There are four types of light which you need to consider when you are planning the lighting in your home, natural, ambient, task and accent. Ideally, you should consider all four in every area of the home. You might have thought that all you need to do to light a room is have a hanging light or a sprinkling of down lights in the ceiling and a few table lamps scattered around, which is certainly a start. However, before you place them you need to think through various pointers to your lighting needs.

Let us assume that you are not employing a professional Interior or Lighting Designer. First, you need an accurate measured floor plan. Mark the existing light fittings and sockets onto it, along with your proposed furniture layout. This makes it much easier to plan the lighting. Think how you will use each space. Will you have living rooms which are also corridors? Do you want to have certain lights which are always on for security? Can you see potential dark spots such as the turns on stairs? What sort of atmosphere would you like to create? Is the room to be brightly lit as with a playroom, or lit with pools of light as in a study or TV room?