Astro Lighting are one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of contemporary lighting. Founded in 1997 by John Fearon and James Bassant, the two designers came together with a shared commitment to British lighting design and a passion for quality and precision. Astro's creative ethos has remained consistent throughout – that good design demands simplicity. This commitment to quality and design has made this standard bearer of British lighting design the go-to brand in the UK and Internationally.
Have you ever walked into a room and marveled at how beautifully it was lit? You most likely haven’t, when a room is perfectly lit you hardly notice it. Lighting is vitally important when designing the perfect space, it can can make or break a room. You can decorate a room beautifully and furnish it exquisitely, but if the room isn’t lit correctly it can seriously detract from the overall effect.
Astro Lighting’s clean modern designs make designing the perfect space simple. Here’s how to do it -
Function of the room
The first thing to consider before all else is what will the space be used for: Relaxing? Watching television? Preparing food? Doing homework?
The living room is a multifuncional room where the lighting is part of the decor, we suggest a combination of down lights and moveable floor and table lamps with light diffusing shades such as this bronze double insulated floor lamp from Astro lighting. In the dining room, an overhead light fitting such as a chandelier or track light positioned above the dining table with a dimmer works best. In the Kitchen lighting is more complex, identify your work areas such as food preparation areas and ovens and set up task lighting above the areas but below eye level.
Bathrooms need more thought. You want a bright all purpose ceiling light fitted centrally and around vanity areas. You also want softer lighting for when your having a relaxing soak in the bath. In the master bedroom a combination of task lighting for getting dressed and good reading lights or table lamps at the bed and desk will strike the perfect balance.
Localize the Light Source
It is a misconception that you must light up the whole room. The best lit rooms have layers of diffused light from multiple light sources. Using multiple localized sources will create light and shade within the room exactly where you need it. Allowing you to create your desired atmosphere; whether that be helping the kids complete their homework or relaxing with a glass of wine.
Add a Dimmer
Dimmers allow for flexibility depending on time of day, event and mood. They are especially good in multipurpose rooms such as dining rooms and living rooms. They are also great in bathrooms, allowing you to have both bright task lighting and low mood lighting in one. What's more, they reduce energy consumption and increase bulb life.
The majority of Astro’s range of wall lights and ceiling lights are dimmable. This white plaster wall light would be an impressive addition to any contemporary living area. The white plaster finish goes well with any colour wall or the plaster itself can be painted with a good quality emulsion paint to blend with your existing decor.
Bulbs
You have two main options that vary in the light they emit, cost and energy efficiency. LED bulbs tick all the boxes, they are the most expensive but they have a long life, are low energy and give off a bright light. Their are also Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) these are lower in cost but aren’t as efficient and are difficult to dispose of. You must also consider lumens of light and the size of the bulbs to ensure you choose bulbs that aren’t too bright or too dim.
First Choice Lighting are proud to be an official supplier of Astro Lighting, we stock an extensive selection of Astro products including kitchen and bathroom lights, as well as floor, wall and exterior lighting. Head over to our site to see more from Astro and our full catalogue of lighting products.
