How to light a period house

Careful planning is the secret to illuminating historic spaces, says lighting designer Sally Stephenson of Owl Lighting

- Sally Stephenson

Start with a plan 

The last thing anyone wants is for the electrician to arrive without a clear idea already formed. Everything is simpler with a plan; ideally, that means drawing the room with the furniture and joinery marked out and thinking about how that room will be used— whether that’s for working, reading, relaxing or enter-taining. Remember that one size doesn’t fit all: some people naturally want more light or a cooler colour of light; others are comfortable with less. It’s highly personal. All this information needs to be fed into the plan. At the same time, it’s important to plan where the switches will go. Will there be one by the bed to turn off all lights in a bedroom? What will be turned off and on at the wall? What will be on a dimmer? Not only is this a practical point, but, in order to meet building regulations, loads and circuit schedules should be specified by the lighting designer at this stage.

Features, not only functions