Lighting Chelmsford

Welcome to Tm Hughes & Son Electrical Services. We provide lighting design and installation services in Chelmsford.

We Install, repair and replace all types of lighting and help you with your lighting requirements, from replacing a simple ceiling light to designing and fitting full lighting installations.

Call – 01245 830560

Our electricians have many years of experience installing lighting in homes and businesses in and around Chelmsford. All our electricians are insured and NICEIC registered.

We install indoor, exterior, commercial and security lighting in domestic and commercial business premises.

Indoor Lighting

The primary function of lighting in your home is to illuminate the darkness so you can see and move around safely; it’s also utilised for tasks and decorative purposes.

The lighting should enhance every room of your home to look the best possible while being pleasant and relaxing to sit in.

Work areas such as the kitchen and bathroom require extra lighting for tasks. Different types of lighting are installed in different areas for the best possible functionality and effect. Done right, a simple change of light can change the look and feel of any room.

The Different Types Of Indoor Lighting

The different types of indoor lighting include:

Standard Ambient Lighting

Standard lighting lets you move around your home without incident and see what you’re doing. Standard lighting includes the simple ceiling rose with a bulb, chandeliers and recessed spotlights. The simple floor lamp or table lamp is also a form of standard lighting.

Task Lighting

Task lighting has been added to lighting installations to assist with day-to-day tasks. A simple desktop lamp used to illuminate a desk is an example of task lighting. Built-in task lighting includes recessed lighting, under-wall unit lighting in kitchens, track lighting above an island worktop or lighting above the mirror in the bathroom.

Decorative Ambient Lighting

Specially installed lighting to enhance the look of a room. Uplighters are mounted on the wall, spotlights enhance pictures/ornaments or feature walls, and pendant lighting is placed above the dining table (which also doubles as task lighting).

Many different types of lights are available, fitted to the ceiling, wall, under cabinets and even on the floor.

Ceiling Lights

The different types of ceiling lights include:

Chandeliers

Chandeliers are the most extravagant of lights, big and bold, made from decorative metal. Some have decorative extras, such as glass features. Housing several bulbs for the household chandelier will be between 3 and 12. Chandeliers can be fixed directly to the ceiling or wall by hanging from a chain. Classic-style candle-shaped bulbs are usually fitted in chandeliers.

Pendant Lights

traditional ceiling roses with a bulb and lampshade are examples of pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.  Many houses have a single bulb, and some houses have multiple bulbs. There are many different designs on offer. Pendant lights are generally installed over dining tables and kitchen worktops for decoration and task lighting purposes.

Flush Lighting

Flush lights sit flush to the ceiling, the ultimate space saver and a favourite for houses with low ceilings. Flush lights take up the least space, and tall people won’t bang their heads on the lights every time they walk past. Useful in cupboards where you want the maximum free space possible. Most bathroom lights are flush lights designed to keep moisture out. Changing a bulb in flush lighting is slightly more difficult than the other light style.

Semi-Flush Lighting

Semi-flush lights compromise between flush and pending lighting; they only hang a few inches from the ceiling. Space-saving lights that look better than standard flush lighting are popular for kitchens and dining rooms.

Recessed Lighting

Recessed lights sit inside holes cut into the ceiling, which is an excellent space saver and a good option if you want lights at multiple points in the ceiling. For example, a large living room could utilise ten recessed spotlights instead of 2 pendants. A glass screen covers recess lighting, so it is a good option for bathrooms to protect from dampness and moisture—recessed lighting is good for highlighting specific features such as a picture.

Track Lighting

A row of lights protrudes from the ceiling, which can be moved along a track so you can light the exact areas you want. For example, a track light installed with four bulbs points three to a space in your room and one to your favourite ornaments on the sideboard. Track lighting is versatile; lighting directions can be changed whenever you want.

Wall Lights

Wall lights add depth and dimension to the look of your rooms and, in some instances, can even be used as task lighting. For example, reading when sitting near an illuminated wall. In some unique situations, ceiling lights are not possible, but all lights can be utilised in various places around the walls to provide enough light for the room.

Wall lights come in many different forms, shapes, sizes and designs.

Uplights

Uplights are used mainly for decorative purposes, making any wall look more attractive. They work by enclosing a lightbulb and shining the light upwards, adding a soft ambience to the space.

Up & Down Lights

Up and downlights are very popular in modern-style homes. They shine up and down, adding extra dimension to the walls and room.

Flush Wall Lights

Flush wall lights it against the wall and is the number one choice when space is limited, or you want her to be like walls in hallways and corridors.

Single Arm

Bulbs are attached to an arm that protrudes from the wall. The bulbs point up or down, depending on the design. They can be naked bulbs or covered in small lampshades or even spotlights that point downwards or be moved into various positions.

Double Arm

Double-arm wall lights work the same as single arms, except there are two arms and two bulbs. Useful for extra light or special effects.

Picture Lights

Strip lights on the end of an arm are designed to be mounted onto the wall and perfectly light pictures to make your art/photo collection more noticeable.

Mirror Lights

Specially designed to sit above and sometimes around mirrors assists in putting on make-up or shaving.

Light Bulbs

The incandescent light bulb was first released around 1880 and was the standard for many years. In 2009, the EU started phasing out incandescent bulbs to favour more environmentally friendly energy-saving light bulbs.

LED Bulbs

The most popular bulb for interior lighting is the LED bulb, which is more efficient than traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs. LED bulbs last longer, don’t get hot, and use less energy than their traditional counterparts. Also, they don’t use glass, mercury or lead, which can be harmful.

LED bulbs use around 90% less energy than traditional bulbs because they are much better at converting electricity into light. The average LED light bulb will last you 50000 hours, while incandescent bulbs only last 1000 hours.

Smart Bulbs

The Rolls-Royce LED light bulbs are smart. You get a range of space-age features and all the benefits of an LED bulb. Smart bulbs connect to smart apps on your phone and other devices from the comfort of your chair. You can dim bulbs, change colours and set them to turn on and off at set times. Some can even work in conjunction with your music systems, changing colours with the rhythm and beat of the music.

Indoor Lighting Design

When installing new lighting throughout your home, we can design all the lighting for you or work according to plans provided by your builder or architect.

When homeowners renovate their homes, they nearly always want new lighting, which must be done properly.  Poorly thought-out lighting can bring down any interior, no matter how good it looks in natural light.

When designing your new interior, lighting should be part of the initial planning process.  Many people renovate their homes and worry about lighting afterwards, which is the wrong way to go about it. Ideally, lighting should be decided when planning the decor and renovations to each room. Early planning allows you to select the ideal lighting and wire the space accordingly.

When designing lighting systems, the following needs to be taken into consideration.

• Size of the room
• The function of each room
• What time of day each room is used
• Who will be using each room
• Furniture in the room
• Permanent fixtures
• Features of the room
• The natural light received during the day
• Location of current light switches and fittings
• Location of any new light switches and fittings
• Decoration/colours of the room
• Your unique tastes and preferences

Using the above example to create the perfect working plan for a living room:

Size Of The Room

The first step is to work out the size of the room by measuring square metres. We can calculate exactly how much light the room needs.

Function Of The Room

Next, we work out the function of each living room. Sitting and watching the television requires different lighting from what’s used in your bathroom.

Who’s Using The Room?

Next, we take into account the people using the room. If you’re a young couple with children, you won’t need as much light as an old retired couple who need more light to see the same as you do and will likely require task lighting, such as reading lights.

Furniture Position

By establishing where your furniture’s going, we can find the best place to put wall lights to make the room look symmetrical or create the effect you’re after.

Permanent Fixtures

Rooms will have permanent fixtures such as windows, doors and radiators, which will affect the placing of lights. Windows will always provide a certain amount of natural lighting, even at night, so lights are kept away from windows. No one wants to highlight their radiators so that lights will be pointed away from them.

Natural Lighting

Natural lighting and its directions are also a consideration. We’ll determine where it comes in and what direction and position lighting should work in conjunction with the natural light.

Features Of The Room

Features in the room, like fireplaces, feature walls, and pictures, want to be lit up so they stand out.

Existing Switches & Lights

Your current light switches and fittings may already be in a good position or need to be moved to create the perfect lighting situation.

Decor & Colours

Considering the decoration and colours of your room, we can pick bulbs, switches and colours to complement your decor, along with the design and style of lights that will work with your room.

Your Preferences

Finally, your unique tastes and preferences decide the style of light chosen. Everyone has their personal preferences. We’ll go through many options to find your perfect lights.

Exterior Lighting

Exterior lighting enhances the look of your home while enabling you to walk outside safely when it’s dark. Outside lights also deter many would-be thieves, burglars and vandals. Outdoor lighting is designed to withstand the elements, moisture, heat and cold, depending on the time of year.

We offer a full exterior lighting and security light fitting service. We can replace your existing outdoor lights or design a complete exterior lighting system. Alternatively, we can work to the specifications of your landscape gardener or architect.

Exterior Wall Lights

Exterior wall lights are the most common form of outdoor lighting, as exterior walls are the most convenient place to install outdoor lights. Wall lights can be decorative, such as up and downlights, to enhance the look of an outer wall. Functional just to provide light, for example, by the front door so you can see ok when entering your home or motion sensor security lights that turn on when someone walks past.

Brick Lights

Brick lights are set into walls in the garden, and even the house sitting flush to the wall, lighting certain areas. For example, if you have a path with a low garden wall running alongside, install brick lights at periodic distances to illuminate the path at night.

Post Lights

Post lights are available, both short and tall (between 1-6 ft), providing light off the ground. Install a row of low post lights along a path and a 6ft lamp post at the start of your front drive.

Decking Lights

Decking lights are installed to illuminate your favourite outdoor area from the ground up. They sit flush into the decking and can be walked over without posing a tripping Hazard.

Security Lighting

TM Hughes electricians supply and fit security lighting for domestic and commercial properties. Security lighting operates on a motion sensor. Usually installed on a wall and activated by the movement for safety and security.

Install security lights in a convenient place, so when you come home in the dark, the area lights up as soon as you enter the drive.

Protect vulnerable areas of your home and business premises with security lighting. Unwanted visitors will trigger the lighting, scaring them away and providing extra light for CCTV.

Homes and premises with security lights are far less likely to be broken into or suffer vandalism.

Ideal areas to install motion sensor lighting include front and back doors, garage areas, driveways and patios.

For commercial premises, over-entry areas, fire escapes and windows.

The electricians will set your security lighting to the ideal settings to activate when people walk past but not when an animal walks by or leaves blow past.

Lighting & Building Regulations

Whenever electrical work is done at home, whether upgrading or extending, you must follow the required building regulations and have the work done by a fully qualified and certified electrician.

Our Electricians are familiar with the building regulations and have installed many lighting installations in Chelmsford over the years. You can rest assured that any work done is safe and legal and signed off on at the end. You’ll be able to prove your work’s been done by a qualified electrician.

Commercial Lighting

We offer a commercial lighting design and installation service. We can meet your requirements whether you have an existing premise and want the lighting upgraded or have moved into new premises and need lighting installed for your line of work. Lighting is essential for productivity and the well-being of your employees. We’ll install the best lighting for your business.

Commercial Lighting installations are energy efficient. The latest commercial LED lighting is way more efficient than the traditional fluorescent light and lasts around ten times longer, saving lots of electricity and money.

Modern LED lights are also better for your employees’ health and safety. The right lighting helps to create a happier, healthier, more productive workforce. You can further enhance your energy efficiency with modern smart controls, which help significantly reduce electricity wastage.

Contact Us

If you’re interested in our Lighting Design and Installation services for your Chelmsford home or business, please contact us for a free, no-obligation survey and quote. You can get in touch by using the phone number or email below.