Lighting effects and ideas for the home

The right lighting effect can completely change the appearance of a room. Getting the best look for your home can simply be down to the type of globe or light shade you purchase. Lighting effects can range from the simple DIY improvements to more elaborate plans, which may require an expert.

Depending on the style of your home, lighting has the ability to make rooms appear larger, romantic, more glamourous or ultra sleek. Whatever your lighting tastes, your home is sure to benefit with a great lighting plan.

DIY lighting design: Simple lighting tips to brighten the home

There are various ways that you can change the look of a room, or your entire house, with just a few simple lighting tips. Some lighting ideas include:

• To make a room look bigger, try pushing light towards the ceiling using uplifters and halogen globes.
• Also make sure that all four corners of the room are well-lit to ensure a larger appearance.
• Narrow hallways, staircases and rooms will appear a lot wider if a wall washer is used to splash light over one side.
• If you'd like the room to appear smaller and cosier, do not allow light to reach the ceiling.
• Use dimmers in the bedroom for a romantic feel, or in the bathroom for relaxation time.
• For a more glamourous look, position a chandelier in the living room or above the dining table.
• Use track lights or spotlights to shift focus to one of your home's features, such as a painting or sculpture.

Task lights: Practical lighting for your home

Lighting should be installed for both aesthetic and practical purposes - practical lights should be installed anywhere that you need to see detail or perform a task, such as the kitchen or bathroom. Some examples are:

• Use fluorescent globes as task lights in the kitchen. This ensures that you're not straining your eyes when cooking or washing up. The best places for these lights are all the focus areas where work takes place, such as the sink, stove and food preparation area.
• Employ task lights around all mirrors that are used for practical purposes such as the bathroom and bedroom mirrors.
• Lamps positioned around the home as reading task lights should not be too intense or dim, as this can cause headaches and strain the eyes.

Whilst DIY lighting improvements are affordable and fun, always remember to leave complicated electrical work to a qualified electrician.