Having worked on a wide range of lighting projects, there has been a clear move towards discreet lighting, particular in residential settings. Unless there is a decorative element to the lighting, homeowners tend to favour hidden, subtle fittings. This means the lighting becomes an integral part of the design and décor, and works with it, not against it.
Here are Truly Lighting’s top three tips for adding discreet lighting to your home:
- LED strip lighting is a fantastic element of a discreet lighting design. It gives a soft glow with no obvious light source, and is incredibly flexible in terms of where it can be sited due to the size. It works brilliantly for stairwells, underneath kitchen cupboards or around skirting boards, or integrated into shelving. These will all add a gentle light to a space, enough not to compromise function but without any glare or bright lighting.
- Miniature recessed spotlights can work beautifully, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens. These can be hidden in niches or under cabinets, creating suitable task lighting when needed but also being part of the low level mood settings for later in the day.
- Floor washing is a lovely effect using a light recessed in to the wall that washes light across the floor or a change in levels (steps up or down). This type of lighting adds an extra layer of light, keeping it at a low level to avoid glare and excess brightness. It is the perfect blend of task lighting with something more subtle and sophisticated.
For an example of where we have focused on discreet lighting, this project in Hampstead is demonstrative of our approach.