Unless you’re an architect or an electrician, choosing the best lighting for your venue, project, event or space can feel overwhelming. There are so many commercial grade lighting options available, it’s hard to know where to start.
Working with customers from Councils and event planning, along with hospitality, retail and property groups over the last 16 years, we’ve found there are four common questions that help customers decide on the lighting solutions that will work best for their commercial space.
If you need commercial grade lighting, but you’re not sure what will work best for you, ask yourself these four questions and you’ll be on your way to choosing the best lights to bring your space to life!
1. What’s the purpose of the room/space that needs lighting?
This may seem like an obvious question, but it’s not one you want to overlook. If you run a restaurant you’ll need to think about your diners, kitchen staff and bar staff who all have different lighting requirements.
If you’re running an event, you’ll need to consider which areas within your space you want your guests to gather. High traffic areas will have different lighting requirements to low traffic areas.
If you manage a hotel, what purpose will your outdoor areas serve at night? Are there areas that need to be well lit for safety purposes such a dark set of steps? Are there gardens that when lit up at night would help create a lasting impression on your guests’ experience?
Getting clear on the purpose of each space and what your staff, customers and guests will be doing in these areas will help you choose lighting that is both functional and sets the tone for the experience you want people to have.
2. What do you want your lighting to achieve?
Think about what feeling you’d like your customers to experience in your space or venue. Creating the right atmosphere with your lighting means your customers feel more comfortable to spend more time at your venue.
Do you want to create a cozy atmosphere so customers can settle in for the evening and enjoy quality conversations with their friends? Do you want to create a light and bright atmosphere so people feel energised to join in on an event?
You should also consider which features in your venue or space you want to highlight. Is there are a remarkable tree outside your venue that would look magical when lit up at night? Are there feature stairs, plants or structures inside your venue that would bring your space to life when lit up?
Understanding the feeling you want customers to have, as well as any features you want to accentuate, plays a big part in the type of lighting that will best suit your space.
3. How would you describe the style of your venue/event/space?
What words would you use to describe the style of your space? Is your restaurant modern with minimal styling? Is your pub rustic with a casual atmosphere? Is your hotel exclusive and luxurious?
Knowing the style of your venue or space and the type of customers you attract will help you choose lighting that is consistent in style, complements the venue and adds to the overall experience your customers have.
4. What photos have you seen with lighting you love?
Spend some time researching photos of venues, events or spaces like yours that have lighting you love. A great place to start is by looking at the photo galleries on commercial lighting suppliers’ websites.
When you find photos you like think about what it is about the lighting that draws your attention to it.
While the exact lighting solutions used in the photos may not be the solutions that best bring your space to life, they will likely give you an idea of the style, lighting placement or feeling you’re hoping to create for your own space. The photos will also help you share your lighting vision when it’s time to talk to a lighting supplier.
After you’ve answered these questions, you’ll have a much clearer vision of what you want your lighting to achieve and how you want your lighting to look and feel.
If you’re ready to light up your commercial venue, space or event we’re here to help.
It’s easy to get started, simply get a free design consultation and obligation free quote or give us a call. We’ll go through the technical aspects with you without over complicating things and provide you with the lighting solutions and design that match your vision, space and budget so you can bring your space to life with stunning and reliable lighting solutions.