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We caught up with David Sheils, founder and Managing Director of Amphis Lighting, a Melbourne based lighting fit out company that perfectly marries the function with the beauty of lighting. “We believe in human-centric lighting, which is putting the people that live in the home at the centre of the lighting layout or design,” Mr Sheils notes.

So we asked Mr Sheils to shed some light (pun-intended!) on how to light a home for the people that actually live there.

  • Avoid Shortcuts and Cheap Solutions

  • Lighting your home can be an expensive and tiring process. A lot of people opt for cheaper and time effective solutions to shortcut through this process – and end up paying for it in the long run.

    Mr Sheils uses downlights as an example. “Downlights, whilst they’re very cost effective and create a lot of light, are actually very expensive to pull them out or to adjust things. This is because you’re dealing with holes in ceilings and plaster work and other bits and pieces.”

    It is really important that when implementing your lighting design that you are thinking proactively about the future requirements of your home. Maybe you are lighting an office that will one day become a nursery – make sure that this transition is going to be easy down the line.

  • Layer Your Lighting

    Individual rooms can serve multiple functions and it is impossible to find one lighting design that will suit the many needs of that space.

    “Adding pendants so that you can have those switched on instead of the downlights creates more mood and drama. Or adding wall lights as opposed to pendants, or table lamps and floor lamps instead of wall lights,” notes Mr Sheils.

    Essentially, different levels of lighting allow a room’s mood and energy to change over the course of the evening. For example, while downlights may serve well for preparing a meal, a pendant or wall light will set the mood much nicer for a dinner party.

Display Your Lighting Where It Counts

Chandeliers, decorative, and feature lighting are the jewel of the home and should be respected as such.

“We quite often see amazing, artistic pendant lights in bedrooms which is great for the eight hours that you spend asleep. Certainly having those statement pieces in the areas of your home where people will see them is better. Decorative lighting is really the jewellery of a home and it’s there to be shown off.” Mr Sheils notes.

So when it comes to your statement lighting make sure that everyone gets a chance to enjoy the glamour. Opt for dining rooms, sitting rooms, and foyers over bedrooms, offices, or bathrooms.

Mr Sheils also noted that when looking for a statement light, try to think realistically about how much maintenance it will require. A large crystal chandelier over a void or a staircase looks amazing, but is incredibly difficult to clean and service.

  • Lighting For You, Not Anyone Else

  • At the end of the day your home and your lighting design need to serve you from the moment you wake up till the moment you go to bed.

    Good, human-centric, and considered lighting design will do wonders for your home, body, and mind. Putting the extra effort in now will mean you get a home that will serve you in the years to come. As your life evolves, your family grows, and you change – so will your lighting needs.

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