New house lighting: how to plan it right

You’re building a new home and want to make every room as comfortable as possible? Then you should not only think about furniture or decor: the level of brightness at different spots and different times of day also plays an essential role. But how do you figure out the lighting design for a new house? We’ll walk you through the entire process – step by step.

How we feel, both physically and mentally, depends highly on the type of light we’re exposed to on a daily basis. Just to give one example: in 2021, the GBCI (Green Business Certification Inc.) and Saint Gobain Research conducted a survey on work environments and their impact on employees. 60 percent of the participants reported problems caused by poor lighting – e.g. blurry vision, eye strain and irritation, and dry eyes. This in turn can lead to fatigue, headaches, and difficulties to concentrate. Considering how many people work from home these days, a healthy indoor climate is more important than ever – and that includes the air quality as much as the lighting conditions.

• Living room: indirect and warm lighting is ideal for spaces where you mainly want to relax or watch TV.

• Bedroom: mood lighting with a dimming function helps you fall asleep faster and wake up fully rested. The dressing corner (in case you have one) should be well lit though.  

• Home office: a bright atmosphere is essential to stay productive and motivated, especially on cloudy days. Try to illuminate the room as evenly as possible – otherwise, it will put a strain on your eyes in the long run.

• Kids‘ room: children usually feel comfortable surrounded by a combination of warm white and glare-free lamps. In addition, LED orientation lights can provide an extra level of safety for nightly walks to the bathroom.  

• Kitchen: on countertops, the lighting in new houses should be sharp and clear. At the dinner table, on the other hand, you can keep the level of brightness a lot lower.

• Bathroom: apart from the main source of light, you’ll need lamps around the basin and mirror for shaving or applying makeup. Smart motion detectors also come in handy when you have to use the bathroom at night – and help you save energy at the same time.

• Stairways: if you want to avoid tripping hazards, make sure that the edges are well lit. You can combine one source of light on the upper landing and several spotlights along the staircase, for example.

Split up your plan into separate zones, including every large piece of furniture and its exact position. A special ruler with different scale standards – also known as triangle – will help you depict the correct proportions.    
Once you have mapped out the furniture and primary sources of lighting for your new house, you’ll see where you need additional lamps. Maybe some corners are still too dark, or you want to create a warmer ambience in the main living area? Provided you factor in plenty of extra socket outlets, you can also upgrade your installation later on.  

Next, make a list with all the types of lighting you want to set up. Try to give as much detailed information as possible (precise measurements, special products from certain manufacturers, smart features, etc.). This way, it will be easier to implement your plan in the final stages.

Tip: Ask yourself how you’d like to control the lighting in your new home. Smart technology enables you to rely on apps, voice assistants, and digital interfaces – along with classic switches on the wall. If you want that kind of comfort, you should consider installing a KNX system at the very beginning.