How to plan lighting for a whole house, room by room
Quick answer
To plan lighting for a whole house, go room by room and give each three layers: general (ambient) light, task light where you read, cook or work, and accent light for pictures and features [1]. Put the main lights on dimmers, plan switches at every door and at the top and bottom of stairs, use warm white LEDs, and decide on wall light and socket positions before any plastering [1][2][6].
Lighting is usually the last thing chosen and the first thing noticed. A whole-house plan means every room has the right light for what happens there, switches are where your hand expects them, and fittings work together from room to room. Here is a simple method designers use.
Step 1: List what happens in each room
| Room | Activities | Key layers |
|---|---|---|
| Hall and stairs | Arriving, moving safely | Even general light, switches top and bottom [6] |
| Living room | Relaxing, reading, TV | Wall lights, lamps, dimmers |
| Kitchen | Cooking, eating | Task light on worktops, pendants over table |
| Dining room | Eating, talking | Pendant on a dimmer, wall lights, candles |
| Bedroom | Dressing, reading, sleeping | Bedside lights, dimmable main light [5] |
| Bathroom | Washing, shaving, bathing | Light at the mirror, rated fittings [4] |
Step 2: Draw a simple plan
Sketch each room and mark where you sit, read, cook and walk. Then mark the lights: a central or table pendant, wall lights either side of fireplaces, beds or windows, lamps by seats and accent lights on pictures. A simple plan stops you ending up with one light in the middle of every ceiling.
Step 3: Plan the switches
- A switch at every door you enter by.
- Two-way switching at the top and bottom of stairs and at both ends of long halls [6].
- Wall lights on their own switch or circuit so they can be the main evening light.
- Dimmers on main lights and dining pendants [1].
Step 4: Choose colour temperature and output
Use warm white (around 2700K) in living spaces and bedrooms, and consider slightly cooler, brighter light only for task areas. LEDs give the same light for much less energy than older bulbs [2]. Keep the colour temperature consistent within a room. See lumens and colour temperature by room.
Step 5: Do the wiring at the right time
New circuits and wiring in some locations are notifiable under Part P, and all work must meet the Wiring Regulations, so a registered electrician should install them [3][4]. Plan wall light positions before plastering: about 1.6 to 1.8m above the floor is typical in living rooms. If you are not rewiring, battery and plug-in wall lights fill the gaps; see power options.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Result |
|---|---|
| A grid of downlights | Flat, clinical light and glare. |
| One light per room | No depth or mood. |
| No dimmers | Rooms cannot change from day to evening. |
| Mixed colour temperatures | Rooms look patchy. |
| Switches in the wrong place | Annoying every day. |
A lighting designer's approach to lighting a home [7].
Video: House & Garden, “Design Expert's Guide to Lighting Your Interior | Tricks of the Trade”, via YouTube.
Good to know
Common questions
How do I plan lighting for my house?
Room by room, list activities, plan general, task and accent light, then switches, dimmers and colour temperature.
What are the three layers of lighting?
General (ambient), task and accent light.
Where should light switches go?
At every entry door, with two-way switching at stairs and long halls.
When should I plan wall lights?
Before plastering, so cables can be run without chasing finished walls.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- Society of Light and Lighting (2018) SLL Lighting Handbook. London: CIBSE.
- Energy Saving Trust (n.d.) Energy saving light bulbs and lighting. Available at: energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/lighting/ (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2013) Electrical safety: Approved Document P. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-appr... (Accessed: 8 October 2026).
- Institution of Engineering and Technology (2022) BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Requirements for electrical installations (IET Wiring Regulations). 18th edn. London: IET.
- Sleep Foundation (n.d.) Light and sleep. Available at: www.sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment/light-and-sleep (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- Health and Safety Executive (n.d.) Reducing the risk of falls on stairs. Available at: www.hse.gov.uk/healthServices/slips/reducing-risks-stairs... (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- House & Garden (n.d.) Design expert's guide to lighting your interior | Tricks of the Trade [Video]. YouTube. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKX383X8lGU (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
How to cite this article
van Locke, J. (2026) ‘How to plan lighting for a whole house, room by room’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/how-to-plan-lighting-for-a-whole-house (Accessed: 15 November 2026).
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