Lighting planning in new construction - How did you proceed?

It really depends a lot on which faction you belong to. Either you have the attitude: press a switch and it’s bright. Or you pay more attention to lighting.

Since I am 100% convinced that light has a very big impact on well-being, I belong to the second group. My girlfriend was not convinced at all at first, but after we visited some exhibitions, she now agrees with me.

Since we see lighting as a central element of the house, we have a professional plan it and have also included a corresponding budget. Because it’s not simply done with a plan and great luminaires. The whole thing also has to be controlled appropriately and sensibly (with us KNX).

In my opinion, anyone who only assigns a subordinate role to light does not need an external planner. You can manage that relatively easily yourself with a bit of brainpower...

Honestly: in the classic situation of the tenant (ceiling outlets mostly centrally located everywhere, a few wall outlets retrofitted) I have never stood in the dark or suffered uncomfortable lighting to the point where I thought: I would have to renovate just so that the lamps would finally be in the right places.

It seems to me that the topic of lighting planning is being strongly hyped in the course of the built-in spot trend.

What I would probably do if I were building now would be to apply the principle of empty conduits not only in walls but also in ceilings. So potentially several ceiling outlets that you can activate as you wish. Then you don’t need a “monkey swing” when the ceiling lamp no longer (or no longer) wants to be in the middle.

But first go to the astrologer or consult an oracle on how best to compose your lightshow, that’s probably a thing of the “planned cesarean single child generation.”

What I would probably do if I were building now would be to apply the principle of empty conduits not only in walls but also in ceilings. So potentially several ceiling outlets that can be activated as desired. Then you don’t need a "monkey bar" when the ceiling lamp is (no longer) supposed to be in the middle.

I think that’s a good idea and I have done it that way too. All in all, I would generally set up two lighting circuits. An indirect, subtle or scene lighting circuit and one for "bright". I think you can hold back on spotlights. In any case, the internet offers many and sometimes inexpensive lamps that simply look good. Beautiful lamps can definitely enhance a room significantly. For finding ideas, I would search a lot on the internet. Then you can implement your own ideas better later. Planned would be too expensive for me because I believe you can do it yourself. Although that is also a cost issue, you can spend a lot of money here.

I see it differently. Light or its wavelength has been scientifically proven to have a significant impact on human well-being and health/performance. This does not mean that the ceiling outlet in the middle of the room is unhealthy, but there are certainly other, possibly "better" options. Anyone who wants that goes to the lighting planner and invests money well there (provided the planner knows what they are doing), because they get added value for themselves. This is subjective. Whoever does not recognize the added value for themselves simply doesn't do it. It has nothing to do with fashion and is not stereotypical like "generation you haven’t seen."

One person likes smart homes, goes to the system integrator or does it themselves, another likes fireplace fires, goes to the stove builder or to the hardware store, the third goes to the carpenter and has furniture customized or goes to Ikea and "sacrifices" 5 cm. Others furnish the place themselves, others hire an interior designer. All legitimate approaches, which are independent of generations/fashion but rather depend on individual preference and the likewise individual wallet.

Planned is too expensive for me because I believe you can do that yourself

What some "lighting planners" deliver (shopping lists for designer lamps drawn into floor plans), yes. Under the same title you can definitely get value for money, but most homeowners are not gallery owners and do not need their Kujaus lit in such a way that nobody confuses them with real Rembrandts.

I/we planned it ourselves.
Somewhat more experienced in life due to age and living situation, I know that there is work light and cozy light as well as necessary lighting in storage rooms, and the obligatory pendant lamp over the dining table, and that coziness cannot come from above.

Standard for the general contractor (GU) are centrally located ceiling outlets in the rooms.
We basically kept them. In the wide kitchen divided into two, slightly shifted in the living room.
The fact after four years: hardly any ceiling light is used, only the pendant lamp over the dining table and in the WC and utility room.
What we operate: work lights in the kitchen under the wall cabinets and the extractor hood.
Living room: two table lamps in the living room plus a floor lamp for reading.
Hallway/stairs: wall outlets 5 pieces each 3 watt LED,
In the office we have two floor lamps and a table lamp in the window.
In the bathroom and bedroom recessed spots due to the low ceiling height: but these are hardly ever turned on, except when ironing, rather bedside lamps switchable from the door and headboard, in the bathroom the mirror light and wall outlet.
With us it is basically always cozy light, which comes from no higher than 1.80 meters.
We find it comfortable and consistent with the daily routine. Positive: no sleep disorders [emoji4]
I like beautiful lamps... that does not include recessed lights, but rather objects that emit light. For that, however, I also searched for three years for great lamps that are valuable in design but also inexpensive (discontinued models at venteprivee, Westwing). One is still missing, above the dining table one from Ikea for 5.99, which might cost 99 € elsewhere.

Sometimes I have the feeling that I should have paid more attention to indirect lighting (corresponding sockets).
Then I hold one of these many (colorful) LEDs in the store, and upon reflection I realize that I do not want the uncomfortable glaring or colorful light at all. In the dressing room as in the kitchen, we had separately switchable sockets installed: they are still not used because the light we have is sufficient for work or as accents.
Example: in the kitchen we have one of our many globe lamps standing on a cabinet: it burns as an accent from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am, also from 4:00 am to 6:30 am: sufficient for coziness, emergency lighting for a kitchen visit, accent lighting for the living room through openness and as an occupied signal for burglars. The switch-on time is adjusted twice a year if necessary, by a 3.99 € timer in the socket...