Lighting installation advice - Grand Designs magazine
living room with ceiling spotlights, floor lamp and pendant

Lighting installation advice

Expert tips to ensure you get the best from your new light fittings.

By Becca Green |

Lighting installation can be complex, involving fittings that work together to provide both functional and design benefits. When planning a scheme, decide on the overall design plan for the room and how the lighting could enhance it. Discuss ideas with your architect, project manager and builder from the outset to ensure the installation process works with the construction schedule. Make sure your lights are properly fitted by following this advice from Darren Staniforth, technical expert at the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.

Two pendant lights, one orange and one grey, hanging above a dining table

Blown glass Chouchin pendant lamps from Christopher Wray

Planning a lighting installation

Plan any electrical work at the beginning of the project. If the wiring is more than 25 years old, rewiring is advisable. This may cause a lot of disruption as it is likely that all switches, fittings, sockets and the fuse box will need replacing, as well as the wiring.

Hire a professional

Hire a qualified electrician, such as those registered with NICEIC. It’s the best way of ensuring a quality job done safely. Contractors registered with NICEIC are assessed on a regular basis. This ensures they are competent and capable of meeting the relevant technical and safety standards. They also have authorisation to self certify their work to the local building control body on your behalf, saving you both time and money.

Lighting installation can be complex, involving fittings that work together to provide both functional and design benefits. When planning a scheme, decide on the overall design plan for the room and how the lighting could enhance it. Discuss ideas with your architect, project manager and builder from the outset to ensure the installation process works with the construction schedule. Make sure your lights are properly fitted by following this advice from Darren Staniforth, technical expert at the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.

Two pendant lights, one orange and one grey, hanging above a dining table

Blown glass Chouchin pendant lamps from Christopher Wray

Planning a lighting installation

Plan any electrical work at the beginning of the project. If the wiring is more than 25 years old, rewiring is advisable. This may cause a lot of disruption as it is likely that all switches, fittings, sockets and the fuse box will need replacing, as well as the wiring.

Hire a professional

Hire a qualified electrician, such as those registered with NICEIC. It’s the best way of ensuring a quality job done safely. Contractors registered with NICEIC are assessed on a regular basis. This ensures they are competent and capable of meeting the relevant technical and safety standards. They also have authorisation to self certify their work to the local building control body on your behalf, saving you both time and money.

IP ratings

Wet areas such as kitchens or bathrooms are high-risk areas for lighting. It’s important to understand IP ratings, which indicate how well protected equipment is against water ingress. The IP rating required depends on where fittings will be installed. Some work may need to comply with Part P of the building regulations.

Three pendant lights hanging above a kitchen island unit with bar stools in front

Trio of pendant lights from Fritz Fryer

Gather quotes

There is no typical cost for this work, as each job and property is different. Get at least three quotes and remember, the lowest quote does not always mean the best job, so look at testimonials.

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