16 Aug Garden Room Lighting Ideas – Q&A with Mullan Lighting
When designing any space, including a garden room, something that is often neglected, is a good lighting design. All our garden rooms come with 6-8 spotlights inside and 3 exterior LED spotlights, in a brushed chrome finish. This creates a sleek, contemporary finish, that provides plenty of light to carry out most tasks, and illuminate the garden room’s exterior by night.
But with a bit of extra planning during the design phase and a touch of creativity, you can take your garden room to the next level, with a lighting scheme, that works perfectly for you.
To find out where to begin, we caught up with the experts at Mullan Lighting, to get the lowdown on all things lighting.
About Mullan Lighting
Mullan Lighting is a lighting design and manufacturing company based in the small border village of Mullan in Co. Monaghan, Ireland. Established by Mike Treanor, an architect by trade, in 2009, Mullan now employs 100 people and exports to over 55 countries worldwide, for both the commercial and residential sectors.
Garden Room Lighting Q&A
Q: Our customers use their garden rooms as an extension of their main house. So, the interior design is as important as any other room in their home. With this in mind, why is a considered lighting plan key?
A: Lighting is a very powerful tool in interior design and architecture. Carefully planning out the lighting design means that you have the ability to change the ambience and perception of the space, as well as create a functional room that allows you to achieve the relevant tasks within that space.
A good lighting plan will be tailored to suit your needs, and can save you money and hardship in the future. With a well-designed lighting plan, you can make sure that all areas of the room are appropriately illuminated, eliminating dark spots and shadows. A lighting plan can also provide energy-efficient solutions, such as LED bulbs and smart lighting controls like dimmer switches and adjustable lighting fixtures. This can help reduce consumption, lower utility costs and is also more environmentally friendly.
Q: When should you start planning the lighting in your garden room?
A: The best time to start thinking about a lighting plan is during the early stages of the room’s design and planning process. When plans are being developed, it’s really important to include lighting elements in the layout. You can work with the design team to identify areas where lighting fixtures, wiring and controls can be integrated into the room’s structure. If you are planning to incorporate smart lighting or energy-efficient solutions into your room, it’s essential to think about this early on, as these may require specific wiring and controls.
By thinking about the lighting from the very beginning, you can create a well-integrated and thoughtful lighting design, that is aesthetically pleasing and functional, and also helps to avoid potential issues and additional costs that can arise from last-minute lighting decisions.
Q: When planning a lighting scheme, what are the main points to consider?
A: When creating a lighting scheme there are many things to think about. It is important to consider the function of the room and how it will be used. It is also important to consider the amount of natural light the room receives and how you are going to layer different types of light to create depth, dimension and flexibility. A well-designed lighting plan usually incorporates three layers: ambient, task and accent lighting. Ambient lighting provides illumination for the room, task lighting serves specific purposes such as reading or writing, and accent lighting is used to highlight architectural features or decorative elements.
It is important to choose lighting fixtures that complement the design of the room and take into account your personal preferences. You should be strategic in the positioning of lighting fixtures to ensure that the light is evenly distributed and there are no shadows or glare. Another factor to consider is the colour temperature of the light bulbs. Warmer tones (around 2700k to 3000k) create a cosy atmosphere while cooler tones (4000k to 5000k) are more energising and suited for task-oriented spaces.
When it comes to planning exterior lighting for a garden room, there are some additional factors to consider. You should ensure that any lighting fixtures that are placed outdoors are designed for outdoor use (these are rated IP65 and above). You could also consider adding lighting into the surrounding landscape by using lights to highlight trees, plants, pathways and outdoor features. By taking all of these factors into consideration, you can create a beautifully illuminated garden room that enhances the outdoor experience and makes the space enjoyable both during the day and at night.
Q: You mention that a good lighting plan should be tailored to suit the room’s function. So, what advice do you have for anyone planning a lighting scheme in the following spaces:
Home Office Lighting
A: The best lighting scheme for a home office garden room should prioritise both functionality and ambiance. Take advantage of the garden room’s location and maximise natural light by positioning the desk and work area near windows. By installing task lighting you can illuminate the work area specifically. A desk lamp with adjustable brightness and direction, such as Mullan Lighting’s Puhos desk lamp, can provide focused lighting for reading, writing, and working on a computer. It is also important to position lighting fixtures and the computer screen in the best way to minimise glare and reflections.
Home Gym Lighting
A: A home gym garden room should focus on creating a well-lit and motivating environment for physical activities and workout routines. It is important to evenly distribute the lighting to prevent shadows and provide a safe environment for working out. Choosing a cool colour temperature (around 4000K to 5000K) promotes alertness and focus, making it ideal for a home gym.
Adjustable spotlights, such as Mullan Lighting’s Evanston spot light can be used to incorporate task lighting for specific workout areas that require focused lighting, like weightlifting stations, yoga mats, or exercise equipment. If you want to create a gym that has different zones for different activities like cardio, strength training, or stretching, use lighting to differentiate these areas and create a dynamic and engaging space.
Teen Den Garden Room Lighting
A: A teen den should be a space for teenagers to hang out, study, relax and entertain their friends. So, when it comes to a lighting plan it should combine functionality with a vibrant atmosphere. It is a good idea to include task lighting for a dedicated study area or reading corner. These can either be desk lamps or wall lights with adjustable brightness and a swivel for directing the light, such as Mullan Lighting’s Longford wall light with reading spotlight.
Installing dimmable lighting fixtures is a great feature that allows teenagers to change the intensity of the lighting depending on the activities – studying, watching movies or hanging out with friends. It can also be used to create different lighting zones. For example, a cosy reading nook can have softer lighting, while a gaming or entertainment area would have brighter and more dynamic lighting.
Incorporating colourful lighting elements, such as LED lights, Neon signs, wall art or string lights, brings a playful touch to the room. Unique lighting fixtures like a funky chandelier or trendy pendant can be used as a focal point and enhance the overall design of the room. A good example of this is Mullan Lighting’s Celestial Collection that has a colourful, futuristic design with parts that can be interchanged to create a different look or design.
Music Room Lighting
A: A music garden room should have a captivating and immersive atmosphere while also providing practical lighting. It’s important to ensure that the area where instruments are played is well-lit and has focused task lighting. Adjustable spotlights, such as Mullan Lighting’s Holmes linear pendant, can be used to direct the light so musicians can see their instruments and notes while practising. Installing backlighting behind equipment like speakers or mixing consoles provides practical lighting for adjustments and operation.
To create an immersive experience, you can add colour-changing smart lights or stage lighting effects using spot lights or moving lights. These can also be used to program different lighting scenes to match the mood or genre of the music being played.
Yoga/ Pilates Studio Lighting
A: A yoga/pilates garden room should create a calm, serene environment for relaxation and mindfulness. It is best to use soft and warm lighting (around 2700k to 3000k colour temperature) to create a soothing atmosphere. Installing dimmable lighting means you can adjust the intensity of the artificial lighting as needed. For example, dimming the lighting during relaxation or meditation segments.
Indirect lighting is a great option for a yoga/pilates room as it avoids direct glare, which can be distracting. Wall sconces like Mullan Lighting’s Sakura ceramic wall light can be used to create a soft and diffused glow on the walls and ceilings.
Garden Room Lighting Experts
Thanks so much to the experts at Mullan Lighting for chatting to us and kindly sharing this advice with us. We have no doubt it will be very useful for anyone planning their garden room. It’s amazing what a difference lighting can make to a space, indoors and out.
Garden Rooms With Lighting
If you are considering getting a garden room, and would like to find out more about it, we would love for you to visit us at our showroom just off the M50 at exit 5. Schedule your visit with us today by completing our Showroom Appointment form, giving us a call on 01 864 28888 or emailing us at info@gardenrooms.ie.