7 min read
There will come a time during the pre-build stage when you’ll need to make so many decisions that you will only trust yourself to make them with the appropriate knowledge.
When the Builder needs you to confirm that the Lighting and Electrical Plan has everything you want to be included, but you’ve got this gut feeling you’ve left something out, or this is the first time you’ve ever had to do this. If you’re just not too sure what to include, here are my Top 8 Tips For The Lighting and Electrical Plan for Your New Home:
1. Have downlights on a dimmer switch. Dimmers help you create the “mood” or ambience of a room. However, there are times when you don’t want the lights bright. A dimmer switch will allow you to turn down the brightness and enjoy the space how you want!
There is no need for a dimmer in the WC, Powder Room, Laundry, Bathroom and Ensuite; however, if you’d like to change the brightness in either of these rooms, go right ahead! For example, you may want the Powder Room to have a dimmer to create an ambience for your guests.
2. Selecting the bulb temperature: The colour temperature of the bulbs you choose for your lights will significantly impact your internal colour palette when the lights are on. For example, if you’ve selected a white kitchen and then installed warm temperature bulbs, your white cabinetry will look “yellow” when the lights are on. If you’re okay with that, that’s fine, but from experience, you’ll most likely say your kitchen looks “old” or “dirty” when the lights are on because your white cabinetry now looks yellow!
Due to the temperature colour of the bulbs, most cabinetry colours will appear different when the lights are on. Although it goes without saying that you’ve worked hard to combine the internal materials, finishes and colours and love everything you’ve selected, you will want to see the actual colour at all times of the day and night. I recommend you choose” white” or “natural” bulb colour temperature so that all colours remain true within the rooms.
3. The correct position for ceiling lights. Ensure the kitchen and butler’s pantry lights are installed over the benches, not the walkway, as the light is behind your head when standing at the bench, and your body will shadow the task. For example, chopping vegetables with the light behind your head makes it difficult to see and unsafe. That’s not “good lighting design”! Instead, position the lights over your workspace, such as the benchtops (countertops), a desk, a basin, and even your favourite reading chair or reading nook.
You’ll also need to consider the spots in the house where you will be setting up your home office, where the kids will be doing their homework and where you’ll be positioning your favourite armchair to read.
Again, the correct positioning of these lights is essential. Lighting specifically installed to read, write, and use a computer is called task lighting. Sometimes, a basic lighting plan will show one light source positioned in the centre of the room.
That one light in the centre of the room will be useless when your desk or favourite armchair is positioned closer to a wall. Instead, consider installing the lights over the armchair, not over your head.
Installing lights over a desktop, not behind your head, will make a vast difference. Correctly positioned lighting with the correct bulb temperature will minimise eye strain, and you’ll also look much better in those Zoom meetings!
Always have at least two downlights over the desk to avoid “dark spots” or ‘shadowing” over your work.
Each light fitting will produce a light beam. Based on the beam angle, the idea is to position the lights where the beams overlap and evenly light the entire desk. The beam overlap is known as “beam spread”.
Building a brand-new home makes it easy to choose the best combination of downlights, beam angles and positioning to suit your lifestyle and personal preferences.
4. Uplighting: Up-lighting (where the light is positioned on the ground, shining up a wall or up a tree, for example) looks impressive. Up-lighting onto a feature wall looks stunning! Remember to ensure the up-light isn’t too close to the feature so as not to “wash out” the colour and texture of the feature.
External lighting looks best when using warm-colour temperature bulbs. Warm colour temperature bulbs are more acceptable externally and amongst nature and complement the colours of nature. If you’re considering having your garden designed by a Landscape Designer, make sure the lighting plan for the garden forms a part of the scope of work.
5. Powerpoints and Light Switches: A powerpoint is also referred to as GPO and stands for General Power Outlet. There are some very modern and low-profiled power points and light switches, but a hefty price tag comes with lower profiles. Most builders will install the most basic and cost-effective power points and light switches, but you can easily do some research and view the more modern designs, colours, sizes and profiles available.
Here’s a link to Clipsal to view their range of light switches and power point profiles.
Correctly positioning power points during the design stage will save you money down the track. Keep in mind that installing a power point in the wrong place can be an eyesore. The location of a power point needs to be practical, but sometimes, moving a power point a little over to the left or right from where you thought you wanted it can have a massive impact on the room’s aesthetics.
Stand in the doorway of each room (including at the entrance door looking into your home) and visualise where the power point(s) will be installed – Do you think the position of each powerpoint looks okay, and are they in a practical position?
Will a piece of furniture be placed in front of it? Which means you can’t access it!
Do you have enough power points in each room?
Have you chosen single or double power points everywhere?
Would it be convenient or necessary to include a USB Charging point in certain rooms?
6. If you intend to have a lamp positioned on a lamp table beside your sofa, which is in the middle of the room and too far from a power point on the wall, then you can discuss installing a power point on the floor. You must discuss this with your Builder if you have a concrete slab. Remember that a floor-mounted powerpoint will need to be as low profile as possible so that it’s not a tripping hazard or an eyesore!
You may want to position a desk in the middle of the home office room rather than up against the wall. A floor-mounted power point will mean no extension cords are running across the room to the wall powerpoint.
7. Do you like to read in bed but don’t like the look of a bedside lamp, or maybe you don’t have room for one? Consider a downlight directly over each pillow with the light switch on the wall, on each side, and at easy reach.
Both lights should be on separate dimmer switches, and the beam angle shouldn’t be any greater than 15 degrees. A warm colour bulb is ideal for a bedroom, but if you like to read for hours and to avoid eye strain, you may want to choose a natural bulb temperature.
8. Do you have a stick vacuum or an electric toothbrush that you don’t want to see? Add a powerpoint to the cupboard where you will store your stick vacuum. This will keep your stick vacuum charged and the vacuum out of sight while charging.
Have a power point inside your shaving cabinet or inside the vanity to keep your electric toothbrush charged and hidden from view.
Have a power point inside your shaving cabinet or inside the vanity to keep your electric toothbrush charged and hidden from view.
Now, let’s recap the 8 Top Tips to Consider for The Lighting and Electrical Plan of Your New Home:
1. Downlights on dimmer switches in most rooms to create the desired ambience
2. Select the right bulb colour temperature when you want to see the true colour of your walls and cabinetry, fixtures and fittings.
3. Check the positioning of your lights over your workspace to avoid shadowing and eye strain.
4. Consider up-lighting in your garden to highlight a feature and create an interesting effect by playing with shadow and light.
5. Correct positioning of powerpoints will eliminate an eyesore and assist in your day-to-day functioning.
6. Consider a floor powerpoint for that table lamp or home office desk sitting in the middle of the room. No more extension leads running across the room!
7. Enjoy reading in bed with good lighting, and YOU control the brightness and turn the light off without getting out of bed and disturbing others!
8. Add a powerpoint to the cupboard where you will keep your stick vacuum to keep it charged and to your shaving cabinet or vanity to keep your electric toothbrush charged.
So, there you have it, my 8 top tips to help you confidently get through the lighting and electrical plan appointment for your brand-new home.
One last tip … remember to have the precise details included in your contract. Don’t just think that because all the details are on the electrical and lighting plan, they’re automatically included in your contract. Double-check that the details on the drawings are in your contract BEFORE you sign the Builder’s contract.
