How to plan apartment lighting before the renovation starts

Lighting is usually the last thing people think about, when the walls are already painted. Yet the cables for it are laid at the very start of a renovation. Without planning, you end up with one ceiling light in the middle of the room and extension leads in the corners. Here is how to plan lighting while it is still easy.

Three layers of light

It helps to think about the light in a room in layers.

• General light fills the whole space. Ceiling lights, recessed downlights, linear lights.
• Task light goes where you do things: above the kitchen worktop, by the mirror, over a desk.
• Accent and evening light sets the mood: lit niches, wall lights, a floor lamp, a strip under the bed.

With all three layers in a room, you can switch off the overhead light in the evening and keep the soft one. The room instantly feels cosier.

Colour temperature

Every lamp has a colour temperature, given in kelvins. Warm light around 2700 to 3000 K looks like a traditional incandescent bulb and suits bedrooms and living rooms. Neutral light at 3500 to 4000 K works well in kitchens, bathrooms and at a desk. Cool light above 5000 K usually looks clinical in a home.

The main rule is simple: use one colour temperature within one room. Otherwise the walls look patchy.

Switches and circuits

Think about where you switch the light on. A switch by the door is a must. In a bedroom it is handy to control the light from the bed, and in a long corridor from both ends. Put each layer of light on its own switch so you can use it independently.

Where people most often go wrong

• Downlights are set in a neat grid across the ceiling without looking at the furniture. The walkways end up bright and the table dark.
• No light inside wardrobes or the dressing room.
• A single light above the bathroom mirror. It casts shadows on your face; light from the sides or the front works better.
• No sockets planned for floor lamps and table lamps.

If you want to control the light from your phone

Scenes such as "all lights off from the front door" or gentle dimming in the evening have to be built into the wiring before plastering. Adding them after the renovation is sometimes possible, but there are fewer options. Read more in our article on planning a smart home during renovation and on the smart-home systems page.

A lighting plan is part of a design project. If you do not have one, start with a simple sketch: draw the furniture and mark where you need light.