Start by taking a close look at your interiors: some areas may be sufficiently lit, but do they have the atmosphere and quality of light that you’re looking for? Could you activate a left-over space, perhaps turning a dark corridor into a cosy reading corner?

Also, keep in mind that many different activities may take place in a particular location. Through the course of the day, your kitchen counter may start out as a breakfast bar, but then turn into a home office, and later be used for cooking, homework or a gathering of family and friends.

You should also consider your space’s dimensions. As a rule of thumb, rooms with low ceilings benefit from a combination of ceiling, wall and floor lights, while pendant lights can add a sense of structure to rooms with higher ceilings.

Zones

Large spaces can be broken down into smaller ones by the use of light. Creating zones with their own individual identities will help to increase the sense of generosity and variety in a room, and in your home as a whole. Islands of light in the centre of a space will attract the eye, making it seem smaller. By placing light fittings around the perimeter, you can make the room feel more spacious.

Vary Heights

To animate the entire spatial volume of your room, light fittings should be positioned at different heights. Take into account the heights of elements such as windowsills, furniture or built-in joinery to avoid unwanted overlaps and clashes when finalising the locations of your fittings. You should also take vistas across and in between rooms into account.

Play With Arrangements

It is worth trying out various arrangements when choosing the position of your light fittings. To illuminate a larger space or surface, several fittings may be lined up or grouped together. Alternatively, a cluster of lights can act as a sculptural presence, giving both structure and identity to a room.

Play with shadows

A dramatic shadow can add a striking note to a room. And dappled light through a window can create a beautiful, shimmering pattern. But when too few fittings are used or when light is coming from only one direction, the room can seem small and lifeless. Instead, try to generate a lively play of light and shadow by building up your light from various sides and heights.

Control reflections

If handled with care, reflective materials can add a nice touch to a room. But, more often, reflections from surfaces such as polished table tops or marble kitchen counters create an irritating glare that becomes tiring over time. In these circumstances, use a soft, diffused light source or perhaps a mirror-headed light bulb. In addition, matt paint on surrounding walls will reflect light in a gentler and more even way than gloss paint.

The halo effect

Some lights – for instance Artek’s A110 ‘Hand Grenade’ or A330S ‘Golden Bell’ – have perforated rings or rims at the base of their shade. Designed to diffuse light and prevent glare, these create a beautiful circle of light around the fitting, known as the ‘halo effect’. To experience this elegant play of light and shadow, make sure to use clear glass bulbs – frosted or pearlescent ones will produce an attractive diffused glow, but will not cast shadows.