Lighting was a very... let's say... delicate topic for us. However, I am also spoiled (because I am a professional), so I know exactly what happens when the lighting is not right.
But regardless of whether you want to hire a lighting planner or not: I have to know myself how I would later like the room to be lit. I don’t have to satisfy any DIN standard to have a certain light intensity, I have to feel comfortable.
I didn’t "approve" a single cable from my husband unless he could tell me beforehand which light fixture was supposed to be installed there and what it was for:
"Let’s just put a cable here and see what happens"
"Show me the light fixture that is supposed to go there"
"No idea"
"No idea - no cable"
"... I like that light fixture"
"Then we put a cable here and up front we add a little one, otherwise the corner will be too dark"
For every light fixture – for every cable. I think sometimes during the construction period he would have liked to see me hanging by a cable.
We chose lights that match the style of the house and our furniture and that we like, and then cables were planned for them. There are very few recessed spots, lots of light “all around.” In the evening, you don’t sit in front of the TV in an office or a hotel lobby. It should create a cozy atmosphere, but I don’t want a lumen battle to happen there. Table lamps, eliminating dark corners, maybe pictures you want to highlight especially. However, there also needs to be light when it’s necessary (cleaning or whatever) and so on...
Just like the tip with the vacuum cleaner when planning sockets: imagine your daily routine.
How do I want it to look when I:
- sit in front of the TV
- sit at the dining table with friends
- play a board game at the dining table
- cook
- clean
- read on the sofa? Knit, crochet while watching TV?
- lie in the bathtub? But also: need light to pluck eyebrows
- want to leave the house and put on jacket and shoes in the hallway
- come home (switched sockets!)
...
From today’s point of view, we did everything right!
A lighting task should be fulfilled and you should be aware of it beforehand. What do I want to achieve there?
Once the cable is there, you have to find lights that look exactly good there. 100% harder and even more difficult for laypeople!
My favorite saying became even more my favorite saying during the construction phase:
Those who don’t know what they want get what they don’t want!
What do I want to do there? Which light fixture do I like? Can the fixture do what is needed there (and can I afford the fixture)?
YES: plan cable, buy fixture.
NO: keep looking!
Sounds tedious, and it is, but it’s worth it.