Debenhams lighting buying guide

The most multi-functional room in the home, living rooms see a mix of activities like socialising, relaxing, watching TV, and even studying, so they require a variety of lights to reflect the diverse tasks that are carried out in the room.

Ceiling lights spread a good amount of light around the room. An exuberant chandelier or sleek industrial style pendant will also add drama to the décor.

For ambiance, add floor and table lamps in areas where you need more direct light, for example, if you have an armchair you like to read in.

Use spotlights to create a focal point around decorative features, like paintings.

The place to unwind and relax, bedrooms should have a mix of soft ambient lighting. On the ceiling, pendant lights brighten up the whole room whilst creating a focal point over the bed.

Bedside table lamps, clip lights or positioned or wall-mounted lamps are a great idea for those who enjoy reading in bed.

Spotlights are great to light up the inside of a wardrobe or around a mirror for applying makeup with accuracy.

A simple flush ceiling lamp is practical and functional, and most can be dimmable, so you can soften the light on the evenings to help reassure little ones who may be scared of the dark.

To make it more fun you can go for a pendant lamp with a bright or a themed shade. Alternatively, table lamps or night lights come in a wide variety of exciting designs, and are perfect for reading bedtime stories, or doing homework.

Kitchens are very busy spaces, so you'll need to be strategic with your lighting positioning to get a good amount of light for food preparation and cooking.

Start with general ambient lighting, we would suggest a flush or a pendant lamp if you have a feature in the room, such as a kitchen island or breakfast bar.

Under-cabinet spotlights are useful for illuminating worktops as they provide extra light for dangerous tasks like chopping.

Bathroom lights require additional protection from water and moisture, so before choosing a style check that they are between the Ingress Protection rating of at least IP44, which means they are safe to use.

Wall and spotlights are a great choice for the bathroom as they come with no hanging wires, while flush lights are great for dispersing even light across the room. Vanity lighting on top of the bathroom mirror adds the perfect amount of illumination to help you with tasks like putting on makeup or shaving.

Statement lights like pendants or chandeliers, over the dining room table is a great way of drawing attention to the focus of the room, whilst additional floor lamps or wall lights create a perfectly layered ambiance and are ideal for entertaining as they provide softer, atmospheric lighting.

This room needs function-orientated lighting, so practicality wins over décor in this case. A flush light will provide even illumination for the room and a desk lamp in your main work area, brings extra light where you most require it.

General lighting is important in landings as these can often be dark. Pendant lights in the stairwell are a good choice to brighten up the room, as well as to make a statement from the moment you walk into the house.

Dimmable wall lights, floor lamps and eye-catching table lamps are a great way of layering light to create a softer, zen-inducing ambience in the hallway.

Outdoor lighting is useful to highlight pathways, illuminate the space and establish ambience in the garden. They can also modernise outdoor spaces in a cost-effective way, simply hang lantern or string lights and enjoy the romantic mood they create.

Outdoor lights fall into two categories; battery or solar powered which are great for creating mood thanks to the gentle glow they emit, and electric, which are connected to the main electric supply. These can come fitted with an infrared sensor, to turn on when movement is detected to illuminate the area.

Whichever type of outdoor lighting is used, you need to consider IP ratings. Outdoor lights need to be at least IP44 and wiring should be well insulated and weatherproof.

LEDs are on the expensive side, but certainly the most energy efficient bulbs in the market. They use less power to produce the same brightness, cost less to run, produce less heat and last much longer than other bulbs.

Unlike most other bulb types, LEDs work in low temperatures, making them also ideal for outdoor use.

Smart LED light bulbs come with in-built technology that allows you to control multiple lights remotely through an app on your smartphone or with your voice via a smart home assistant. Through WiFi or Bluetooth connections, the user can turn the bulb on and off, control schedules, brightness, and colour.  

These can last 15-25 years, and their smart functionality can help to reduce electricity usage. For example, lights can automatically be dimmed in the evening or can be combined with smart motion sensors, so lights are turned off when no one is in a room.

CFLs are energy-saving bulbs. Although cheaper than LEDs, these take a while to reach their optimum brightness.

For any type of bulb you end up getting, you will need to know the cap type of your light or lamp too to make it work. This can be found in the product description, most typically in Britain an E27 or E14 bulb will be suitable, but always make sure to check.