THE ENTRANCE AND HALLWAYS
The entrance to a home needs to be well lit to create a welcoming atmosphere and, for safety reasons, be easy to access and fit the key into the lock. If the area is not to be permanently lit, consider fitting a sensor so that the light switches on automatically as the entrance is approached. Alternatively, if the exterior lighting is to remain switched on all times then this is an excellent place to use an energy efficient compact fluorescent lamp bulb. The fitting itself can be decorative but it must be suitable for exterior use as it will be exposed to the elements, so check with the supplier that it has the required IP rating for outdoor use.

Hallways are often quite dark as they rarely benefit from natural daylight and they can be narrow. The artificial lighting must therefore compensate for any lack of daylight and make the space feel welcoming and as spacious as possible. As with other rooms in the home layering the light sources, rather than relying on a single pendant fitting, produces the best results. For general illumination, combine a central pendant fitting with low-voltage halogen spotlights positioned towards the sides of the hall. To counteract a lack of space use light to attract the eye to a focal point. This can be achieved by placing lamps on a small side table or directing a spotlight onto a key ornament or flowers set on a table. As a guide, if the hall is very narrow wall mounted fittings will make it feel narrower. On stairways small spots set into the floor or wall that cast a wash of light onto each tread are worth considering.

In larger entrance hallways it is still important to create a sense of atmosphere by layering the light and there will be more scope to use decorative fittings. Shelly Rubenstein, a lighting designer at The Lighting Store, reports that fibre optics combined with crystals are popular for grander hallways in place of traditional chandeliers.

KITCHENS
A kitchen needs a high level of light to make it comfortable and safe to use and this can be achieved with a combination of general and task light. The light must also give a good colour rendition, so that the food looks true to colour and appealing. It is essential to plan the lighting well – use a scaled floor plan that shows the position and size of all the units and hob. Avoid centrally placed spot or pendant fittings: the angle of light means you end up working in your own shadow. Instead position track, spot lights or recessed fittings (with bulbs that give a wide angle of light) so they are about a metre from the work surfaces. Supplement this general light with task lighting mounted under wall cupboards or shelves or directly to the wall. If the worktops have a high sheen check that the task light will not create glare. Another practical consideration is to use closed fittings that are easy to clean – such as downlights with glass covers.

If the kitchen has a seating area, consider the lighting in this area separately. A pendant fitting over the table, on a separate circuit to the kitchen lighting, will define this area and add decorative touch. Install dimmer switches so that the light levels in the kitchen can be lowered to create a cosy 'dining' atmosphere. Accent lighting can also be used to create atmosphere in the kitchen. Interior cabinet lighting is a familiar and effective way to highlight displays while recent developments in LED strip lighting open up the possibilities for architectural mood lighting. Designers of contemporary kitchens are fitting narrow strips of light (sealed by glass) behind units, to wash light up onto the splash backs or define the outer lines of the units when the other lights are dimmed. Work surfaces can also be under-lit to create dramatic effects.

BATHROOMS
Today's bathrooms, as rooms of sanctuary, demand sophisticated lighting solutions. Often compensating for a lack of natural light, the lighting design needs to be flexible to provide adequate light for everyday use through to more atmospheric levels for relaxation. Recessed low-voltage ceiling lights provide a good overall light that should be boosted by task lighting around the mirror and basin. To avoid unattractive shadow on your reflection in the mirror, include lighting on either side of the mirror or invest in a mirror with diffused integrated strip lighting. This practical source can be supplemented with feature lighting – which today can range from simple niche lighting to actual baths and shower units with integral coloured 'mood' lighting, such as those by LG Hi-Macs.

When planning bathroom lighting it is important to be aware of the building requirements. In the UK there are regulations governing the type of fittings that can be used in a bathroom and the position of switches and sockets. Switches must either be located outside the bathroom or operated by a pull cord suspended from the ceiling. Switched electrical sockets (other than those used for shaving) are banned. Waterproof fittings must be fitted to areas that are likely to come in contact with water. These specialised fittings are given an IP rating of two numbers. The first number indicates the degree of protection from particles such as dust the second number indicates the protection against moisture.

Bathroom Zones and IP Ratings
The bathroom is zoned according to how close the light fitting will be to a direct source of water and this dictates how water proof the fitting must be – indicated by the IP rating of the fitting. Specialist bathroom lighting company BC Designs advises:
Zone 0 This zone indicates areas such as saunas or steam rooms where the light fitting must be completely water tight (rating IP68 submersible to 9 metres)
Zone 1 This is the area of a bath or shower that may be subjected to a jet of water and a lighting fitting that can withstand a jet of water must be used (rating IP65 jet proof)
Zone 2 Areas within 0.6m of a basin or other water source that may be subject to splashes of water need a special sealed fitting (rating IP44 splash proof)
Zone 3 Standard fittings can only be used when they are positioned well away from any water source and have no chance of being splashed.

CONTACTS
LG Hi Macs 01892 543 008 or www.lgchemeurope.com
BC Designs 01206 546345 or www.bcdesigns.co.uk
The Lighting Store 020 8731 8601 or 020 8201 8628