“Great lighting creates depth and height, cosy spots, and draws attention to your most impressive areas. It’s all about the balance of light and shade and bringing new energy to an interior.” John Cullen

Lighting is a critical part of the interior design and decoration of a property. It affects our mood, productivity, and even our health, and though we are lucky to have an abundance of natural light in Australia, older and smaller properties like terraces or studios may still require some artificial help.

The lighting of your property elicits functional, aesthetic, and practical considerations  

Whether you are buying or selling a property, you should consider the lighting from the following perspectives: the functionality of the design, i.e., how effective it is in meeting the needs of your family’s or buyers' lifestyle; your property's aesthetic, i.e., the way the lighting presents the home, and finally, the many practical considerations, like the cost and how easy the design is to maintain - take that last consideration from someone who designed a stunning, vaulted ceiling full of pretty downlights with zero consideration for how I would change the globes in the future.

Lighting adds layers to a space

Aesthetically, lighting adds layers to a space in the same way that texture does, and Better Homes & Gardens recommends at least three sources of light for each space. Good design is all about contrast and as lighting designer Nathan Orsman tells The New York Times, “Without the darker, quieter moments, everything is flat and boring. It’s the subtle interplay between light and dark that creates appeal.”

The type of lighting you select for your property will obviously depend on your family situation and what activities you do at home, e.g., if you work from home, you will require effective lighting in your workspace and if you have young children, practicality will undoubtedly win over style. But you must also consider factors such as the style and construction of your property, energy conservation, maintenance, and your budget. How you light the outside and exterior of your property is another consideration you must make - for security reasons, to lengthen the functionality of the space over the day, or simply to extend the size and appeal of the home with an outdoor living area, for example.

The three types of lighting to consider are:

• Ambient or general lighting - This includes overhead lighting, track lights or fixtures such as floor and table lamps. The purpose of this type of lighting is, “To ensure safe and easy traffic, as well as to create an overview of the room,” according to Standard Pro. Outdoor ambient lighting is what also ensures visibility around your property.
• Accent lighting - This is used to make a focal point of architectural features or artworks and is usually achieved with recessed lighting or wall-mounted fixtures
• And Task lighting - This is the type of lighting that helps with tasks such as reading, cooking, or working on the computer. This may take the form of a desk lamp, adjustable track lighting or a directional recessed light or downlight

So, what are the most critical lighting considerations you should take when you buy or sell a property?

Here are our top 9:

1. The scale of your space - When selecting light fixtures such as a large pendant light, for example, there is a simple calculation where you add the length to the width of your room in feet and the diameter of the fixture you intend to hang should equal it in inches. For the brightness of your light, i.e., the number of lumens required, a lighting calculator will give you the right number of downlights.
2. The appropriate lighting for your kitchen and bathroom  – The kitchen is the hub of the house for many families, and because it is multi-functional, i.e., used for preparing food, doing homework, entertaining, and in my home as the main stalking ground for pets, it will require an array of different fixtures. Pendant lights work well over islands and dining tables, recessed lighting bathes the ceiling in light, and under-cabinet lighting illuminates bench tops with a softer night-time glow for entertaining. The older and more long-sighted I get, the more I appreciate good task lighting in the bathroom for applying my makeup, and if you don’t have heating and live in the east or south of Australia, you know that heating lamps are essential.
3. The direction of your property – In Australia, the best way for a property to face is north so it gets the sun in the morning. However, those properties come with a significant price tag. For the rest of us, with our south-facing rooms, we rely on artificial lighting as our main source of brightness.
4. The best ways to be energy-efficient - "Designing mindfully" is something we talked about in our recent post about the top interior design trends for 2023, and frankly, energy-efficient globes are no longer negotiable if you care about the planet. For a softer glow in your living areas, choose warm white globes; for functional spaces like the garage, use cool white.
5. The evolution of design - Many lighting designers are moving away from recessed overhead lighting or downlights because people tend to go overboard with them, making rooms look stark. They are also costly, not as energy-efficient, and difficult to replace – see above. As Homes & Gardens points out: "Thoughtfully placed, cleverly designed, and carefully crafted ceiling lights will transform rooms. Lighting will become a starting point for design rather than being left until last."
6. Dimmers - My husband and I cannot agree on the right level of brightness in our living area so I can honestly say that dimmers have saved our marriage.
7. Skylights – If a room has little to no natural light and you have the option to install a skylight, this could be a wise investment if you are looking to sell. Natural light is one of the top requirements of most buyers.
8. Glare – Modern living requires us to spend a lot of time looking at screens, so when you plan your space, think about where you will use them and any potential reflection issues.
9. Shades – We've mentioned the resurgence in the popularity of lampshades in other posts, which has coincided with our love of vintage styling and Maximalism. Customised coloured, patterned, and textured shades add another layer to a room and the lamp’s brightness and direction can be controlled by your choice of lining.

Dimmers may have saved my marriage!

Sadly, many people treat lighting as an afterthought because they are afraid of it. But with good planning and a little creativity, good lighting not only brings a property to life but also makes a design impact. Personally, I think every property should have at least one statement light, whether it’s a stunning drum pendant over your dining table, some pretty globe pendants over your island or an imposing chandelier in your entry hall. But to get it right, you must do your research and come up with a proper lighting plan for your electrician. Don't, like me, decide to add wall lights after wallpapering.

Treating lighting as an afterthought will cost you

There is no doubt the market is tricky at the moment and you may feel nervous about investing in renovations. But renovated properties - done well - are holding their value. If you are looking to sell your property, Listing Loop provides three options instead of the traditional one way.

If you would like to use the proven and most common method of selling with an agent, but don’t know where to start, our free Seller Assist service can help. Seller Assist identifies the best local agent to sell your property who will value your property correctly so you don’t undersell.

If you’re up for giving it a go yourself, Listing Loop can guide you through the process of selling privately. This includes listing your property for sale on Listing Loop and the option to have marketing products such as a For Sale signboard and a property brochure.

If you’re interested in selling, but not ready to fully commit, you can Test the Market for free. List your property unofficially to determine buyer interest. You can do this without even revealing your address or contact information.

Explore Listing Loop’s options for selling and importantly, list and sell your property with confidence.