Frequently Asked Questions about Designing Home Lighting

If you, like many homeowners, are planning a bit of a domestic makeover or upgrade this year, make sure that you do not forget one of the most vital aspects of interior décor – the lighting. Whether you prefer low-hanging chandeliers, modern pendants, or minimalistic spotlights, getting it right should be a top priority.

You would be surprised at just how much of a difference great lighting can make to the overall look and feel of a room. In many ways, it is one of those things that you only realise in hindsight, when you are making do with fixtures which are completely wrong for the space. You sit down for dinner and the spotlights are producing too much glare. Or, you install a beautiful pendant in the kitchen, but it does not produce enough illumination.

To get it right the first time, we recommend a helping hand from our experts. This guide to some of the most frequently asked questions about lighting will help you get to grips with the basics.

When Should I Start Planning My Lighting?

If you are designing or putting together an entirely new space, you might want to think about lighting options fairly early on. It will be much easier to buy and install exactly the right lighting fixtures if you know what kind of support and reinforcement they need.

For example, whilst it is certainly not impossible to retrofit heavy chandeliers, the process is much simpler if you can add a heavy-duty electrical box or brace before you finish decorating. This truly remarkable Valentina Crystal Chandelier, from the Franklite collection, is extremely beautiful, but it needs extra support to sit comfortably and safely on the ceiling.

How Much Money Should I Spend on Lighting?

This is a question which depends entirely on the type of look that you are trying to create. If you shop at Abbeygate Lighting, you can browse for everything from the most luxurious ceiling lights to the most contemporary and minimalistic sconces.

Check out this simple, but elegant, Campani Single Wall Light, from Franklite. It offers a basic design, with a rustic appeal. It would look wonderful on a sumptuously decorated staircase or in a long hallway. The best advice is to spend some time thinking about what you want and how you are going to achieve it. The size of your budget is up to you, but the quality of the fixtures that you choose should remain high.

Is Decorative Lighting Better Than Architectural Lighting?

There is an easy answer to this one. The difference between architectural lighting and decorative lighting does not extend to a disparity in quality. If you shop for premium fixtures and fittings, they should be as impressive as one another.

The real distinction is in what they do and why, so use this information to inform your own choices. The majority of the products in the Franklite collection, at Abbeygate Lighting, are decorative. This means that they produce light, but they also add aesthetic value.

So, imagine a low-hanging pendant over a bathtub. In contrast, architectural lighting would take the form of recessed wall or ceiling lights; they produce light and the illumination is the sole focus. With this kind of fixture, it is not a problem if the fixture itself is concealed or ‘invisible.’