Local Life - Wigan - January 2021

32
Update
Recessed linear bar lights, £249.99 each,
Decked Deco: 07582 800 002; deckeddeco.com
Your Lighting
During winter we rely on artificial
lighting, so now’s the time to assess what
works in your home and plan improvements.
ONE cordless
LED table lamp
in gold, £129,
Lime Lace:
01423 900 522;
limelace.co.uk
LIGHTING REGULATIONS
All electrical work in the home in the UK must
comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, so
for anything other than the most minor works use an
electrician who is registered as a ‘competent person’.
Lights fitted in bathrooms and outdoors must be
specially rated, usually to at least IP44, but check with
your supplier and/or electrician before installing.
Plan lighting as early as possible
A good time to upgrade lighting is when redecorating,
especially if replastering. Consider adding wall lights
above the living room seating in the living room for
greater flexibility or mounted either side of a bed to free
up bedside table space. Other options are a row of lights
over the dining table, a picture light above a painting or
photograph, or spotlights above your home-office desk.
Light in layers
‘Layer’ lighting from several different sources and
directions for both practicality and aesthetics.
Professionals think of four types of lighting: general, task,
accent and atmosphere, and you can mix several types
in each room using a combination of ceiling lights and
pendants, wall washers, floor or table lamps, and special
shelf or picture lights. Use floor and table lamps for better
illumination at mid and higher levels around the room.
Get the best bulbs
Choose modern LED energy-saving bulbs – although
expensive initially, they are cheap to run and should
last for years. For a warm, welcoming light, look for
bulbs marked around 2,700K. For brightness, consider
lumens (lm) rather than wattage – use around 470lm
as the equivalent to a 40w bulb, or around 800lm for a
60w bulb. Note that dimmer switches make all lighting
schemes more versatile but it can be trickier to dim LEDs,
so consult your electrician if you’re unsure.
The latest in lighting
Lighting technology is moving fast. LED lighting allows for
very small, slim fittings in places that were not previously
possible. Strip lights can be placed around the home to
create interesting effects, while the energy efficiency of
LED means that cordless, battery-powered lights can be
placed almost anywhere. Meanwhile, ‘smart’ lights that
wake you up, turn on as you walk into a room or change
colour in time to your music can be controlled via an app,
a remote control or even voice commands. Futuristic
innovations include lighting that supports bio-rhythms
via adjustable light levels and light panels that look like
skylights to bring ‘daylight’ into windowless areas.