Light Planning
Light Planning
A technical document that guides every electrical decision on your project — before the walls close and the options narrow.
Lighting is one of the first decisions a project needs and one of the last things often thought about.
A whole-house lighting plan isn’t a curated list of designer lighting fittings. It’s a technical document that guides every electrical decision your project will rely on — circuits, zones, dimmer positions, control points, and fitting locations, room by room, before first fix.
Planning your Room LightingA light plan covers every decision between your brief and your electrician’s first fix.
Residential Light Planning
Light Planning Room by Room
Every room type carries different technical requirements. Choose a room below to see the IP ratings, circuit zoning, switch placement considerations, and automation options built into every Lightplan design.
Kitchen
Most kitchens need at least three independently controlled circuits to work as both a functional workspace and a relaxed dining room.
- IP20 — general ceiling and wall areas
- IP44 — within 600mm above hob or sink
- IP65 — directly over steam-producing appliances
- Ambient ceiling circuit (downlights or pendants)
- Under-cabinet task lighting, independently switched
- Island or dining pendant on its own circuit
- Entry switch plus separate island pendant control
- Under-cabinet touch strip
- Scene presets: cooking, dining, morning
- Warm dimming for evening atmosphere
Bathroom & En-Suite
Bathrooms are the most technically regulated space in the home — but they’re also where one well-placed mirror light can transform how the whole room feels. We plan both the compliance and the atmosphere.
- Zone 0, inside bath or shower — IP67 minimum
- Zone 1, up to 600mm above bath rim — IP44
- Zone 2, beyond that — IP44 recommended
- Main ambient ceiling circuit
- Mirror and vanity task lighting, separately switched
- Shower recess circuit if recessed fittings are specified
- Low-level nightlight circuit
- Main switch outside the room (Building Regulations)
- Shaver socket on a SELV isolated circuit
- Warm dim for evenings, brighter for mornings
- Occupancy-triggered nightlight at low output
Living Room & Lounge
The living room carries more lighting circuits than any other room in the house. Four independent zones is the baseline for a space that genuinely shifts between movie night, dinner party, and reading corner without compromise.
- IP20 throughout — no moisture risk in standard living rooms
- General ambient ceiling circuit
- Accent or artwork lighting
- Task lighting: reading and desk zones
- Feature circuit: fireplace, alcove or TV wall
- Entry switch, 2-way if the room has two doors
- Scene recall adjacent to the main seating area
- Presets: movie, entertaining, relaxing, reading
- Integration with AV system and motorised blinds
Bedroom
The bedroom needs to work at two very different moments — the hour before sleep and the moment you wake up. Both need completely different light, and neither should require getting out of bed to make it happen.
- IP20 throughout for standard bedrooms
- Ambient ceiling circuit for general use
- Bedside task lighting, independently switched per side
- Wardrobe or dressing area on its own circuit
- Bedside switches on both sides (getting up to reach the ceiling switch defeats the plan)
- Scene presets: reading, wind-down, morning wake-up
- Integration with motorised blinds for gradual wake scenes
Stairwell
The staircase is the one space everyone in the house passes through every single day — yet it’s almost always an afterthought in a lighting plan. A dedicated nightlight circuit here changes how the whole home feels after dark.
- IP20 standard for internal stairwells
- Upper landing ceiling circuit
- Lower hall ceiling circuit
- Tread-level step lighting for drama and safety
- 2-way switching at top and bottom (essential)
- Intermediate switch for multi-landing runs
- Motion-triggered nightlight at 5–10% output
- Timed fade-out once the space clears
Garden & Exterior
A well-designed exterior scheme extends your usable living space by months. The key is keeping security, pathway, and atmosphere on completely separate circuits — so you’re never choosing between mood lighting and a motion sensor.
- IP44 minimum for covered porches and canopies
- IP65 for exposed wall-mounted fittings
- IP67 for in-ground path or uplighting fixtures
- Security and pathway circuit
- Feature and planting uplights
- Entertaining terrace or pergola circuit
- Boundary and perimeter definition
- Internal switch plus external weatherproof option
- Smart hub or app control for remote access
- Dusk-to-dawn photo-cell for path and security
- Timer-based schedule for terrace entertaining lights
Book A Free Lighting Consultation
Let’s map out your project. Book a consultation to align your lighting zones, plan your cabling, and define your lighting design objectives.
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