Plan the light around the room, not the ceiling.
The strongest lighting plans begin with how the space is used, what needs to be seen, what should become a focal point and how the room should feel at different times. Fixture positions come after the furniture, joinery, architecture and lighting layers are understood.
General light
Provides overall illumination and makes the room comfortable to move through.
Focused light
Supports specific activities such as cooking, reading, grooming or working.
Visual focus
Highlights art, textures, shelving, walls and architectural features.
Feature light
Adds personality and becomes part of the visual language of the interior.
Quick reference · what to coordinate
| Element | Coordinate with | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Downlights | Furniture, walls, art, ceiling services | Equal grid that does not relate to anything in the room |
| Pendants | Table/island centreline, ceiling structure, sightlines | Fixture centred to room instead of furniture |
| Wall lights | Elevation, mirror, headboard, art | Mounting height guessed without elevation coordination |
| LED details | Joinery sections, drivers, cable routes | No access to driver or visible LED source |
| Sockets | Furniture, equipment, joinery | Generic spacing unrelated to actual use |
| Switches | Door swing, circulation, scenes | Switch behind an open door or unclear grouping |
Think in scenes, not one lighting level.
General downlights may support cleaning and daytime use; wall washers can give the room depth; a floor lamp provides reading light; joinery lighting highlights objects; decorative pendants add character; and dimming allows an evening scene without leaving every fitting at full output.
01 · Start with the lighting brief
Start with activities and atmosphere, not fixture counts. The plan should answer how the room needs to feel and function before you decide where fittings go.
02 · Build lighting in layers
A room with only ambient light often feels flat. Layering allows the same room to work differently during cleaning, entertaining, working and evening use.
03 · Colour temperature + consistency
Colour temperature labels are only part of the story. Always review actual product data and, on important projects, physical samples or mock-ups.
04 · CRI + colour quality
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
05 · Beam angle + distribution
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
06 · Downlight planning
Do not distribute downlights simply because equal spacing looks tidy on a drawing. The light should respond to walls, furniture and tasks.
07 · Decorative pendants + chandeliers
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
08 · Kitchen lighting
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
09 · Bathroom lighting
Bathroom electrical requirements are jurisdiction-specific. Use the relevant local code and electrician/engineer rather than copying a generic IP-zone diagram from another project.
10 · Bedroom + living lighting
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
11 · Lighting joinery + LED details
Integrated lighting must be coordinated before joinery fabrication. Driver access, cable routes and the visibility of the LED source are all design issues.
12 · Socket planning
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
13 · Switch planning
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
14 · Dimming + control systems
‘Dimmable’ does not automatically mean every dimmer will work with every driver. Compatibility should be confirmed as a system.
15 · Electrical coordination
Interior designers can define lighting intent and fixture locations, but circuit design, loads, protection and regulatory compliance should remain with the appropriate electrical professional where required.
16 · Lighting schedule fields
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
17 · Drawing package checklist
Coordinate this section with the rest of the technical drawing set and verify product-specific requirements before issue.
18 · Pre-issue QA
Before issue, review the lighting plan at the same time as furniture, RCP, joinery, elevations and electrical drawings. Most lighting mistakes are coordination mistakes.