Layering light to enhance the home

Layered lighting in the home is a transformative design technique that adds depth, flexibility, and ambiance to any space. Here, Creative Director Sally Storey shares expert tips on how to achieve beautifully layered lighting in your home, combining general, task, and feature lighting for stunning results.

“Layering light is as important to a lighting designer as texture, color, and material are to an interior designer,” says Sally Storey. By layering light, you create a flexible lighting scheme that adapts to the different activities within a space, while enhancing its aesthetics.

Layered lighting involves combining multiple types of lighting effects, including:

• General lighting: Provides overall illumination.
• Task lighting: Focused light for specific activities, like reading or cooking.
• Feature lighting: Accentuates architectural details or decor elements, adding drama and interest.

These layers can be achieved using techniques such as downlighting, uplighting, wall washing, and highlighting specific areas. Ideally, a lighting scheme incorporates at least two layers, though the best designs often feature three or four.

In a living room, layering light helps set the mood and enhances functionality. For example:

• Ambient lighting: Table lamps or concealed cove lighting create a warm and inviting glow.
• Feature lighting: Use directional spotlights like the Polespring LED downlight to highlight artwork or the center of a coffee table. Uplighting a fireplace, window reveal, or backlit bookcase adds a touch of elegance.
• Task lighting: Floor or reading lamps provide focused light for reading or other activities.

For ultimate control, ensure each layer is on an independent circuit. This allows you to adjust the mood by dimming general lights and accentuating highlights for a cozy evening atmosphere.

In bathrooms, a layered lighting scheme can transition the space from practical to spa-like. Key elements include:

• General lighting: Downlights or cove lighting above create overall brightness.
• Task lighting: Wall lights on either side of a mirror provide even illumination for grooming.
• Feature lighting: Incorporate low-level floor washers, lit niches, or an uplight behind a freestanding bath to add subtle drama.

Balancing these layers allows you to tailor the ambiance for functionality during the day or relaxation in the evening.

Corridors are often overlooked but can be transformed with thoughtful lighting design.

• For narrow corridors, use off-centered downlights to illuminate artwork or uplight a textured wall for added depth. Adding a floor washer, like the Cazalla LED steplight, creates decorative accents and improves nighttime visibility.
• In wider corridors, consider decorative wall lights or lanterns for general illumination.
  Enhance architectural features like door reveals or windows with uplights to create dynamic layers.

Lit shelving units can elevate any room, providing both function and artful decoration. LED lighting offers endless creative solutions:

• Front lighting: Conceal an LED strip behind a baffle at the front of the shelf for subtle illumination.
• Backlighting: Create depth with dramatic backlit effects, perfect for styling items on display.
• Spotlighting: Use small fixtures like the Lucca 30 for deep shelves or the Etta Eyelid under-cupboard light for shallower designs.

These techniques can transform shelves into glowing focal points, even in spaces with limited natural light.

For maximum flexibility, each lighting layer should be on a separate circuit. This allows you to adjust the intensity of each layer, transitioning seamlessly from bright daytime lighting to intimate evening settings. The ability to control each layer individually creates a dynamic, adaptable scheme tailored to your needs.

Layering light is an art that enhances your home’s functionality and atmosphere. To achieve the best results, consult one of our expert lighting designers. Contact us to book an appointment to explore how we can transform your space with beautifully layered lighting.