Living and dining rooms

In these rooms, lighting must meet the needs of all the activities that occur, as well as creating atmosphere and enhancing furnishing. Keep it flexible, with lots of table top and freestanding lamps and up lighters. For reading lighting should be above, behind or to one side of the reader to prevent shadows falling on the page. Experiment with table and floor lamps and swivel arm wall lights together with good background lighting.

Dinning lighting is best served by direct overhead fittings. Strong and harsh lighting is unflattering, so try an adjustable shaded pendant fitted with crown silver lamps to eliminate glare.

Stairs, halls and landings

Stairways are busy, so safety should be the main consideration. The quality of light should be as bright as or brighter than the lights below without creating a dramatic contrast. So fix ceiling lights at the top of each flight of stairs, on each landing and at the bottom. Put on a dimmer for greater flexibility and ensure lights can be turned on and off at the top and bottom of flights.

Mirrors and tungsten wall light will give an impression of space, whereas central pendants will make a hall appear narrower.