5 expert tips to light your home

With all the fun distractions of paint and soft furnishings, lighting often becomes an afterthought. But heed our warning! A carefully considered light scheme is crucial to the success of your new space. It can completely alter how usable it is and also how you feel in it. 

It's not surprising that it's also one of the areas that our customers feel most confused about. To shed some light on the topic (not sorry), we interviewed lighting pro Rebecca Pagan from Pagazzi and hit her with the most frequently asked questions we hear.

Pagazzi is a firm favourite of ours here at My Bespoke Room because of their vast range and incredible quality. Rebecca’s mum founded the company in 1980 and so there’s nobody better to give their expert tips on creating a beautiful lighting scheme in your home.

Looking to transform your home or need an expert second opinion? Book in a FREE, no obligation call with one of our advisors to find out how we could help with your project.

1. What's the difference between task and ambient lighting?

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It’s so important to think about what mood you want to create in each room and how you want to feel in them. With so many decisions to make when decorating a home, this is something that often gets forgotten until the last minute but it really can make or break a scheme. 

Rebecca tells us: “Ambient lighting provides an even blanket of light across a room and should be used in areas you want to relax in rather than carry out specific tasks, like your living room or bedroom. Use a mixture of ceiling, table and floor lamps to create different levels of light”

Here’s a great example of ambient lighting where you can see the different levels of light:

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“Task lighting on the other hand is for when you need to have a clean crisp light that allows you to see clearly.  Spotlights are ideal for this in kitchens and bathrooms. Installing them under cabinets can be very effective." says Rebecca.

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She adds: “Also, make use of clamp and clip on spots to highlight specific areas such as a reading nook.”

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2. What colour temperature is best?

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The last thing you want when you plug in your beautiful new light is to be hit with a sharp blue light that’s less like a spa trip and more like a trip to an A&E waiting room! 

“Make sure to pick the right colour light temperature for the specific environment” she advises. “The right temperature will completely depend on what you’re planning to do in that room and how you want to feel”.

“The colour of light is measured on the Kelvin scale (K). Choose cool white light (3300 - 5300K) for task based rooms like your kitchen and bathroom, this will help you see the task at hand clearly. For rooms that need an even greater level of concentration like garages and workshops, go for daylight (>5300K)” 

“Conversely, opt for warm white (<2700K) for areas you relax in like bedrooms and living rooms.” This will replicate the soft calming atmosphere, similar to candlelight. 

If you're looking to transform your home or need an expert opinion on your plans then book in a FREE, no obligation call with one of our advisors to find out how we could help.

3. How do I choose the right ceiling light?

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"The answer to this question depends on quite a few factors!" Rebecca tells us.

"When picking the right size of light think about what height you need the light to be at for practical reasons. If you have low ceilings then make sure there is going to be enough headroom for taller friends to move under it! If you want a statement light, but have a low ceiling then hanging a big pendant light low, but above a table, is a great idea as it gives the impact but without the hazard to running into it!"

"When choosing lighting for a kitchen island or breakfast bars – I always work on the rule of three as it’s the most aesthetically pleasing - one in the middle and one either side. A lot of our bars have just one point into the ceiling (so you don’t need to get an electrician to rewire everything!) but has three pendants off that one bar."

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4. What alternatives are there to bedside lamps for smaller bedrooms?

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The old faithful bedside lamp has brought light and the perfect finishing touch to our bedrooms for years. These come in every shape, style and size under the sun... however, have your thought about the alternatives?

“Table lamps are no longer the only option for bedside lighting”, Rebecca reminds us. Sometimes they might not actually be feasible if you have limited space on your bedside table. 

“Branch out by using a wall light instead or two single hanging pendants which can make a stand out feature in your design. The great news is that plug in versions are available too so you don’t have to get an electrician in!”

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5. How do I know which light bulb to buy?

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"When choosing a bulb, always start with the cap type. Is it a large screw (ES), a small screw (SES) or a bayonet cap (BC)?"

"The next step is to pick the right shape for your light: a small globe is perfect for lights with shallow shades (you do not want the bulb sticking out of the shade!) A candle bulb is perfect for a tradition chandelier, and a GLS bulb (what you'd recognise as a traditional shaped bulb) is what you need for any shaded table or floor lamps as it casts the most light."

"It's common that get confused when the words 'LED' and 'incandescent' get thrown about! At Pagazzi, we only stock LED now and I would suggest there is no better alternative nowadays.– they are energy efficient, come in different colour temperatures & produce very little heat, so won’t burn your hands!"

"Finally consider the colour of light you want in the space. If you want a crisp, clean light then use a clear bulb.  For a clean, but diffused light, use a coated bulb then for a warm, cosy vibe use a vintage effect bulb."