FIXTURES & FINISHES
smart lighting systems allow you to create ‘moods’ or ‘scenes’
colder white. A very popular option for colour lighting is LED strip, which is usually used for indirect lighting. LED strip is commonly installed under kitchen cabinets, behind televisions, or underneath shelving and stair treads, to provide a subtle light and draw attention to a particular feature. The colour-changing aspect of this type of lighting is ideal if you’re looking to instantly transform the look and feel of the home.
SWITCH PLACEMENT
Traditionally, light switches have always been installed near the entrance/exit to a room. In some rooms, however, it’s more helpful to have a switch closer to hand – for example, next to the sofa to easily dim lights and lower the blinds when you’re watching a film, or by the bed to switch off all the lights throughout the house without leaving your nest.
This could mean ensuring you pull cable to the garden for lighting and audio, or to the loft space if you’re thinking of having solar panels put in at a later date.
Of course, there are also wireless options. Smart light bulbs offer a very quick and simple way of controlling your lights through an app, but be aware that it’s often difficult to integrate these type of products into a wider smart home system.
There are options on the market for fully integrated lighting that don’t require any rewiring – the upfront cost of these solutions will likely be considerably more than if you were to opt for a piecemeal solution such as a smart bulb. However, like many things in life, you get what you pay for: in terms of functionality, you’ll get much more value for your money if
july/august 2017
you’re able to have a fully integrated system put in at the first fix stage.
FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS In addition to the physical wiring infrastructure of your lighting, it’s also important to think about flexibility, do you want to control certain circuits, or even individual lights automatically? Individually addressable lights can be useful if you’ve not yet decided on placement of furniture or key pieces within a space, and they’re a great choice if you’re keen to maximise energy savings.
Colour is another important consideration. Do you just want a white light, or would you like to add colour to your home? When choosing a white light, most people tend to opt for a ‘warm’ white, which has a softer tone and doesn’t feel as harsh as a
If you’re planning a large kitchen which includes an island for food preparation, a wireless switch nearby could be used to do anything from making the lights brighter, to adjusting the volume of your music or starting the extractor hood.
The most important thing to do if you’re considering smart lighting is to really think about your home and how you will live in it and interact with it. If you’re going to be pulling cables for your lighting system, consider solutions that offer greater smart home functionality, such as heating and security automation, as these are likely to be the most reliable and offer the greatest value for money over the long term.
Whether you’re embarking on a self-build, extension, renovation or just re-doing your kitchen; consider reaching out to a smart home expert who can help you realise your dream home.
Omid Nikroo is a home automation specialist at Loxone UK
www.sbhonline.co.uk 63 Advanced
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