Multigenerational homes

Family room Lighting Design for Multigenerational homes

Place light where people work or read faces. Layer task light over ambient light and test glare from occupied positions.

Living room inspiration: media storage beside a glazed divider.

Plan in this order

Mark tasks, viewing angles and screen locations on the furniture plan before placing fittings.
Separate regularly used tasks from the room's general lighting so each can be controlled independently.
Test the proposed fitting and finish sample together. Glossy finishes can reflect a bright source directly into view.

Worked example

A floor lamp beside the sofa creates screen glare and leaves the reading chair dim.

Aim a shielded reading lamp at the chair and use indirect ambient light behind seating; check both views after dark.

How to test it

Check the space in daylight and after dark. Stand and sit where people actually use it, and check controls from the entry.

Apply it to this space

Layout: Use seating groups with a direct passage and place quieter reading seats away from the screen.
Detail: Provide separate reading and media light circuits and acoustic soft furnishings.
Trade-off: Multiple zones support varied use but may fragment a small common room.

The Elixir portfolio

Photographs for design inspiration