News
Lighting kitchen worktops without shadows
A ceiling light ends up behind the person working and casts shadows on the worktop. How to set up shadow-free light and what to watch for.
Bathroom lighting: mirror, shower and general light
Bathroom lighting has to be both safe and practical. Placement and selection rules for the mirror, the shower area and general light.
Lighting a child’s room for play, homework and sleep
A child's room is a playground, a classroom and a bedroom in one day. How to set up safe, comfortable lighting for each of those roles.
Lighting hallways and corridors
The entrance hall is a home's first impression, and the corridor is a path used day and night. Ways to light these narrow, windowless spaces comfortably and economically.
Lighting stairs: safety first, looks second
The first job of stair lighting is to show every step clearly. How to create safe, attractive light without shadows or glare.
A home desk: setting up light that does not tire your eyes
When working from home, eye strain often comes not from the screen but from the light around the desk. How to balance screen, paperwork and room light.
Which bulb to put in a desk lamp
A desk lamp is small, but the wrong bulb tires your eyes and heats the shade. How to choose the right cap, output, shape, colour and flicker-free quality.
Choosing a chandelier and bulb count for the size of the room
An oversized chandelier crowds a room; an undersized one gets lost. A practical way to choose diameter, hanging height and bulb count for your room.
Placing spotlights in a suspended ceiling: spacing and layout
A neat grid of ceiling spotlights does not guarantee good light. Practical rules for beam angle, distance from walls and spacing.
Balcony lighting: damp, dust and comfort
A balcony sits between indoors and outdoors: damp, dust, temperature swings and insects. Rules for choosing fittings and bulbs for open and glazed balconies.
Lighting a yard and garden: paths, gates and seating areas
Yard lighting is for security, safe movement and evening relaxation. Planning by zone, choosing fittings and the rules of electrical safety.
Lighting a garage or home workshop
A single bulb in a garage leaves shadows around the car, and in a workshop it leads to mistakes. Practical ways to set up strong, even, safe light.
Lighting pantries and the inside of cupboards
You should not need a phone torch to find things in a pantry or deep cupboard. Simple, economical and safe lighting solutions for small spaces.
A pendant over the dining table: height and light
A pendant over the table lights both the food and the faces around it. Practical rules for height, size, number of lamps and direction of light.
Floor lamps and wall lights: soft extra light in a room
Floor lamps and wall lights fill the spots a ceiling light leaves in shadow and give a room a calm evening mood. Types, placement and bulb choice.
Home lighting for older people
With age the eyes need more light while coping less well with glare and darkness. Practical steps towards safe, comfortable lighting at home.
Decorating with filament bulbs: loft and retro styles
The thin strips of light visible through clear glass turn a filament bulb into decoration in its own right. How to choose and place them in loft and retro interiors.
The three layers of lighting: ambient, task and accent
In professional lighting design a room is lit not by one lamp but in three layers. What each layer does and how to combine them at home.
Planning lighting before a renovation: points and switches
Moving a light point after the walls are plastered is costly and messy. How to prepare a lighting plan step by step before renovation work begins.
Lighting shelves and display cabinets at home
A bookshelf, china cabinet or collection case becomes a room's focal point with the right light. Direction of light, heat and protecting the objects.
Room light while watching TV: total darkness or a soft glow?
A glowing TV in a pitch-dark room strains the eyes, yet bright overhead light causes glare on the panel. Where the light should be, how much and what colour for a TV area.
Improving the lighting in a rented flat without rewiring
In a rented flat, drilling walls and running cables is often not an option. From swapping bulbs to plug-in fittings, ways to improve the lighting without leaving a trace.
Wardrobe and dressing-room lighting that shows true colours
Mixing up navy and black socks, or two similar shirts, is often the lighting’s fault. Colour rendering, colour temperature and placement for wardrobe lighting.
Windowless rooms: lighting a space with no daylight
In a windowless bathroom, hallway, storeroom or basement room, artificial light does all of daylight’s work. A lighting scheme that keeps such a space from feeling cramped and gloomy.