Lighting

Assessing your lighting needs is vital before you start installing your lights. Make fixed lighting an important part of your scheme at the planning stage so that the electrical wiring system can be arranged before you start decorating. Sockets can then be added for lamps and lighting effects. Always remember that when dealing with the electrical wiring, a qualified electrician must be consulted. All electrical compliancy acts for your country should be adhered to, to avoid breaking the law and serious injury.

List special features or objects that you would to be illuminated, such as a collection of glass or prints. Also make a note of wardrobes, kitchen cupboards, or storage spaces that need internal lighting. Make sure that food preparation areas are well lit. Studio living can be quite compact and lighting from outside might be non-existent, so it is important to get your lighting well organised and illuminating the right areas. Steps and entrances and access to raised platforms must be properly lit. Your lighting arrangement need not be wall or ceiling-hung, but can be mounted at low levels so that the focus of illumination is on the stair tread.

If your bed doubles as seating during the day, consider flexible lighting that will be suitable for both situations. Adjustable, Anglepoise-type lights, and clip-on, extending, and floor-standing lights are well adaptable and provide a good level of task lighting.

Floor-standing and clip-on work lamps provide the most flexible lighting system. The can be positioned wherever the need may arise, and are available in a multitude of shapes and designs to suit any interior design scheme. The biggest downfall of floor-standing and clip-on lamps is the fact that trailing flex can be extremely dangerous. Strategic placing of these types of lighting fixtures can in a certain way minimise the dangers of getting caught or tripping over loose flex.

Pendant lighting has been around for many years always been the preferred means of lighting, not by choice but by the pure simplistic function of this type of lighting fixture. It fits in well with contemporary styling, and particular in loft or studio living. The height can be adjusted at will and helps to create a focal point in a room. Using a translucent bulb will avoid ‘dazzle’.

In most modern type studio dwellings the use of mini down-lighters and wall-hung up-lighters have become quite common. Low voltage halogen fittings are now so small that they are easily concealed and in the case of wall-hung units are compact and don’t engulf an entire wall space. Using mini down-lighters for your lighting requirements tend to be best suited for under counter lighting, problems with wiring and trying to conceal the transformer box may pose a problem. Up-lighters throw soft, reflected light around the room, creating ideal ambient lighting for living areas and relaxing, not suitable for reading purposes, though.

To create the ideal lighting solution a combination of, and, a variety of lighting fixtures should be used. Defining different areas with ceiling light, and wall-mounted spots can be a challenging exercise, however, with careful planning and arrangement each area in your studio apartment can be well lit and still create that perfect ambiance.