Jay Preston is Brand Manager for ToolHQ, Australia’s leading online supplier of tools.
Countless Interior design books and designers insist that custom lighting and a custom lighting designer are essential for successful Interior Design. Interesting light fixtures are essential for any successful design project. Artificial lights create style and mood. They also are practical items that can vastly improve both the safety and comfort. However, custom lighting can be very expensive. A lighting designer usually charges a substantial design fee in addition to sizeable markups on fixtures and electrical work.
Whether you need a lighting designer or not depends primarily on the size and scale of your lighting project. For example, if you are only looking to replace one or two fixtures, this is something that can be handled by any regular electrician or skilled DIY homeowner with some good tools and a friend. On the other hand, if you are installing an entirely new kitchen or landscape design, a lighting designer may be a good investment. Here are times when a lighting designer can be a real asset:
Custom Lighting in the Kitchen:
Lighting needs are very specific in kitchens. Correct lighting under cabinets, overhead and around counter areas is a prerequisite for a safe kitchen. Proper lighting is not only essential for safety while cutting and cooking; it also keeps the kitchen clean. Proper lighting can even improve the quality of your cooking. “Seeing if something is done,” takes on a completely new meaning. In addition, it is far easier to determine if a foodstuff is perfect for eating with proper kitchen lighting. Furthermore, most kitchens include an eating and office area. Every part of the kitchen will require different types of lighting to accommodate each activity. Dimmers and automatic sensored lighting are also extremely useful in kitchens. These devices can make the dirty dishes disappear during a dinner party or turn on the lights automatically when your arms are full of groceries. While some DIY homeowners may be able to handle the lighting requirements in the kitchen this is one of the best times to call in a professional lighting designer. Additionally, for a maximum “WOW” statement, consider having a custom chandelier made. These pieces can turn a boring kitchen into a beauty.
Custom Lighting in Outdoor Landscaping:
Like kitchens, good outdoor landscape lighting can vastly improve the mood, safety and entrance to a home. How many of us have dreamed of that beautiful backyard “living space”? The reality is that most DIY outdoor lighting jobs look painfully horrible and they function on even a lower level. Think of those little-solar powered outdoor lamps jutting out of the grass at odd angles, or wall sconce lights on the patio to create a mood. Moreover, outdoor lighting usually requires a mixture of low voltage (12 watt) systems, regular lighting for social areas and sensored halogen lighting for security and safety. Putting the combination together can be complicated. Moreover, nothing irritates neighbors more quickly than poorly designed outdoor lighting. In addition, the weather and the elements can quickly ruin improperly installed lighting.
Small Space and Loft Living Designs:
Small spaces and Lofts are the third time when a lighting designer can substantially improve the mood and function of a living space. In a small space, lighting can be used to create the illusion of spaciousness. Small homes must be multifunctional and lighting, like storage, can make small spaces comfortable and inviting. Furthermore, small projects keep costs under control.
Loft living or open plan living spaces are the one time when a lighting designer is essential. Defining spaces and using them in an open space is simply a product of a carefully planned illusion. A professional experienced touch is usually needed to create comfort and intimacy. Dividing and conquering these spaces carefully is often the difference between the end product looking like HGTV vs. a garage sale.
