Lighting planning in new construction - How did you proceed?

Hello everyone,

who can help us with the lamp planning?
How did you do your lamp planning? Decided yourselves, or do you commission certain people for it?
Generally, the question is whether you should plan everything to be as bright as possible, or so that, for example, the living room doesn't need to be that bright.
We have already made some ideas, but we also lack inspiration.

1. In the hallways, as well as in the main bathroom, we have considered installing surface-mounted spotlights.
Since recessed spotlights are very expensive and not so flexible afterward.
What do you think about that?

2. Along the stairs, we also want to have spotlights installed. Probably these with motion sensors near the steps. I have also seen lights that are mounted under the steps. I really like those, too. What makes sense here in your opinion?
3. What do you think about wall lights and where and how could they be used so that they are effective and not so old-fashioned?

4. Do you have ideas regarding indirect lighting? Maybe in the living room or in the bathroom?
I find indirect lighting really nice, but unfortunately I also lack the right ideas here.

I still have many points about the lighting. But it is probably not sensible to write everything in one text block. Therefore, I would be happy if you could help me with the first points.

Best regards, Anne

Hi,
we planned it ourselves (and carried it out).
Recessed spots throughout the whole house.

The number and brightness (3 or 5 watt LEDs) just as we thought necessary. But this can easily and relatively cheaply be changed later on.

We drew this in advance on paper in the floor plans. On the ground floor, it was then realized exactly like this because the boxes for the spots were already set into the in-situ concrete ceiling.

On the upper floor, we made some smaller changes.

In the living room, we can also make it completely bright with spots. But we actually only do this for cleaning. Otherwise, we have 3 wall lights in the living room that emit indirect light.

For planning the spots, we looked at the room size and then thought about how many spots need to go in. We then left about 70-100 cm of space from each wall (a bit more where cupboards will be placed) and kept 100-140 cm distance between each spot.

In the kitchen, pay attention to where the countertop is so you don’t cast a shadow on yourself.

We found planning the switches more difficult. Which circuits should be switchable from where, etc.?

We also have indirect lighting in the guest bathroom and in the kitchen. There, the ceiling was dropped in certain areas (kitchen, for example, above the kitchen island) and indirect lighting was installed (LED strips).

Basically, you have to do what you like. To gather ideas, we visited show homes and especially new houses of friends/acquaintances already years/months before planning.

We had a lighting expert for consultation. He recommended installing regular light outlets in the center of the ceiling of each room and rather setting accents with floor and table lamps. His motto is seven light sources for a larger room. We did it that way and I don't regret it at all. Indirectly, we illuminated with small string lights. Spots are fixed forever... ...and I now find their design quite worn out. From one light outlet, I can also hang a [Affenschaukel] somewhere.

We have spotlights in the hallways and in the bathroom. I would have also liked a foot light at the stairs or integrated into the railing - but in the end, it was too expensive for us. A shame. My husband doesn't like wall lamps - his reasoning: you are so inflexible with them. Well, I think you don't have to be flexible everywhere. So we just have ceiling outlets everywhere - and otherwise many sockets to provide "ambilight" with various floor and/or table lamps. And - I wouldn’t spend money on someone external. I think it only makes sense if you also invest a nice sum to do what they recommend. But lighting is difficult anyway. Most lamps I like are way too expensive for me - I won’t pay €400 or more for some bent metal on the ceiling...

We actually only do it for cleaning.

You really have to pay attention to that - unfortunately, we haven't. So cleaning just has to be done during the day. We also planned everything ourselves - usually 2 ceiling outlets per room. We are basically satisfied. We kept it simple and cheap, but put a lot of time and thought into the planning.

One more addition: In hindsight, we should have at least briefly reviewed our plan with the electrician. If he had contributed a bit of experience, it probably would have become perfect. But as it is, everything is fine.