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