Light Planning

Light planning — Lightplan

Light Planning

A technical document that guides every electrical decision on your project — before the walls close and the options narrow.
Light planning — CAD floor plan

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 Lighting
What’s involved

A light plan covers every decision between your brief and your electrician’s first fix.

01 Project Brief Space type, dimensions, ceiling heights, how each area is used, and your design intent. Every bespoke lighting scheme starts here — the more we understand upfront, the more precisely the specification can be tailored to your project.
02 Technical Specification Target lux levels, colour temperatures, CRI requirements, glare ratings, and estimated electrical load — all calibrated to your space type, daylight conditions, and design priorities.
03 Control Strategy Dimming, scene setting, wireless lighting control, or full BMS integration. Lighting control systems — from straightforward dimmers to Lutron — are a first-fix decision, not a finishing touch. The right infrastructure shapes what’s possible for the life of the building.
04 Product Selection Designer lighting fittings chosen for photometric performance and design intent — beam angles, driver specifications, IP ratings, and compatibility with your control system — not just for how they look in a catalogue.
Lighting design — hallway entrance
Residential open plan kitchen lighting
Residential whole house lighting
Residential lighting — entrance

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.

IP Ratings
  • IP20 — general ceiling and wall areas
  • IP44 — within 600mm above hob or sink
  • IP65 — directly over steam-producing appliances
How we layer the light
  • Ambient ceiling circuit (downlights or pendants)
  • Under-cabinet task lighting, independently switched
  • Island or dining pendant on its own circuit
Control and scenes
  • 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.

IP Ratings
  • Zone 0, inside bath or shower — IP67 minimum
  • Zone 1, up to 600mm above bath rim — IP44
  • Zone 2, beyond that — IP44 recommended
How we layer the light
  • Main ambient ceiling circuit
  • Mirror and vanity task lighting, separately switched
  • Shower recess circuit if recessed fittings are specified
  • Low-level nightlight circuit
Control and scenes
  • 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.

IP Ratings
  • IP20 throughout — no moisture risk in standard living rooms
How we layer the light
  • General ambient ceiling circuit
  • Accent or artwork lighting
  • Task lighting: reading and desk zones
  • Feature circuit: fireplace, alcove or TV wall
Control and scenes
  • 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.

IP Ratings
  • IP20 throughout for standard bedrooms
How we layer the light
  • Ambient ceiling circuit for general use
  • Bedside task lighting, independently switched per side
  • Wardrobe or dressing area on its own circuit
Control and scenes
  • 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.

IP Ratings
  • IP20 standard for internal stairwells
How we layer the light
  • Upper landing ceiling circuit
  • Lower hall ceiling circuit
  • Tread-level step lighting for drama and safety
Control and scenes
  • 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.

IP Ratings
  • IP44 minimum for covered porches and canopies
  • IP65 for exposed wall-mounted fittings
  • IP67 for in-ground path or uplighting fixtures
How we layer the light
  • Security and pathway circuit
  • Feature and planting uplights
  • Entertaining terrace or pergola circuit
  • Boundary and perimeter definition
Control and scenes
  • 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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