What is a Lighting Layout and How to Design It?

Have you ever walked into a room without any fancy lighting fixtures but still got awestruck by charming lighting design? That’s the magic of proper lighting layout. It makes the place comfortable and appealing. The good news is you don’t have to be an expert lighting designer to nail it. 

Lighting layout is a blend of aesthetics, intuition, and calculation, forming the basis of excellent lighting design. This guide explores what lighting layout is and how you can design it. Let’s get started!

Lighting Layout: Basic Overview 

Lighting layout refers to the placement and positioning of lights in any place. A good lighting design layout is made considering the application, theme, lighting requirement, and budget. A well-thought lighting layout can transform the ambiance of the place significantly. 

How to Design a Lighting Layout? — In 8 Easy Steps

Step:1 Ask Yourself the Right Questions

The best way to start designing a lighting layout is to ask yourself the right questions.

A lighting layout for a home needs a different approach than lighting a commercial place. So, here is a list of questions to help jump-start your creative process.

• What type of place are you lighting? A house, office, or retail store? 
• Is the place used for work? Or to relax and spend time with friends and family.
• What is the ceiling height? Is it easy to change the lamps for regular maintenance? 
• Would you like to change the lighting arrangement in the future?
• How much sunlight comes in through windows? Natural and artificial light need to complement each other. 
• What is your budget? Can you afford to install intelligent controls in the place?

Step:2 Lighting Requirements 

The next step is all about figuring out the correct lighting requirement. We will use the “Lumen Method” to give you a good guess of your lighting needs. 

1. Start by calculating the area. Multiple the length and width of the place. You’ll get some value in the square foot (sq. ft.)
2. Multiply the area with the lumen required for specific places mentioned in the following table. These values are taken from IES and OSHO standards for general illumination. 

Note: 

You can also calculate a specific area within a place, like an area covered by a cooking range in the kitchen, and calculate the task lighting requirement using the same process.  

For example, an 8 ft by 12 ft kitchen covers an area of 96 sq. ft., so the lumens required for general illumination will be (96*40) 3840 lm, the total lumens required.

3. Now, find the number of fixtures required by simply dividing the total lumens needed for the lumen rating of a single bulb. You can easily find the lumen rating of a lamp on its package. 

Now you know the total light requirement and the number of fixtures needed. It’s time to plan the lighting layout for your place. 

Step:3 Evenly Spaced Lighting vs. Cluster Lighting 

There are two common lighting approaches that lighting designers go for. 

Evenly Spaced

In the above example, the light sources are installed evenly, which gives balanced lighting.

Cluster

In the second image, you’ll see a cluster of light sources over certain areas, creating emphasis. 

Both approaches work fine, but we prefer even lighting as you may need to change the furniture and decor in the future, which can disturb the whole lighting setup. 

Step: 4 Start by Drawing a Floor Map 

Once you have the basic lighting design, it’s time to put your ideas on paper.

Start by drawing a floor map. We will take an example of a typical home kitchen for easy understanding. 

This is what a typical floor map looks like. We have scaled the dimensions in the drawings. 1 in depicts 2 ft in reality.

You have to mark the furniture, counters, cabinets, and electric sockets where the connection will be.  

Step: 5 Play with Lighting Layers 

The three lighting layers that are crucial to any functional light layout are: 

Task Lighting 

Always start your lighting layout by designing task lighting. This type of lighting is for areas where tasks are performed. 

In the home kitchen, the lighting over the cooking counter and burners are called task lighting. Another example would be a cutting station in a hair salon. These areas require higher illumination for better work performance. 

Ambient Lighting 

Ambient lighting refers to general lighting in any room. The primary purpose of this light is to illuminate the place, and it should be high enough for people to move around quickly. Such general lighting also sets up the mood and vibe of the site. 

Warmer temperature lights create a more relaxing environment, while cooler daylight lighting makes the place classy and elegant. You can use direct or indirect lighting to light up the area.  Indirect lighting uses reflective surfaces like ceilings to spread the light beam.

Accent Lighting 

Lastly, focus on accent lighting to make the place stand out. Accent lights highlight certain features like cabinets, decor, furniture, or painting. Try maintaining a 10:1 accent to general lighting contrast for elegant lighting design.

Step: 6 Choose the Lighting Fixtures

Here are some general lighting fixtures that work fine in any scenario. 

Recessed Lighting

Recessed lights have fixtures inserted in the drywall, giving a unique, minimalistic feel. They are excellent for general and accent lighting. 

Surface Mounted Lights 

Surface-mounted lights are available in beautiful and sleek fixture designs. They’re alternatives to the recessed, panel, and linear lights. 

Pendants and Chandeliers 

Pendant lights and chandeliers can turn an average-looking area into a spectacular place. These lights come in elegant designs, and there are tons of options to choose from. Pendant lights are excellent for general as well as decorative lighting. 

Track and Spotlights 

Track lights are excellent for task lighting. It’s easy to adjust the beam direction according to your liking.

Spotlights are great for highlighting a specific feature. It could be a stand-in retail store or some painting in an art gallery. 

Step: 7 Proper Placement

After going through steps 1-6, you must figure out the theme, function, and lighting requirements. 

As a rule, all the lights should be 2-3 ft from the side walls. Also, the gap between light fixtures should be half the ceiling height. For example, for a 14 ft high ceiling, the institutions should be 6 to 7 ft apart. 

In the above example, under-cabinet (UC) lights illuminate the counters. They also give extra light to the cooking area making the task easier. 

Recessed can lights are evenly distributed to illuminate the general area. To add the flare pendant lights are added above the kitchen island. 

Step: 8 Be Creative 

Make use of colors and temperatures to create a unique ambiance. Use lights with compatible dimmers to adjust the brightness depending on the mood.

Nowadays, multi-functional lighting with motion sensors, changing colors, and temperatures can convert an ordinary lighting plan into a masterpiece. Highlight special features like sloped ceilings, nooks, and furniture. 

Why Are LED Fixtures Best for Functional Lighting Layouts? 

We have come a long way when it comes to lighting technologies. It all started with incandescent bulbs, and then halogens, metal halides, and fluorescent lights dominated the lighting scene. 

However, light-emitting diodes, commonly called LEDs, evolved lighting to new heights in the last decade. LED lights are perfect for your lighting layout because they are long-lasting, durable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective. 

Furthermore, you can select from hundreds of fixtures and power ratings. Such flexibility gives you room to be highly creative with the lighting layout. LED doesn’t heat up efficiently, so they can be installed in tight places.

An average LED bulb lasts 50,000 hours, so you don’t have to worry about maintenance much. 

The Bottom Line 

Lighting layout doesn’t have to be a difficult or complex process. Simpler is always better. By going through this guide, you now have the idea about calculating lighting requirement and using it to craft a lighting layout. We also discussed what different lighting strategies you can use to enhance the lighting layout. 

Don’t worry! If you didn’t get it right the first time. A little practice goes a long way. 

RC Lighting Is Your One-Stop-All for Functional Lighting Solutions

A good “Lighting Layout” alone isn’t practical without high-quality luminaires. At RC lighting, we consider the market demand, delivering premium quality LED lights to our clients. 

What makes our products so unique? We produce LED lights in state of manufacturing plants that comply with international quality standards. Our catalog includes a variety of LED recessed lights, surface-mounted lights, linear lights, track lights, and spotlights. 

 RC lighting even offers customization of the product according to your demand so that you get maximum benefit. Our rates are market-competitive, and our delivery service is top-notch. Moreover, all LED lights have high-quality drivers with five years of warranty. 

So, what are you waiting for? Contact our 24/7 customer service and get a FREE project evaluation now!