Good lighting is an essential element in the design of your new home. It impacts on functionality and can make a huge difference to the overall ambience and style of your home, providing a sense of warmth and comfort for you and your family.

The first step to creating a good lighting plan is to consider how each space will be used. Choose lighting that is fit for purpose. Lighting will vary throughout your home depending on the function and ambience of each space. Areas such as the kitchen, living rooms and bedrooms will require multiple lighting sources to accommodate the change of purpose and activities for that space.

There are three main lighting functions:

1. Task – designed to emit sufficient light in an area to complete a task such as the kitchen, home office and bathroom. Including specific lights that can be activated when needed and switched off or converted to softer lighting for the rest of the time.
2. Decorative: depicting a theme or style, i.e. not so task orientated
3. Mood lighting – used to alter the ambience in a room

Practical lighting considerations:

• Size of the room, i.e. how many fittings are needed to light the room for its purpose
• Positioning – arrangement of lights, i.e. directional or diffused
• Type – different light globes for specific purposes
• Surfaces – walls, furniture, flooring, ceilings and mirrors reflect light in different ways
• Features – to showcase items or highlight specific aspects of a room
• Efficiency –LED bulbs are the most efficient form of lighting, providing power saving benefits and long-term cost efficiency.
• Dimmers – ideal for setting the mood or providing just the right light for a specific task, not to mention the savings on your electricity bill and the life of your bulbs.
• Exterior lighting gives your home that all-important street appeal and provides safety and security at night. Directional wall sconces create ambiance especially when focused on the architectural elements of your home and landscape.

Buying tips:

• Natural organic textures such as raw timbers, concrete and stone inspired hard-wearing materials are being embraced wholeheartedly creating a sense of sophistication.
• Island Benches remain on trend, multi-functioning as both a prep area, serving and entertaining.
• Discreet slimline handles recessed into the cabinetry

When you build with Hallmark Homes we work together to design a customised lighting and electrical plan that includes the allocation of lighting fixtures, power outlets, phone and data ports, home automation and any other accessories specific to your needs.

Come along and view our latest showhome LINCOLN – which is a fine example of our home lighting plans including downlights, ambient lighting, task lighting and feature lighting that is sure to impress.

Opening times are Thu to Sun, 12 to 4pm or by appointment; located at 162 Southfield Drive, Te Whariki, Lincoln. You can be assured we won’t leave you in the dark!

For more information please contact our friendly sales team at Hallmark Homes, ph. 0508 442 556.