Expert Tips on Lighting an Old Cottage
Lighting an old cottage has its challenges.
Many of us dream of owning a cosy country cottage with roses framing the doorway. However, balancing modern lighting with a classic interior requires careful thought to ensure the result is both practical and sympathetic to the style of the property.
One common drawback of older cottages is their low ceilings, often adorned with beams, and small windows. Additionally, these homes often have quirky features that can limit natural light.
When planning the lighting for an old cottage, it’s important to consider how it will work during the day and at night. Surprisingly, daytime lighting can be the more challenging to get right.
At night, an old cottage can be beautifully lit with table lamps and floor lamps. As long as the kitchen is well-lit and the stairs are safely illuminated, there’s usually no urgent need to overhaul the lighting for the evenings.
Daytime, however, can be a different story. In winter, especially, a dream cottage can become quite gloomy if the lighting isn’t addressed properly. To help you brighten your home, here are some tips on lighting an old cottage or house, along with a few interior design tricks to complement the overall effect.
Balancing Light in Rooms
If natural light only enters from one side of a room, it’s essential to balance it by casting light onto the opposite side. Otherwise, the space can feel like a cave at one end. Here are some ways to achieve this:
- Install downlights near the rear wall to wash light down its surface.
- Illuminate artwork on the back wall using angled downlights or surface-mounted spotlights.
- Use uplights to reflect light onto the ceiling (see Case Study below).
- Add wall lights.
The most appropriate solution depends on the room’s design and your personal style. While downlights should be used sparingly in period properties, they can be effective if installed with dark baffles to conceal the light source, ensuring they don’t detract from the character of the space.
Lighting Low Ceilings
Low ceilings can be one of the biggest challenges in older properties. The lower the ceiling, the less light travels to the back of the room. Ceilings are often beamed, and these beams are frequently dark.
Painting the ceiling and beams a light colour can make the ceiling appear higher while significantly increasing the amount of reflected light in the room.
Shallow Ceiling Depth for Downlights
The recess depth between the ceiling and the floor above is often shallow in older cottages, making it tricky to fit fire-rated downlights. If the ceiling is beamed, there may be no depth at all.
Consider partially filling the space between two beams to create enough depth for downlights towards the back of the room. This adjustment is often unnoticeable from the rest of the room. Discreet spotlights aimed at artwork or décor can also help reflect light back into the space.
Using Uplights
Small in-ground LED uplights can create a magical effect by skimming light up the walls and reflecting it off the ceiling, giving the illusion of a higher ceiling.
Wall Lights in Classic Interiors
Wall lights are often one of the most effective ways to bring light into a cottage room. Choose designs that suit a traditional interior and avoid creating glare. Ensure the fittings cast sufficient light into the room but be mindful of overusing them—variety is key.
Using Mirrors
Strategically placed mirrors can reflect natural daylight, especially when positioned opposite a window. They also amplify light from other sources, such as lamps or wall fittings, enhancing the overall brightness.
Light Quality
Consider the light temperature and quality when selecting bulbs or fittings. A colour temperature of 2700°K provides a warm, inviting glow, and bulbs with a colour rendering index (CRI) of 90 or above ensure colours appear true and vibrant.
Light-Coloured Curtains
While rich fabrics often suit older properties, dark materials can absorb light. Opting for light-coloured curtains—or predominantly light ones—can help brighten the room.
Lighting Case Study
I once worked on a beautiful Regency house in Falmouth overlooking the water. The owners were converting the lower ground floor into a playroom that could also serve as a guest room with a sofa bed. The room had an exceptionally low ceiling—anyone over 5’9” would have to duck in certain spots. It certainly wouldn’t meet today’s building regulations!
In addition to shallow downlights in a few locations, I suggested installing a run of small LED uplights along the back wall. To avoid disturbing the old slate floor, I proposed building a simple box to house the LEDs, offering a practical and economical solution.
Although my clients were initially sceptical, they later called to express how delighted they were with the results. Unfortunately, no photos were taken, but the transformation was remarkable.
Claire Pendarves originally qualified as an interior designer and is now a lighting consultant with over 20 years’ experience
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