Making a lighting plan for a renovation

Lighting is the cheapest part of a renovation and the first thing to be forgotten. If you only wire once the walls are closed, you are stuck with whatever light points happened to be there already.

First decide where the furniture goes

A light point belongs above the table, not in the middle of the room. So first draw the floor plan with furniture, and only then decide where the lamps go.

The most common mistake is a light point exactly in the middle of the ceiling, while the table stands to one side.

Think in three layers

General light, functional light and ambient light. You need a connection for each, ideally on a separate switch so you can use them independently. See why one lamp is not enough.

Wall connections at the right height

For wall lights, have the connection come out at the desired height: around 140 centimetres next to a reading chair, 120 to 140 centimetres next to a bed. More in how high should a lamp next to the bed hang.

Think about dimmers and circuits

A dimmer has to suit LED lighting, and not every dimmer does. Choose the type in advance, so the electrician does not have to come back. See which dimmer works with LED lighting.

Spread your light points over several switches. A living room in which everything goes on and off at once is in practice only used in one way.

Leave some spare capacity

Lay a few more connections than you think you need now. An unused light point costs almost nothing during construction; adding one later costs a day of chiselling.

For larger projects

Working on a restaurant, hotel, shop or office? Then we make the complete lighting plan and take care of the installation in the Netherlands and Belgium. See business customers.

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