Create the illusion of space

90 mallinson road london sw11 1bn

tel: 020 7924 1421

mob: 07866 724718

Create the illusion of space with clever lighting

Our monthly email offering advice on

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home. To discuss any of the topics

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Steve Bishop Steve Bishop is a qualified

electrician and a member of NAPIT.

See his qualifications at

www.swbishop.co.uk/whoweare..

We all have at least one room at home that we wish was a bit bigger. Sadly, unless you're

up for taking a bulldozer to it there's only one option - use the magic of light to create

optical illusions and open up that space!

In my experience, a few well-chosen, well-placed lights can make your smallest room look

less cupboardy (is that even a word?) and more like the drawing room in Downton

Abbey. Slight exaggeration but you see where I'm going with this.

Here are my suggestions for making a small space seem bigger with lighting.

Recessed lighting

Recessed lights are perfect for small rooms as they provide large amounts of light without

taking up floor and table space and they eliminate the overhead clutter of hanging

lights. Directional recessed wall washers used to evenly light wall surfaces in living areas

and in narrow hallways can also create a feeling of increased space.

Track lighting

Like recessed lights, track lights are a great way of lighting a room without using up any

valuable space and with the right lamps can create an ambient atmosphere. They are also

directional and can be used to cast light on a statue or picture for dramatic effect. Another

way of visually opening up your living space is to throw light onto just one wall.

Corner lighting

A great way to make a small room appear larger is to light up the corners. Corners

disappear into darkness and make the room look smaller. Illuminating them with corner

lights creates the illusion of space as it redirects the eye to the outer perimeter of the room

making it look bigger than it really is.

Shelf lighting

Shelf lights works in the same way as corner lights as they open up dark shelves

and add depth and dimension to the room. Also, if they are correctly positioned,

they will display your books or ornaments to brilliant effect.

Natural light

And now the cheapest and most eco-friendly method - natural light. Allow the daylight to

flow freely into your small room to open it up. Make sure window coverings are sheer, or

are pulled back, to bring more light in.

A great way of creating the illusion of space is by using a combination of mirrors and

light. Mirrors dissolve a room's boundaries and reflect light, making any space appear

bigger. Use a mirror at the end of a hallway to give the illusion of length. Place a mirror on

the opposite side of a window wall with a view to reflect light, and the beautiful view.

Another great trick with a mirror is to place it behind a light source. Whether it's behind a

candle, a pendant light, or a bedside lamp, a mirror will help to maximize the light's reach

while creating an almost magical effect.

I hope the above sheds some light on opening up your small spaces. (See what I did

there?)

If you would like some advice on lighting designs or if you would like to make an

appointment for a free quotation on any of the services we provide (see our website at

www.swbishop.co.uk/services for more details about the electrical services we can

provide for you) then please contact me.

Next month: Tips for creating your own lighting plan.

Steve Bishop

Mob: 07866 724718

steve@swbishop.co.uk

www.swbishop.co.uk