Our Top Tips

To get your ceiling
on point

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We are lovers of all things design and lighting is way up there. It’s Beck’s favourite part of a room making it can easily be one of the most expensive items within a scheme. Of course, there are options for all budgets, but you can’t compensate for style. With an unrivalled amount of choice out there these days, there’s no excuse for the poor lighting. We’ve rounded up some gorgeous inspo and hot picks to help you sail through our latest masterclass.

Beck explains how we’re missing out by neglecting ceilings and lights in our homes:

A ceiling is usually the largest, uninterrupted view you have in a room. It also happens to be where most rooms fall short. We're so scared of using colours or materials on ceilings that it holds us back from utilising the biggest blank canvas we have. Think of a beautiful restaurant you've been to - chances are the ceiling and lighting were on point to create the right kind of atmosphere, and the same potential is there for your home.
A way to make a big change to how the space feels without updating the rest of your decor is through changing up your lighting.
- BECK

The picture the right shows how powerful a considered ceiling and lighting package can have in a room. All elements and colours sing in equal measure.

If we’ve persuaded you to take the plunge and switch up your lighting then you’re in the right place. It’s the best time of year to do it here in the UK as with longer hours of darkness, you’ll reap the rewards straight away. We’ll take you through the biggest things to bear in mind, introduce you to some of our favourites and feed your imagination with some inspirational images. (We won’t get too technical - promise!)

Tip #1: Heights

We’re crazy about pendants or chandeliers where you have the height. A good rule of thumb is to hang lights so they finish 2.1m from the floor and this is doable for most homes as the average UK ceiling height is around 2.4m. If you’re lucky and have higher ceilings then raise the lights 5cm every 30cm extra height you have above 2.4m.

If you don’t have heaps of head height then you can opt for a semi-flush fitting or make sure the fixture is over a bed or fixed piece of furniture such as a kitchen island or dining table so it is unlikely to be disturbed. To create some interest and variation you can think about having multiple pendants or chandeliers at different heights. This is especially effective in large open plan spaces and over staircases.

PENDANTS

Who Said All Your Lights Should Match?

Kelly Hoppen shows us how you can vary the lights in one room to add interest and help zone space. There’s so much lighting going on here - it’s crazy!
Let us know how many different styles you spot in the comments below!
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Perfect Pendant Picks

Click the images to shop pendants >

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Tip #2: Size is VERY Important

Unlike other things, when it comes to lighting, size is really important. Finding the right light for your space is often the most challenging part, but maintaining the correct lighting scale can make or break your space’s balance.

We’ll be putting up a post soon about how to measure your lighting correctly, check back soon!

Chandeliers

Chandeliers to Choose

< Click the images to shop

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Tip 3#: Tell a Story

Use your lighting to your advantage to create special moments in your home. Adding a library sconce/wall light above a piece of art instantly elevates its status — even if it’s just a little scribble!

Curate Your Style

Wall lights can focus attention to a small area in the room. Here some angled library lights/sconces have been used to **showcase** the **styling** of objects on the shelf in this kitchen. They have a practical function too - helping to better light the sink area.
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Whether you call them sconces or wall lights they add a touch to interior design that many other things simply cannot. Helping to light smaller spaces or wash surfaces with light, these lights will take your room to the next level of design. Mix it up and use them in unexpected places for exciting results - some of our favourite bedside installs have wall lights!

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head outside

Wall lights outdoors are simply gorgeous. Lighting the walls and doorways during the dark hours - what better way to be greeting after a long day.

When picking outdoor lights, pay attention to the IP rating or weather resistance to ensure it's fit for purpose. Other things to consider are if the unit is open at the bottom or fully closed. One advantage of a closed unit is it's unlikely to get dusty or become home to insects!

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