Lighting design for flats and houses: which light belongs in which room

Lighting is one of the things that is most often left until the end of a flat renovation or house project, yet it shapes how you feel in a space every single day. A single ceiling fixture is rarely enough. Good lighting is planned together with the layout of the rooms and the furniture, before walls are closed and painted, not after you have moved in. Below is a summary of what we most often recommend when working on apartments and houses in Sarajevo and elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Why is one light source never enough?

Light in a room has several jobs. General light gives basic orientation, task light helps with cooking, reading or working at a desk, and accent light highlights a wall, an artwork, a shelf or a material. When one central lamp has to do all of that, the room feels flat, and faces and surfaces under it often look tired. That is why we usually plan at least two or three layers of light that can be switched separately.

Which lighting goes in which room?

In the living room, a soft general light works best combined with one or two floor or table lamps in the seating area and, if you like, an accent on a shelf or wall. A dimmer is especially useful here, because the same room is used very differently in the evening than at noon.

In the kitchen, task lighting under the wall cabinets is essential. If the worktop sits in the shadow of its own cabinets, a central ceiling lamp will not help. Plan the power points for this light already when the electrical installations are being laid out.

In the bathroom you need two sources: light around the mirror that illuminates the face evenly, without harsh shadows, and general light. Make sure the fittings you choose are rated for damp rooms; that is a matter of safety, not appearance.

In the bedroom, less is more: warm, subdued light, switches on both sides of the bed, and reading lights that do not disturb the other person.

Hallways and stairs need enough light for safety, but it is also worth thinking about low-level or wall-washing light that feels pleasant at night.

What colour of light is the right one?

The colour of light is measured in kelvins. Warmer light (around 2700 to 3000 K) creates a cosy, homely atmosphere and suits living rooms and bedrooms. More neutral light (around 3500 to 4000 K) is often a good choice for the kitchen, a home-office corner and the bathroom. Cold, bluish light usually feels unpleasant at home. It is important not to mix different light colours in one room, because the difference is immediately visible. Also check the quality of the light (the colour rendering index), so that furniture, wood and textiles do not look washed out.

The most common mistakes in lighting design

When should you start, and what should you prepare?

Ideally, the lighting plan is created together with the design of the space, and at the latest before the electrical work begins. Moving an outlet point is then simple and cheaper than chasing walls afterwards. For a conversation with your architect or electrician it helps to prepare the furniture layout, photos of the rooms and a list of daily activities: where you read, where you work, where you eat. Specific requirements for installations and safety should always be checked against the regulations in force and with a qualified contractor.

A simple way to start

If you are not planning a major renovation, a lot can be achieved with small steps: replacing cold bulbs with warmer ones, adding one or two lamps in the seating area, and fitting a dimmer to the main light. For larger projects, whether it is a flat in Sarajevo or a house you are planning from abroad, we are happy to go through the lighting layout with you, by video call if that suits you better. Get in touch whenever you are ready for a first conversation.