The Lighting Details That Elevate (or Undermine) Your Home or Project Design

Lighting plays a crucial role in shaping both the feel and functionality of a space, yet it is often one of the last elements considered in the design process. This can lead to simple but avoidable mistakes that impact the overall result.

Here are three of the most common lighting mistakes we see in design projects, along with practical ways you can avoid them:

1. Over-reliance on Overhead Lighting

Relying solely on a central ceiling fixture rarely delivers the best result. Overhead lighting tends to create harsh, flat illumination, leaving certain areas underlit while others are exposed to direct glare. It lacks depth and doesn’t allow the space to showcase its best features.

A better approach is to plan lighting in layers, using a combination of different light sources to meet the needs of the room. Ambient lighting, such as pendants or recessed downlights, provides general brightness. Task lighting offers focused illumination for specific activities, such as under-cabinet lights in kitchens or wall lights beside beds. Accent lighting, including LED strips or picture lights, highlights key architectural or design elements.

Consider how people will move through and use the space. Have you provided appropriate lighting for each of those moments?

2. Mixing Colour Temperatures

Another common issue arises when lighting fixtures within the same space have mismatched colour temperatures. You may have experienced a room where one section has a warm, yellowish glow, while another emits a cool, stark white light. This contrast creates an uncomfortable and disjointed atmosphere.

To avoid this, select colour temperatures carefully and apply them consistently across each room. Warm white tones, typically ranging from 2700K to 3000K, work well in living areas and bedrooms, where comfort and relaxation are key. Neutral white tones, between 3500K and 4000K, are better suited to kitchens, bathrooms, and workspaces, where clarity and focus are more important.

Take a moment to consider the mood you want to achieve in each area. Is your lighting choice helping create that effect, or working against it?

3. Omitting Dimmers

A fixed level of brightness throughout the day doesn’t allow a space to adapt to its users’ needs. What feels appropriate in the morning may be far too bright and unforgiving in the evening. Without dimmers, there is no way to adjust the lighting to match different activities or times of day.

Specifying dimmers as a standard feature can resolve this issue. Living rooms, dining areas, and bedrooms all benefit from flexible control. Choosing compatible dimmable fixtures and bulbs gives you greater versatility, and smart lighting systems offer the added benefit of pre-set scenes and remote adjustments.

Ask yourself if the people using the space will be able to control the lighting to suit their preferences. Would the room feel more inviting if the lighting could be softened as needed?

Make Lighting Part of the Design Process

Lighting should be planned alongside every other aspect of the design, not left to the end. When considered early, it complements materials, enhances layouts, and elevates the overall feel of the space.

Think carefully about how each area will be used, and make sure your lighting choices support that use. Layer your lighting thoughtfully, keep colour temperatures consistent, and always give users the ability to adjust brightness levels.

You’ve already paid attention to every detail in your design—have you given lighting the same priority?

If you’d like guidance on lighting solutions tailored to your project, we’re here to help. Get in touch to start the conversation.