The beginner's guide to lighting

The good old light bulb has been around for roughly 150 years, transforming our homes, our cities and the world as we know it. And yet, the idea of furnishing with light is still unfamiliar turf for many. Light fixtures don’t just illuminate your home – they can also improve its ambience, add to its style and (most importantly) make certain areas more useable. Now, with the introduction of smart lighting, the possibilities truly are limitless. If you’d like to learn more about what light can do for your home, then you’re in the right place. With this family apartment as a shining example, let’s explore the three basic categories of lighting in action.

General lighting: the very first layer

Not unlike a kind smile, this first category is what (very literally) lights up the whole room – most often achieved with ceiling-hung pendant lamps. These lighting fixtures are often on the centre, and so can really enhance the style of your interior. One great idea? Play around with plurals. In this longer hallway, for example, three pendant lamps hang in a row, guiding your eye into the room. If you’d like different levels of brightness for different times of day, this is where wireless LED bulbs can really lend a helping hand.

See all Pendant lamps

See all Pendant lamps

Functional lighting: for where you really need it

The name gives it away: this is purpose-serving light that helps with specific activities around the house. You can use these lights to brighten up your desk or favourite reading chair, but also for things like highlighting collections or peering into the dark, hidden depths of your wardrobe. Floor lamps and table lamps are great, but if free space is hard to come by, this home shows that you can also put your walls and ceiling to work.

See all Wall lamps

Ambient lighting: now it really feels like home

Think of this softer, warmer lighting as the final cherry on top; filling in the gaps between other light sources to create a really cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Table lights, fairy lights, LED tea lights... the list goes on.

See more about Decorative lighting

Switch on your home's style lighting

Black and white lamps lend themselves brilliantly to this home’s punchy black and white palette. Take a look at the colours and textures of your home, and keep them in mind when picking out your light fixtures.

See more about Lighting