Lighting options for a large open plan space

4 years ago

We are building an extension which will unify our kitchen and living area into a big open plan of 6.5x7m which is roughly divided into four zones - Kitchen, Dinning and Living area and a corner with a pantry cupboard and some open space. When I look at lot of new open plan photos general trend is to use lots of spot lights - for me it is just not make lot of sense to use spot light as a general lighting solution. Any thoughts what else we can use - especially which gives sufficient light on dark days (in London) in all areas of the room without having to have 20 spotlights on at the same time.

Featured Answer

obobble

4 years ago

We have 23 spotlights in a 10.5 by 5.5 m space which are grouped into three functional zones on separate circuits. Additionally there is an uplighter on the wall of the vaulted section of the room and a double fitting over the kitchen table. There is also a lamp socket which is controlled from the light switches, plus of course lights in the cooker hood. The key is to have separately controllable zones and layers of lighting whether you use spotlights or not.

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Ribena Drinker
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
obobble, we too have spotlight in three different zones in our kitchen diner. We also have wall lights. We have under cupboard lights and in cupboard lights - as well as lights on the extractor hood. We have two table lamps on the sideboard on a timer. TBH I wouldn't consider any other type of lighting for the kitchen working area.

So Niraj, I think your answer is to have separately controlled zones, so you don't have to have them all on at once. It's a fairly straightforward thing for an electrician to do, especially if you're having an extension built or the area reconfigured.
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Ellie
4 years ago
I really don't like spotlights either. Our space is smaller than yours at just 5.2 X 6 m. We have 2 pendants over island, a pendant over dining table and 2 wall lights over the sink wall. All 3 are on different circuits so can we used separately. This is more than enough light for our space. I also dislike under cabinet/plinth/lighting and don't feel need for them.
Gabby Wong
4 years ago
Other thing you can do do with spots or other lights is if you have smart bulbs eg Philips Hue, you can adjust which individual lights are on or off, and I think all of them are dimmable... some you can also adjust how warm the light is or change colours... but obviously they add up in cost.
Niraj
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you all for your inputs. Yes, we plan to have them as different zones but it may be just me but I don't quite like to be in a space which is partly dark unless off-course it is very late and you are in mood. On a regular evening, I'd prefer decent amount of light in the space I am in - and I personally don't think all downlight are a good solution.

Thanks Ellie, we do plan to have two sets of Pendent lights - one on Kitchen Island and another for the dinning table. I didn't consider wall light so will consider that.

After have a look, I think LED strips hidden around the ceiling looks to be a good solution - just need to figure out how do we get it everywhere without needing to do huge amount of work.
PRO
User
4 years ago
Why spend hundreds £££ when you can buy from Screwfix spot lights 6000k LED Lights and resolve any issues with dark areas looks great, cheap and easy install.
minipie
4 years ago
Please don’t use 6000k that’s super bright white like an office! You want 3000k or even better 2700k.

I would suggest thinking about having lights at different heights. Spotlights and LED strips are both ceiling height so make sure you have some lights lower down too. Wall lights and pendants, but also a few lamps on tables. Or plinth lighting (not a fan myself but it does give that low down light). Lights built into any built in shelving. Definitely have undercabinet or undershelf lighting in your kitchen. Lower down lighting sources make things cosier.

If you want the lamps to come on with the main lights rather than going around switching each of them on, use a 5 amp socket wired to the lighting circuit.
PRO
User
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
@minipie yeah they shouldn't use the 6000k lights if they wish to have rooms looking yellow the idea is to have natural light and not have dark or shaded areas @Niraj

Have a look at the diagram they are also dimmable:
PRO
User
4 years ago
Here is the link for them https://www.screwfix.com/p/enlite-e8cx-fixed-fire-rated-led-downlight-without-bezel-580-620lm-8w-220-240v/3631x
minipie
4 years ago
That’s clever, I‘ve never seen integrated lights where you can choose the warmth of the light.

Lighting options for a large open plan space

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