Desig House: How to Choose Lighting

Expert Advice: Lulu Lytle, co-founder and creative director of Soane, discusses creating atmosphere with lighting

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While there are brilliant technical devices for lighting a space, my approach is rather traditional and tends to focus on atmosphere. I prefer to keep ceiling spotlights to a minimum, relying more on floor, table, wall and pendant lights.

Reflections and Finishes

It is worth remembering that while pale marble and white paint might reflect 80 per cent of a room's light, dark mahogany and red walls will only reflect around 20 per cent. Also, the colours of fabrics and wallpapers can appear radically altered under different light. Our Helios' wall light in antique brass (38cm diameter, from E1,800) would reflect the light beautifully.

Task Lighting

Functional lighting - say for a study or kitchen - must be adequate for the task. I look for lights with features such as swing arms, height-adjustable sliders and angled heads - like our 'Argo Flexi' table light (84.5cm maximum height, from £1,400). And our 'Rise and Fall' lights, pictured, are particularly useful over kitchen worktops and library tables (138cm maximum height, from £3,450).

Choosing the Right Shade

The choice of material for a lampshade significantly affects the quality of the light.

Rattan

Rattan shades diffuse lightina lovely way, whether used on table lamps or as hanging lights. Shown here, Soane's "Daisy Hanging Light' (from £4,900) filters the light down through the rattan and up to the ceiling.

Fabric

Having a soft pink silk lining on fabric shades will create a flattering glow, as seen with our "Reading' wall light (from £1,200). But this can distort blues and greens, in which case a cream lining is a better option.

Metal

Metal lampshades direct a shaft of light at a specific point, which can be excellent for illuminating a kitchen surface or reading spot. Soane's 'Avon' wall light (from £900) has three joints, which allows flexible movement.

Card

Card shades give a soft light, however the colour is significant - too grey or too white and the light can be miserable. I use cream, the colour of parchment, as seen with our "The Great Palm' lamp (from £2,250).