Development
How task, ambient and accent lighting help new homes sell, and why lighting should be planned at design stage.
Lukasz Kisiel
30 November 2021
The photos are taken and you are ready to market your new homes. Lighting has a big impact on how a show home feels, especially as the evenings draw in.
Buyers picture their ideal home, and interiors magazines show stunning, well-lit spaces. A finished new build is a blank canvas, and getting the lighting right can raise perceived value and help clinch the sale.
Interior designers say lighting is a key ingredient, yet it is often an afterthought. A well-lit space lifts the mood. Planning lighting at the start of the project, with your contractor, means it is built into the fabric of the homes.
Most rooms need several layers of light. The key is the right balance in the right places.
Task lighting is practical: for reading, cooking, getting ready in the bathroom or choosing clothes. Positioning matters as much as brightness. Fixed task lights suit places where the task is always done in the same spot, like a kitchen worktop. Adjustable lamps suit reading and can be added when dressing the show home.
Ambient lighting gives even, overall light. It can come from recessed downlights, LED strips in ceiling coffers or wall lights. Table lamps on dimmable 5-amp circuits, floor lamps and low-level stair lights add interest. Use dimmers so the mood can change through the day.
Accent lighting creates focal points, drawing the eye to art, sculpture or striking furniture. LED strips behind pictures, along skirting boards or on stairs all work well.
Think about the end result first, so the wiring and fittings go in at the right positions during construction rather than as an afterthought. Good lighting costs little at design stage and can make a real difference at the point of sale.
Tell us about it. You will speak to the people who make the decisions.
