2
LIGHT
A good lighting plan is often
overlooked during a renovation
or build, but it can make or break a space.
Your floor plan will usually determine your
lighting plan – and if you have it, natural light
is always best. Just remember, it constantly
changes throughout the day and will change
the way colours look. Morning light from the
east is usually cool, compared to afternoon
light from the west, which is warmer in colour.
In Australia, we normally orientate homes
to face north and east, to make the most of
the light and the heat – thereby passively
heating, cooling and lighting our homes.
So a well-designed home shouldn’t need
much more than natural light during the day.Aside from this, you’ll require a good mix
of ambient, accent and task lighting to create
depth and character in your rooms.
Too many downlights can kill a vibe in
any home, so don‘t overdo it. Instead, floor
lamps, table lights, wall lights, ceiling lights and
recessed wash lighting can come together
to light up what you need and where, as well
as creating mood and ambience.
Always use warm light in your home
and try to light up interesting features in
a space. It might be timber floors, a vaulted
ceiling or a prized artwork. Anything that
can deliver character and interest in a space
will be miles ahead of the all-too-often-chosen
gazillion downlights.1
SPACE
Arguably the most important
consideration in designing a room
is how the space works. It must cater to
the needs of the people using the room,
but without feeling cramped.
Don’t forget to take into account the
negative space in a room – that’s the
space not being used. If you have, for
instance, giant vaulted ceilings, you can
utilise this normally unreachable space
with larger-than-life pendants, oversized
fans, or even a visual element such as
shiplap cladding so the room doesn’t
feel like an airport hangar..
It’s also important to leave enough
space between elements so people
can comfortably move through the room,
but not so much that you’re running
a half-marathon during the day. Generally,
1200mm is enough between significant
furniture pieces and zones, but if you have
the luxury, a 1500mm buffer can be ideal.
Keep your furniture off the walls just
a touch to prevent any damage, but also to
give the illusion of space. Even in a smaller
room, a sofa placed just off the wall will make
the room look bigger than it is.
It’s all about balance. Balance the negative
with the usable space and your room will feel
coherent and resolved.36 / Inside OutTHINGS WE LOVE