Lighting

Introduction
Types of lighting
Light fixture types
Lamp sources
Planning
Lighting room by room
Adding value

Electrical & Lighting

Contents

Introduction ................................................................................... 2

Types of lighting ............................................................................. 3

Light fixture types ............................................................................ 5

Lamp sources ................................................................................. 11

Planning ....................................................................................... 14

Lighting room by room ..................................................................... 17

Adding value .................................................................................. 28

Introduction
Creating atmosphere is why some cafes, bars and night clubs succeed where others fail. Atmosphere
is created through mood and mood is created by lighting. Change the destiny of your home or
business by choosing an atmosphere for it and creating it. You have the power.
Change your living room into
a haven, your bedroom into a
boudoir and your patio into an
entertainment area deluxe, all
through a few good lighting
decisions. Take each room and
fulfil its potential this will
change your home, how you
feel in it and the flow of your
life through it. Say yes to the
world of lighting and change
the whole atmosphere of your
home.
Dont shock yourself awake
by using a main central light
in your bedroom but choose
a dimmer on some wall lights
to make your transition from
sleeping to ready for the world
an easy one.
Maybe you do need glasses
but then again maybe you just
need to light your world with a
bit of love.
2

Types of lighting
There are three basic types of lighting that work together in your
home: ambient (general lighting), task and accent lighting. A
lighting plan combines all three according to function and style.

AMBIENT LIGHTING
This is the general lighting
responsible for the overall

illumination of an area or a
room. It creates a comfortable
environment in which you can
see easily and move about

safely without being blinded

by glare or experiencing dark
corners. In some spaces, such
as laundry rooms, the ambient
lighting also serves as the
primary source of task lighting
(see page 4). Ambient lighting
can be accomplished with a
number of fixtures, including
chandeliers, ceiling or wall
lights, recessed or track lights
and lanterns on the outside
of the house. Having a good
source of ambient light in every
room is fundamental to a good
lighting plan. The use the area
is put to will determine how
bright the ambient lighting
needs to be.

TASK LIGHTING
Task lighting helps you to
perform specific functions,
such as reading, writing,
grooming, cooking, doing
homework, working on
hobbies, playing games and
using your computer. The type
of task lighting you need will
depend on the task, but it could
be provided by recessed or
track lighting, pendant lighting,
under-cabinet lighting, and
special portable floor and desk
lamps. The most important
considerations are that it is free
of glare, doesnt cast shadows,
is bright enough to prevent eye
strain and any heat coming
from the bulb does not affect
the task.

ACCENT LIGHTING
Lighting that creates visual
interest in a room, adds drama
or draws the eye intentionally
along or towards something is
referred to as accent lighting. It
can be manipulated in a great
number of ways and with a
variety of focuses. For example,
it can be used to highlight the
texture of a face-brick or clad
wall, outdoor landscaping or
to draw the eye to sculptures,
paintings, houseplants or other
items of interest, such as your
Star Wars figurine collection.
The rule of thumb is to make
your accent lighting at least 3
times as bright as the ambient
lighting in the vicinity. Some
options for accent lighting
are wall-mounted picture
lights, shadow-casting wall or
floor lights, recessed or track
lighting, wall washers and
under-shelf strip lighting.
4

Light fixture types

INDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES
WALL LIGHTS
MIRROR LIGHTS

WALL SCONCES

Make sure the bottom

of any hanging fitting,
not anchored by a
table below it, is at
least 2.1 m above the
ground. At that height
they wont be knocked
by standard-sized
doors or windows and
will be higher than
most guests.

2.1 m

PICTURE LIGHTS

Mirror lights shine uniformly

onto the face from all sides
without casting shadows.

These throw light up and onto

the wall, bouncing it off the
ceiling.

Usually used for accent lighting

of pictures and works of art.
5

FOOT LIGHTS

For stairs or passages, indoor or

outdoor. Mounted low to avoid
glare. A timer, sensor or day/
night switch can optimise their
use for night-time ambling.

CEILING LIGHTS

FLUSH-MOUNTED CEILING
LIGHTS

A pendant light should

not be bigger than 10%
of the room diagonal. So
if the diagonal measures
8 m, you should choose
a pendant no bigger than
80 cm in diameter.

These are the most common

fittings for ambient lighting in
the centre of a room because
of the popular central electrical
point. They can be used on
walls too and work best when
combined with indrect light
sources which bounce light off
ceiling and walls.

PENDANT LIGHTS

Hanging lights with shades that

can serve as lovely diffusers,
if made of glass. Pendant
lights can also be used for task
lighting when made to shine
straight downwards from under
opaque shades.

Use pendant lights next

to your bed or over
your breakfast nook for
a contemporary and
modern look.

CHANDELIERS

DOWNLIGHTS

TRACK LIGHTING

Traditionally used low over

dining room tables, chandeliers
have since become decorative
anchors in any room or
passage.

Theres a wide variety of

downlights but they can be
harsh if used as the only source
of ambient light in a room.
Angle individual downlights
towards items of interest or
places that need illumination
(over the sink, into a cupboard),
or use inside a cupboard
(kitchen or bedroom). The
individual lights should be
1.5 m away from each other
and at least 1 m away from the
wall, but you dont have to lay
out a grid of downlights.

Lights that can be moved

along a track. Usually sold in
kits. Ideal for when you have
only one electrical point and
want to shift the central focus
of a room. More flexible than
spotlights and can be moved
when redecorating.

FLUORESCENT LIGHTS

SPOTLIGHTS

Great for ambient lighting as

they create little shadow and
the light is diffused. Mostly
used in utility areas such as
kitchens, workrooms and
garages, but you can get
decorative fluorescent lights
now.

Directional lights aimed at

something specific. Watch out
for glare, especially if theyre
mounted on the ceiling. Not
advisable as the only source of
ambient lighting.

If you arent going to

be able to keep your
chandelier free of dust,
then choose one without
glass shades, as glass
collects dust.

CONCEALED LIGHTING

FREESTANDING LIGHTS

WORK LIGHTS

TABLE LAMPS
Come with a base and shade.
Some shades can both shine
diffused light upwards and task
light downwards.

DESK LAMPS
COUNTER LIGHTING
The best way to provide
kitchen task lighting is to install
counter lighting just behind
the light shield on the bottom
of your wall cupboard to light
up your chopping, spreading
and cooking. Also decoratively
used inside cabinets to
illuminate knick-knacks.

LED STRIP LIGHTING

Mainly used for decoration.
The strips can be cut to size or
run in lengths, and coloured or
dimming versions are available.
Strip lighting can colour-wash
a wall when mounted behind
furniture, or create a TV halo, or
be run under tables and chairs.

These are task specific and

generally utilitarian in design,
such as floodlights on tripods,
magnifying lamps, and
manoeuvrable spotlights.
Position correctly for optimal
functionality not too low
or too high. Avoid glare by
directing onto your work area
from opposite your writing
hand. Consider the bulbs
heat if you work at your desk
for long stretches. LED or CFL
(compact fluorescent lamp) are
good choices.

Be practical when
choosing lights and fittings.
Think about how easy
it will be to change the
bulbs, and where you
can buy them. If you dont
own a ladder, should you
be putting in a recessed
ceiling light?

FLOOR LAMPS
A multitude of options. Usually
have a base and shade. The
shade could either channel the
light or diffuse it into the room.
Uplighter floor lamps wash the
ceiling with light, or you can
get mother and son versions
which combine an uplighter
with a reading lamp.

OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES

WALL LIGHTS

LANTERNS
Provide diffused lighting.
Usually decorative and mounted
on outside walls or on top of
gate posts or pillars.

FLOODLIGHTS

WALL WASHERS

These are mainly used for

security purposes but also to
illuminate large common areas.
Some come with movement
sensors, although fluorescent
lamps are not suitable in such
cases. While effective, some
floodlights are heavy consumers
of electricity. Halogen-based
lights consume more than
fluorescent or LEDs. LEDs may
cost more initially but over time
will save you money.

Ideal for illuminating

architectural features or making
tall walls look even higher.
Popular for lighting walkways
and passages as they dont
glare onto users. Can produce
dramatic shadows.

BULKHEAD LIGHTS
These are the multitaskers
of outdoor lighting. Theyre
ruggedly made and can be
mounted on walls and ceilings.
Great for perimeter, path and
foot lighting.
9

GARDEN SPOTS

FREESTANDING LIGHTS

GARDEN SPIKE LIGHTS

Usually 12 or 220-volt with a
spike on the bottom so you can
push them into the soil. Used
to light plants, architectural
features or paths (by lighting the
plants along the sides).

SUBMERSIBLE SPOTLIGHTS

BOLLARD LIGHTS

GARDEN POSTS

Very common way of lighting

gardens and paths. Different
heights are available. Can also
be set in amongst shrubbery for
ambient garden lighting.

Highly decorative, these are

ideal for guiding your guests
along a path by lighting it from
above in the same way street
lamps do.

Sealed underwater lights

which can be installed at the
bottom of a pond or pool.
Great for safely lighting water
features. Can be directed up a
waterfall.

GROUND LIGHTS
Recessed into the floor or
paving. Need to be installed
when laying the floor. Beautiful
when placed
on either side of
an entrance or
pillar. Great for
walls or gardens
on either side of
a path. Beware of glare.
10

Lamp sources
INCANDESCENT
The most popular lamp in the past has been the incandescent light
bulb. This was because it could be manufactured cheaply and
needed no extra equipment to work. But the incandescent bulb is
losing popularity because of its inefficient use of electricity. They
also heat up and can affect air-conditioning.
You can get general incandescent bulbs, globe-shaped ones and
decorative ones, usually teardrop or flame shaped. You also get
reflector incandescent bulbs which have a coating inside to help
bounce the light in a specific direction.
The light from these lamps is warm looking.

11

FLUORESCENT
A fluorescent lamp uses
energy much more efficiently
than an incandescent bulb for
the amount of light it puts out.
The new energy-saving bulbs
are a variation of this type of
lamp and are called compact
fluorescent lamps (CFL).So
when you choose an energysaving bulb over a normal
one, you are choosing
fluorescent over incandescent.
Simply put, a fluorescent
lamp (or tube) uses electricity
to excite mercury vapour. The
mercury atoms then produce
short-wave ultraviolet light
which in turn causes visible
light. Although they use less
electricity, fluorescent lamps
are more costly as they
include a current regulator.
Note that because they also
contain mercury, they need to
be disposed of appropriately.
Fluorescent lamps take their
time to turn on, which means

they are not ideal for use with

movement sensors. They are
also generally not suitable
for use with dimmer switches.
Their light is generally rated
as either warm white (which
tries to emulate the colour of
incandescent light) or cool
white. However, other colours
are available.

HALOGEN
Halogen lamps are a variation
on the incandescent bulb,
where electricity flows through
a filament causing it to glow.
But instead of a large glass
bulb they use a much smaller
quartz bulb. Because halogen
lamps can be really small,
they can be widely used in
small spaces and less obtrusive
fixtures. However, the lamps
get very hot so they must be
mounted where you cant
accidentally touch them and
also a safe distance away from
plants and artworks. Never
touch a halogen lamp when
changing it as oil or grease on
12

the quartz can cause hot spots

that affect its efficiency and
lifespan.
Halogen lamps all produce
a brighter, fuller spectrum
light than incandescent bulbs.
Though most halogen lamps
are heavy electricity consumers,
more energy efficient versions
are becoming available for
areas where you want superior
colour rendering, crisp shadows
and the ability to dim down to
the colour of a glowing candle.

LED
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are
highly energy efficient but a
bit more expensive than other
lamps. Because their light is
directional, they usually have
to be used in fittings designed
specifically for them. Often
many rows of LEDs are used to
create one light source.
They have a host of benefits
including a 90% electricity
saving (making them good
for solar fittings and costconscious consumers). They are
also robust and last for up to
30 000 hours (3-5 years), emit

little heat and almost no UV or

infra-red radiation (so they have
little effect on skin, eyes and
artwork) and they come in a
range of colours.
Some versions do however
have dimming limitations and
many are integrated into the
light fitting. So when buying
fittings you have to choose
between LED or an alternative.
Some LEDs come in strips or
within tubing, making them
ideal for home and garden
accent lighting.

13

Planning
GLARE
Glare is harsh, dazzling light
and there are two types:
discomfort and disability glare.
Discomfort glare is when a
light is too bright to look at and
causes you to turn your eyes
away. Disability glare is when
your task is made impossible
by the light source; the contrast
between the light and the task
being too much for the eye to
handle -- like when you walk
into a dark room after being in
bright sunlight.
Glare can come directly from
a light source, be reflected off
another surface, or caused by
lighting thats too bright. When
outdoors, you use sunglasses
to reduce the glare of the sun.
Indoors, you can use diffusers
and directed light to create a
comfortable environment free of
glare.
14

COLOUR

PROPORTION

Colour plays an important part

in lighting, just as it does in all
design. The colour of a lamp,
a diffuser and what is being
illuminated all affect what is
being seen and what colour it
is perceived to be.

Scale and proportion are important design elements and help

to make the contents of a room work harmoniously together. An
oversized standing lamp can make a room look as though youve
just entered Alices Wonderland instead of drawing your attention
to how wonderful and intricate the lamp is. Similarly, lighting a
room with many small wall lights might make the walls seem larger
than they are.
There are, however, times when choosing one large, out-ofproportion item can add dramatic impact and play interesting
tricks on the eye. An oversized chandelier or pendant light can
add dramatic focus to a room. But be sure it still functions as your
general light and that nobody will bump into it while walking
around.
Double-volume areas are good places for extra large lighting
fixtures as the fixtures will be in proportion to the environment.

The colour of a lamp may be

an actual colour, such as red
or blue, but more than likely
youll have chosen a white
lamp. In lighting there are three
distinct whites: warm, neutral
and bright, or daylight, white.
Warm white has a hint of
orange in it while bright whites
lend a bluish hue to whatever
they illuminate. The variation in
the white colour of a lamp will
add to the colour temperature
(colour appearance) of a light
fixture. If you are attempting
to create a cosy room, then
choose a warm white lamp,
but if you want to illuminate a
painting without affecting its
colours, choose a neutral white
or maybe a bright white. The
colour of a diffuser or the inside
of a solid shade can radically
change the colour of the light
coming from it, for example by
turning it bright green or pink.
In such cases the choice of
lamp will also affect the colour
of the light.

Make the light in adjacent

rooms or corridors the same
brightness, as it is hard on
the eye to move from a
bright to a dark room.

15

MAKING A ROOM LOOK BIGGER

Use the ceiling by lighting it to give an effect of more

height. Wash it with light (especially if it is a light colour),
using uplighters that bounce light onto the walls and the
ceiling itself.
Light all the corners of a room to subtly draw the eye down
and across the full length and breadth of the room.
Wash a column or pillar at the end of a room with light so
that it draws the eye towards it and creates the sensation
of a longer room.

MAKING A ROOM
COSY

If you have a large room

which you want to make
cosier, use lots of table
lamps to create low pools
of light. This will prevent
light from reflecting off
the ceiling and so hide its
actual height.
16

MAKING A ROOM
LOOK TALLER

Use perspective to make

a ceiling look higher by
throwing light up the walls
in vertical beams and by
hanging pendant lights
down low.

STYLE
Make sure the lights you choose
are in keeping with your
dcor. Whether your dcor
is traditional, ethnic, timeless,
modern, contemporary or fun,

be sure your lighting is the

same and so ensures complete
harmony within the room or
house.

Lighting room by room

FRONT DOOR AREA
AMBIENT
The front door area can
be quite small, even if it is
recessed, so it might be worth
choosing ambient lighting that
will satisfy the task needs of
the area too. If you have a
front door alcove, you have
the option of installing a ceiling
light or a pendant light with a
good diffuser. People must be
able to arrive safely at the front
door, be seen when the door
is opened and walk down any
steps with ease.

TASK
A lantern right next to your front
door will throw light on your
hands while youre finding
your key and inserting it into
the lock. Just be aware that
people approaching the door

mustnt be blinded by glare, so

choose the right type of lantern
or downlighters and the right
combination of ambient and
task lighting.

ACCENT
Purely decorative, accent
lighting must match the theme
of your house. A welcoming

door can be created by

washing it either up or down
with warm light. Spotlights
directed at plants near or next
to the front door can throw
interesting shadows onto the
side of the house.
17

ENTRANCE
AMBIENT
As your entrance hall gives
people their first impression of
the inside of your home, choose
its lighting carefully to reflect
the dcor. A central welcoming
light (pendant or chandelier)
can function as both ambient
and task light, facilitating safe
passage while not being so
bright as to create a harsh
transition from outside to inside.

TASK
The entranceway is not a place
where people linger long. They
move through it, checking their
keys, removing or donning
coats, leaving or picking up
bags. Providing enough light to
facilitate these tasks might mean
pitching the ambient brightness
correctly instead of installing
another fitting. Track lighting
and downlighters can achieve
this.

ACCENT
Foot lights can serve as good
accent lights in a long entrance
hall, or wall lights can lead
people through to a slightly
brighter lounge or living room.
If you have ornaments or
pictures on the wall or on a
recessed shelf, then picture
lights or spotlights would draw
attention to them. Similarly, if
you dont have any items of
interest, you can create interest
by directing columns of light up
a wall or washing a wall with
colour.
18

Create interest at night by

lighting an interesting plant
from the floor or using a
spike light in a plant pot.
Dramatic shadows can
add interest and focus to
a room.

LIVING ROOM

AMBIENT

TASK

Central ceiling lights are

common. A simple chandelier
can add glamour, or you could
choose a suitable pendant with
a good diffuser. Large lounges
require more lighting than just
a central fitting. You can add
track lighting, downlighters or
supplement the ambient light
with wall sconces, table lamps
and floor lamps. If your TV is
also in your living room, having
lights that can dim is a good
idea. That way you can bring
the ambient light way down
so that it doesnt compete with
or detract from your viewing
while still enabling you to move
around the room easily. Your
choice of fitting will be depend
heavily on your dcor, furniture
and space.

Lighting a room in which

you read, knit, watch TV
and do your filing is quite a
challenge. For activities that
require concentration and
hand movements you will want
illumination that comes from
over your shoulder, or directly
above, so that what you are
looking at is illuminated without
glare and without shadows.

ACCENT
The lounge is often also where
you entertain, so much thought
is usually put into its dcor.
Remember to illuminate any
good art or sculptures. If you
have a blank wall on which
you screen home videos, you

could wash it with coloured

light to create a light feature
of it at other times. If you have
shelving or bookcases in this
room, you could light all or
just a part of them by running
strip lighting along the bottom
of a shelf or at the back of
cavities. This could turn a dark
bookcase with many shadows
into a bold feature. Undercabinet lighting, strip lighting
behind your TV, wash-lighting
the wall behind the couch,
lighting your pictures, throwing
light up architectural features
such as stairs, a fireplace or
columns, or using wall lights
with interesting, decorative
shadows, are all suggestions
for accent lighting in a living
room.
19

DINING ROOM
AMBIENT
Having a dimmer switch for
the dining room light means
you can use it for doing
tasks (such as homework)
as well as creating the right
mood for a dinner party.
Placing a chandelier in your
dining room means you can
appreciate its beauty and have
it accessible for cleaning. A
large pendant light is also an
option, just make sure it has
a good diffuser (such as a
glass bowl bottom) to prevent
glare. Downlighters have their
place in the dining room too,
especially when the accent
lighting is regular enough to
add to the ambient lighting of
the room. Track lighting can
lend a contemporary look to a
dining room.

TASK
If you want to keep glare
down in the serving area, then
downlighters above the table
and some narrow pendant or
wall lights above the sideboard
would be a good combination.
Other tasks that might take
place in the dining room are
working on hobbies and doing
homework. For this the light
needs to be bright enough to
prevent eye strain, so consider
using wall lights with a dimmer,
track lights or a bright enough
central ceiling light.

ACCENT
Track lighting and recessed
lighting are great options for
increasing the ambient light
while also accentuating fine art
20

on the wall or in alcoves and

drawing attention to interesting
collections in cabinets. Wall
sconces can create interesting
shadows that add dramatic
appeal to your walls.

The right height to hang

a chandelier is 75 cm
off the table. This is in
a standard 2.5 m high
room. For every 30 cm
higher, raise the chandelier
about 2.5 cm. So in a
3 m high room, hang your
chandelier 80 cm above
the table.

KITCHEN
AMBIENT
Fluorescent lighting is popular
in kitchens as the diffusers
(glazed covers) work well
to create an overall bright
environment free of shadows
and glare. The tubes are
also good energy savers.
But although there are now
some decorative options on
the market, fluorescent light
fixtures are still not things of
great beauty and so sit on the
functional and efficient side of
the fence. Other options for the
kitchen include downlighters
and recessed cabinet lighting.

TASK
Because the activities in a
kitchen happen all over it,
downlighters can be used either
directly above the sink, stove or
oven, or be directed towards
them. Using counter lighting
will ensure that no shadows
are cast by the people working
in the kitchen or their area of
focus. With track lighting and
downlighting you can combine
your ambient and task lighting
by angling the lights towards
specific areas, such as the sink.
A pendant light can work well
over a kitchen table, just make
sure that if you have a large
kitchen table its big enough
to provide adequate light for
all those using the table. You
might even want to install two
large pendant lights or three
slightly smaller ones to light the
table sufficiently. Hang them
75-100 cm above the top
(depending on the strength of
your globes and the breadth of
the beam).

A decorative way of lighting

a breakfast nook is to hang
an odd number of miniature
pendants over the counter top.
Dont block the view across the
room by hanging them too low
(they should be 1.75 m off
the floor).

ACCENT
There are some great options
for bringing colour and
interest to your kitchen through
strategic accent lighting.
Under-shelf lights can increase
the ambient light. If you have
glass cupboard doors, lighting
inside the cupboards can
create interest while at the

same time adding to the

ambient lighting in the
room. Kickboard lighting
can also create dramatic
interest. If you have a lovely
chandelier, you could make
it the dominant feature in a
large kitchen by hanging it
over the kitchen table.

Incorporating a dimmer
switch in your countertop
lighting will enable you
to change your kitchen
from a purely functional
area into one with
dramatic effect. Always
place countertop lighting
near the front edge of
the cupboard above the
counter top, as opposed
to near the wall. This way
the tiles or wall will reflect
the light onto your work
surface.

21

BEDROOMS
AMBIENT
Chandeliers, ceiling lights,
pendant lights, recessed
downlighters or wall lights can
all provide enough general
lighting in bedrooms.

TASK

The most popular task light is

the bedside lamp. These can
be wall-mounted, standing
lamps or table lamps. If you
want to keep your bedside
tables clear, then wall,
swing-arm, or even pendant
lamps are the way to go.
Downlighters are also a great
way of lighting a book from
the top, without any shadows.
Choose the angled type so you
can point one at either side of
the bed.
The need to suitably illuminate
your closets is often overlooked
when choosing lighting for the
bedroom. The fittings need to
be small as you dont want to
sacrifice cupboard space to
them, so they should be either
recessed into the ceiling in front
of the closet, or into the ceiling
of the cupboard itself (if its built
in).
A good idea is to put wall
lights on either side of your
mirror, with a separate switch
so you can turn them on only
when needed.
22

ACCENT
It is nice to light up a feature,
picture or textured surface
behind or above your bed, just
make sure the object doesnt
reflect glare onto your book
when youre reading in bed.
This sort of lighting can be
done with downlighters (you
could angle two for reading
and two at your picture), actual
picture lights on an arm, and
track lights (where you could
again use two for bedside
lighting and others for accent

lighting). Strip lights under

cupboards can lighten dark
areas near the floor, especially
if you have a dark carpet or
dark flooring. Lights under a
dressing table are a lovely
way of adding to the general
lighting while drawing attention
to your fine furniture. You could
even wash the space under a
frame bed or use strip lighting
under a base set for a fresh,
modern look.

BATHROOMS
AMBIENT
Some bathrooms remain
utilitarian but the trend is to
make them more of a retreat for
relaxation and self-indulgence.
Whatever size bathroom you
have, make sure you create
a warm glow in it. This is the
ideal room for a motion sensor,
although to avoid the sudden
shock of bright lights in the
middle of the night, a dimmer
would also be advisable.

TASK
Mention mirror lights and
immediately people think
of a starlets make-up table
backstage. But mirrors in the
home also need to be well
lit. For a small mirror, use wall
lights, one on either side and
about 1.5 m off the floor. It
might be useful to put them on
a dimmer so you can soften
their effect when youre not
using the mirror. For a large
mirror, you want to hang the
lights from the ceiling. This
is tricky as you dont want to
cause glare, so choose lights
with a good diffuser or ones
where you can change the
angle. Take into consideration
how much light youll need
when showering or bathing
youll want to be able to
read shampoo labels. So
while you want bright lights to
read by, you also want some
low lighting for calm. Here,
recessed downlighters are
excellent, especially when on a
dimmer, but make sure you get
ones designed for wet areas.
Always choose full-shade
diffusers to prevent glare.

ACCENT
If you do a lot of reading in
your bath you might even
want an adjustable accent
light appropriately positioned.
Under-cabinet lighting
(along the kickboard) or foot
lighting along walls can add
wonderfully to the visual
temperature of a bathroom.
Another option is to install
energy-saving lamps or LED
strip lighting under the furniture
which you leave on all night to
facilitate midnight trips to the
bathroom.
If you chose a central fixture
for your bathrooms ambient
lighting, then your accent

lighting wont have to add to

the general lighting (though
it will, of course). But if you
didnt choose a central fixture,
then you can use your other
lighting to raise the ambient
light to a good level while still
satisfying all your bathrooms
task and decorative lighting
needs. In such a case,
remember to connect all the
lights to the same switch so
that with just one flick youll
have enough light to use the
bathroom (otherwise you
could end up having, say, only
the foot lighting for illumination
because its switch is the most
accessible).
23

STUDY
AMBIENT
When lighting a study, dont
err on the side of having too
much ambient light, which can
glare off pages and computer
screens. To avoid this, place
lights on either side of your
desk but not directly above or
in front of it.

TASK
Use a desk or floor lamp to
provide a bright light to use
while reading or filing. An
alternative is to install 3 or 5
pendants over your work area.
Their shades and diffusers will
help prevent glare. You can
also combine ambient and task
lighting with a pendant -- just
ensure you have a shade that
lets enough light into the rest of
the room.

ACCENT
Bookcases can be highlighted
by training track or spotlights
onto them, installing a shelving
light that runs the length of
the shelf, or even putting
24

downlighters in the ceiling

of the top shelf. Make use
of picture lights. Highlight
architectural features with wall
lights, ceiling washers and strip
lights along corners (or stairs).

GARDEN
AMBIENT
If you have a garden and do
a lot of outdoor entertaining,
then maybe you would want
to light up the whole garden.
But generally you would only
illuminate the areas you are
likely to use at night, such as
pathways, driveways and
features you can see from your
entertainment area and house
windows. Here you could use
lanterns on the sides of walls
which will wash the areas
around your house with light.

TASK
Use ambient lighting on
pathways and accent lighting
under pergolas or a seating
area. Bollard lights or ground
lights are great for illuminating
garden paths. Post lights do the
same for driveways, especially
if you have a long driveway.

ACCENT

Low-level spike lights can be

used to illuminate the edges of
pathways as well as highlight
some of the plants along the
way. Low lights are also nice to
use along winding drives where
the necessary ambient lighting
can be quite low.

Theres a wide range of fixtures

which, apart from being
features themselves, can be
placed in front of interesting
trees or foliage to highlight their
textures and shapes. A great
range of solar string lights is
coming onto the market and
they could be used for anything
from outlining branches in
a tree to creating a canopy
of atmospheric fairy lights.
Highlighting garden structures -swing sets, arches and the like
-- can also be really effective.

Consider adding colours

which will further enhance the
look of your accent areas.
25

PATIO
ACCENT

AMBIENT
You want to be able to move
around a patio with ease. Light
it with lanterns on the side of
the house and other lighting to
bring the ambient brightness
up. It is hard to create enough
ambient light on a patio without
installing posts, but if you
use your accent fixtures well
they could give you enough
illumination to eat by as well as
create the right atmosphere.

for pools and ponds satisfy all

three types of lighting. Lighting
a pool and pond is necessary
from a safety point of view (so
people know it is there and you
can see if anyone falls into it). It
could of course also be lit from
above. Lighting a pool not only
makes it a colourful feature, but
also means people can use it
at night.

Run strip lighting under railings,

benches or along steps to draw
some attention to everyday
items already on your patio.
You can light trees or parts of
trees with spotlights, or twist
strip lights or fairy lights around
columns or beams.

IP RATING

TASK

An IP rating (Ingress Protection rating) is a measure of protection against foreign objects and liquids.
Take note of this rating when choosing fixtures for outdoor use. IP23 means that it is rated a 2 for solid
objects and a 3 for liquid, the higher these numbers are the better the protection against dust and liquid.

PROTECTION AGAINST
SOLID OBJECTS

PROTECTION AGAINST LIQUIDS

No special/extra protection.

No special/extra protection.

Protected against large foreign

objects (diameter > 50 mm).

Protected against vertical falling water drops

(e.g. use in condensation and light rain).

Protected against medium-size

foreign objects (diameter >
12.5 mm).

Protected against falling water drops, < 15

on either side of the vertical (e.g. use in light
rain with wind).

Protected against small foreign

objects (diameter > 2.5 mm).

Protected against spraying water, < 60 on

either side of the vertical ( e.g. use in heavy
rainstorms).

Protected against granular foreign

objects (diameter > 1 mm).

Protected against splashing water from all

directions.

Dust-protected.

Protected against water jets from any direction

(e.g. use in residential hosed-down areas).

Dust-proof.

Protected against powerful water jets from any

direction (e.g. use in areas regularly hosed
down or affected by heavy seas).

NOT APPLICABLE

Protected against the effects of temporary

immersion in water (15 cm to 1 m).

NOT APPLICABLE

Protected against the effects of continuous

immersion in water, under pressure (e.g use
in undersea shipwreck recovery).

DIGITS

If you want a high level of

ambient light on your patio,
then consider using a spotlight,
though it must be positioned
high enough not to cause any
discomforting glare. If you have
a built-in braai area on your
patio, or a pizza oven, then
consider mounting a spotlight
under the eaves and directing it
at the braai, and wall lanterns
or lights nearby. You might also
need a portable tabletop light,
torch or solar lantern which
you can use for checking on
the meat and fire. If theres a
tree nearby, you could always
mount a strategically placed
spotlight in it to light the top of
the grill. Just beware of glare.
If you have a pool at the edge
of your patio, you will want to
light it. Submersible spotlights
26

SECURITY
AMBIENT
Lighting your premises means
that with a glance out a
window you can see if anyone
is moving around your property
or approaching the house.
Ambient lighting would mostly
be installed to increase your
own feeling of safety. Ensure
that your security lighting is safe
by mounting it high or in places
not easily accessible. Your
garden lighting could provide
illumination from a security
point of view too. Choose
medium intensity lighting so
that you can comfortably see
without being blinded by glare.

TASK
The main task of security
lighting would be to deter
intruders from entering your
property. Just remember that too
bright a spotlight can create too
much glare and blind security
personnel or police on the other
side of your gate instead of
helping them see what is going
on. Movement sensors are a
good idea as anyone moving
around will trigger the lights.
However, remember to angle
them so that pets wont affect
them, nor branches blowing in
the wind. Perimeter lighting will
reveal anyone trying to scale
the boundary wall but must be
inaccessible or behind a grill so
it cant be tampered with.
Remember that if you want
spotlights to come on when
there is movement, make sure
the lights dont point towards
the house but away from it (you

dont want to blind yourself

when they come on) and that
they are not too bright.

ACCENT
You can use accent lighting
to illuminate any dark corners
which might potentially hide
intruders. You could use any of
the same spiked garden lights,
bollard lights and anything
else you use to illuminate
your garden, extending them
to serve as security lights as
well as enhance your garden
features.

27

Choose multiple
light
circuits with indi
vidual
dimmers on the
same
switch plate for
more
flexibility. Remem
ber the
golden rule of do
mestic
lighting is dimmer
s,
dimmers, dimmer
s.

Adding value
DIMMER

house, as no one would then

ever leave a light burning
unnecessarily. They work well in
kitchens and bathrooms as well
as outdoors or on the perimeter
fence.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

DAY/NIGHT SENSOR
There are many ways to
maximise your lighting. A
dimmer is the most useful way
of doing this. By connecting the
lights in any room to a dimmer
you can make the same
fixtures provide both the rooms
ambient and task lighting.

MOVEMENT SENSORS
These are ideal in little-used
areas or places where people
dont linger, such as on garden
paths or in entrance halls,
storerooms and garages. To
help save energy you could
install them throughout your
28

Minimise your admin and save

energy by installing a day/
night sensor. The brightness
of the natural light triggers it
to turn on at night and off in
the morning. Ideal for exterior
lanterns, garden lights and
hallways.

With the mounting pressure on

our electrical grid, emergency
lighting is becoming more
important. If you are drawing
up a lighting plan, add some
emergency lighting that wont
detract from your dcor and
mood. Emergency lights
remain plugged in and fully
charged. When there is a
blackout, they automatically
turn on. So having one of these
unobtrusively stationed in each
room is good planning.

29

Disclaimer

Gar

den
Edib ing es
se
le
Des garde ntials
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Kee ing yo g
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pin
Pai g a lu garde
nti
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Dec ng the lawn
ora
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Pain ting a side of
ti
y
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Floo ng out ature our ho
me
rin side w
Tilin g solu your all
tio
g
hom
e
Sec your w ns
urin all
The g your s
plu
ho
Ligh mbing me
tin
bas
ics
Sw g
imm
Cho ing po
osin ol ca
We g the re
eke
r
nd D ight t
IY p ools
roje
cts

Builders booklets, DVDs and other guides are provided strictly for informational purposes only. The
information contained herein is intended to provide general information with regard to simple DIY
projects. As products, laws and regulations are continually changing, Builders takes no responsibility
for the accuracy of information contained herein or any liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of
any project. It is the responsibility of the viewer/reader to ensure compliance with all applicable laws,
rules, codes and regulations as the case may be. Safety is important, make sure to take proper safety
precautions and exercise caution when taking on any DIY project. Always read the manufacturers
instructions and heed their guidance for using their product. Certain products or materials may only
be available at selected Builders stores. If there is any doubt regarding any element of a DIY project
please consult a professional. Builders cannot be held liable for any loss, damage or injury that may
result out of the use of the Builders booklets, DVDs and other guides.

O IN

ALS
THE
RAN
GE

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