refurbishing a room) there are plenty of ways to be creative without busting your budget. Integrating the lighting into the interior design will allow you to make use of the wide range of impressive effects available.