When you’re planning a new build project or a renovation on a budget it’s often the final touches that have to be relinquished. Although this is a shame – and I would always advise factoring in lighting in the early stages – all is not lost if you think it through carefully.
Lighting is important on many levels but primarily for function and atmosphere. If you plan the positions and the layering of light you can save money on certain elements of the lighting plan and can always revisit at a later stage, when finances allow.
Downlights versus Pendant Lights
Installing a number of downlights is going to be more expensive than fixing a couple of pendant lights in a room as they’re more labour intensive. Of course, it will depend on the cost of the chosen pendants but more about that later.
I’m not a fan of peppering ceilings with downlights but they are particularly useful in kitchens, bathrooms, utility and certain hallway areas. The positions should be carefully calculated; let’s say in a kitchen you would benefit from a downlight over the sink and food preparation areas, but could get away with pendants over the dining table. Lighting under wall units with LED tubes is very economical and gives out good light on the working surfaces beneath.
You certainly don’t need to give the same intensity of light throughout the kitchen, although you should allow for enough light for cleaning and other chores.
Dedicated LED Downlights or Retro-Fit GU10s
I generally recommend downlight fittings that take retro-fit LED GU10 bulbs. Your electrician may propose dedicated LED downlights but the cheaper ones are not always reliable and you may find the odd one failing after a couple of years. It’s an absolute bore when this happens as you then have to buy a replacement fitting and incur the costs of employing an electrician to fit it. Retro-fit GU10 lamps are very good nowadays and it’s a far easier solution just to buy a replacement bulb and pop it in yourself.
Chandelier or Pendant Light
There are some stunning chandeliers on the market but when money’s tight it’s worth considering a simple pendant or even a light fixing with a lampshade. You can always find a beautiful feature light in a year or two and it can be fixed in the same point.
NB If you do plan to replace a lightweight fitting with a more substantial piece in the future make sure you reinforce the ceiling fixing area to allow for the weight.
Wall Lights or Lamps
Both lamps and wall lights help to layer the light and make the area feel cosier but it’s not always feasible to have numerous table lamps dotted around a room and wall lights just take up less space. Also, wall lights can emphasise features and create balance, for example, flanking a feature fireplace or a picture light illuminating a painting.
Replacing wall lights in the future is relatively easy and economical in terms of carrying out the work, but make sure the fittings you choose are compatible with the wiring for other lights on the existing circuit.
Buying Antique Fittings
You can find some very good bargains at household auctions although many people are nervous and think it’s risky. Usually the lights will have been tested and certified as safe although it’s still good to get an electrician to check it over before fixing. It’s also possible to get some very original antique fittings at realistic prices from specialist outlets. Here are some of my favourites:
https://www.antiquelighting.co.uk/
Lampshades
Don’t underestimate how good a well-proportioned lampshade will look. They are lightweight and it’s comparatively economical to get some large bespoke lampshades made, and you have a huge choice of colours.
One company I have used a great deal over the years is Heathfield https://heathfield.co.uk/shop/categories/lampshades who make a wide range of bespoke size shades. The Flat Drum and the Thin Drum lampshades with diffuser work extremely well in bedrooms, especially if you go for a generous diameter.
Leverage Natural Light
Finally, try and maximize the use of natural light by strategically placing mirrors and choosing light-coloured paints and furnishings. This approach reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day, leading to energy savings.
Conclusion
In summary, it’s always best to factor in the main architectural lighting initially and then, if funds are tight, hold back on the feature light fittings until finances have eased. In any case, sometimes it’s more enjoyable to take your time to select the pieces that really resonate. Or you may just be happy with your compromises.
Claire Pendarves originally qualified as an interior designer and is now a lighting consultant with over 20 years’ experience
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