4 Things to consider when choosing lights
16 March 2023
Lighting is essential when designing your new space. There are so many choices and designs you can choose. In this blog we will highlight a few tips that may assist you in picking out your lights and also touch on some key factors that may have slipped your mind in the process.
1. Design & function
An important thing to consider is the design & function of lighting you are after. Knowing what your goal is and what type of lighting you need in order to achieve this is essential. The 3 main lightings are Task, General/ambient and decorative, you can choose to use one type of lighting or a combination of them.
Task lighting provides you with targeted lighting for specific tasks in a room, if used for your office space you could incorporate a pendant light to hang above your desk to help with any specific tasks you may have, choosing the right design can assist in avoiding harsh lights or added glares to your desk.
General/Ambient lighting is essentially used as your main lighting, especially for larger rooms. It covers the entire space with illumination. There's many different lights you can use for general lighting such as track lights, ceiling mounted, wall mounted and chandeliers.
Decorative lighting is typically adding the final touches to your space to match your desired aesthetic. You can choose whatever you feel would express the vibe of your space while of course still providing it with light! It can add personality and give you a chance to express your own uniqueness to your design.
2. Colour temperature of your lights can be super important to set the ambiance of your space . You can choose between warm, daylight or cool lighting or even use a mix of them, as they can complement one another.
Warm lights are a yellow/orange colour, these lights genuinely give off a softer look and they can assist in creating a more relaxed and cosy environment.
Daylight is a bright, cool light that replicates the sun's natural light. They produce a vibrant and intense illumination that can be great in assisting in detail oriented tasks.
Cool lights are more of a crisp white light. They produce a clear fresh glow that can be used to brighten up a room and increase alertness
LED strips are also a great way to go if you're wanting to add a pop of colour. You can place them under shelving to highlight certain items. You can add LED strips around anything you want to showcase or use it as a decorative piece.
3. Incorporating emergency lights
One of the most important electrical lights you need to include is emergency lights, they are designed to illuminate a clear pathway for a safe escape, such as down hallways, corridors and stairs. If during an emergency your main power switch goes out, emergency exit lights have their own internal battery ensuring it stays illuminated and therefore guides a safe exit for everyone. Make sure you are following all the rules and regulations that come with installing emergency lights and hire a certified electrician to do your installation.
4. Sensor lights and switching
You also will need to consider what type of switching you want, whether its light switches you turn on and off manually or if you prefer sensor lights that will automatically turn on with movement.
The position of your light switches are important to know before your works commence as your electricians will have to run cables before the walls are done. Along with this you want to make sure you are putting your switches in easily accessible and visible spots to reduce the risk of your lights being left on.
Sensor lights can be a great addition especially to places that does not normally have too much human activity, such as car parks, bathrooms or storage rooms. Sensor lights are also a great way to save money and are convenient. It reduces the risk of someone leaving the room and forgetting to turn off the light. They can also reduce the energy consumption as your lights aren't being kept on all day and only switches on when people are vacant.
Choosing your lighting can sometimes feel like an overwhelming job, when you narrow it down to choices and preferences like we did in this blog, it can greatly help your process. Just remember to keep these tips in mind! Whether you're refitting an old space, starting up something new or just want a change of style, we're here to help with any questions or electrical work you may need!
Contact us:
- Email: Sales@alykan.com.au
- Phone- 0468 958 444
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