It is important to set a budget for lighting cost as it keeps us in check and prevents us from overspending during the renovation process. But before we dictate an amount to follow prematurely, you should understand more about the various options available in the market.
There are a few factors which will affect the price point: Level of service, quality, and design.
In today's context, service level is a very subjective matter. Some of us are willing to pay more in return for a fuss-free experience and on the other hand, some of us prioritize more on the quality and specifications of the product. But there are those who would manage to find a fine balance between both service and quality aspects. To figure what suits you better, keep your options open and visit a couple of stores to understand more about their business philosophy, approach, and products they offer.
The quality and technology behind each lighting product plays a big part in determining the cost of it as previously mentioned. With sturdier exterior and higher quality internal components, pricing do tend to increase as well. It is not possible to determine the overall quality just by looking at a product's picture online. Hence. visiting the physical lighting store to ensure that your expectation is aligned before committing is always the best solution. The most important part of a good quality light fixture lays within the internal components. Internal components matters a lot more as it is the keystone of a light, helping dictate factors such as light output, effective lighting as well as lifespan. If you have your doubts or uncertainty, we recommend that you check out our previous article on LED components that make up a light: https://www.shioklighting.com/post/know-this-before-you-start-buying-lights-for-your-home
The last important point before deciding on the budget is aesthetic. The more exclusive the design is, the higher the price. But of course, do take into account the 2 points highlighted above, and assess that the design is a practical one before diving into it.
In short, be sure of what you want and know the market value of the products you are keen on. Find the right balance between all these attributes before setting a realistic budget for yourself. Today, we hope to help everyone maximize their budget by sharing with you a budget breakdown for lightings between a 1 and 2 bedroom apartment. Setting a budget of $500 and $1000 respectively with products provided by Shiok Lighting.
A 1-bedroom condo is a compact sized apartment that can accommodate 1 - 2 pax for daily living. This type of property is commonly owned by singles, retired couples or people who are investing in the property market. A $500 lighting budget is for those who place lesser emphasis on aesthetics and are more focused on the functionality aspects of lightings.
The entire communal space consist of living, dining and kitchen. To better light up these areas efficiently, tracklight will be the ideal choice. They help provide more flexibility and wider coverage as you are able to "customize" and add in suitable amount of pieces to illuminate every corners. You can check out this article on the benefits of having tracklights: https://www.shioklighting.com/post/5-reasons-why-you-would-want-tracklights-for-your-home
We recommend 2 sets of tracklights for this space.
Total cost for Living Room: $182
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The kitchen is usually linked to the entire communal space and is a space where most of the practical work is being done. Due to the open concept layout, there tend to be a clash between effective lighting and ambient lighting. If effective lighting was applied in the kitchen, it will cause the living or dining area to be less appealing. In this case, you will need lights that are more focused but yet able to provide you with sufficient lighting at the same time. The Essential spotlight is a fine balance between the 2 aspects mentioned previously, providing that effect with a slightly wider beam angle, and forming wide spread light output that is suitable for the kitchen space.
Total cost for Kitchen: $60
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The bathroom is another location that is in need of practical lighting. However, unlike the kitchen, it is a location by itself where the lighting effect will not affect other locations in the house. For a fuss-free option, go for a downlight that has the beam angle of 120 degree, as this allows very wide spread light effect that can light up the entire bathroom with just 1 light fixture.
Total cost for Bathroom: $18.90
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We advocate consistency within your design. Hence, the same model of tracklights is recommended for the bedroom as well. Vanta tracklight has an anti-glare effect that allows for softer yet effective lighting for people who prefer a cosier environment.
Total cost for Bedroom: $182
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Living Room: $182
Kitchen: $60
Bathroom: $18.90
Bedroom: $182
Balcony: $30
Total Cost: $472.90
In this case, it is possible to not exceed the $500 budget for a 1 bedroom apartment. However, with a higher budget, you would be able to explore more options that can further beautify the interior space of the house. So, before setting a budget, know and understand what is your priority.
A 2-bedroom condo is a comfortable sized apartment that can fit up to 3 - 4 family members. This type of property is typically owned by young couples or a family with 1 - 2 kids. A $1000 budget is a reasonable amount for a combination of ambient lighting and practical lighting for this space.
For the foyer, usually you would want to set a comfortable tone be it for yourself when you reach home, or for your guest when they first step into the house. To make sure the space can be well-lit and still remain cosy at the same time, we will recommend the Soleil Spotlight which is slightly anti-glare. The light source is tugged further away from view, preventing uncomfortable glare and make a lasting impression for your guests when switched on.
Foyer: $78
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Downlights are advised when it comes to heavy cooking, as the light spread is wide and more even. It is just the perfect option for functional purposes. We would think 2 pieces of LEDVANCE 15W downlights will be sufficient to light up this kitchen space. However, if your concern is the ambience, you can still go for spotlights as an alternative as long as you have under cabinetry lighting for the kitchen countertop which acts as support lighting.
Kitchen: $37.80
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For a decent sized living room, sufficient illumination for everyday use is important. But ambient lighting is also crucial in amplifying the aesthetics of the home. Imagine coming back from a day of work to sit down on your sofa, having strong downlights shining in your face no matter where you rest. The Soleil spotlight is an embodiment of both functionality and beauty.
Living Room: $312
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The balcony is a narrow and elongated area which requires a softer lighting tone to coincide with the living room lighting. The use of tracklights is a great choice light up every corner of the area. For a softer lighting, the Mero tracklights are flexible you will be able to adjust the light angle to reflect off walls, allowing a softer lighting effect.
Balcony: $85
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The Halo spotlight, similar to the Soleil spotlight has an anti-glare effect due to its structural design. The soft curves of the spotlight creates a gradient lighting effect that injects a sense modernity to the overall interior design. We strongly recommend owners to upgrade the bulbs to dimmable types as this allow owners to unwind in the comforts of their bedroom.
Master Bedroom: $144
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In a modern home concept certain form requires uniformity and lights are one of those forms. We tend to recommend similar lighting fixture for both bedrooms, but if you are feeling adventurous, there is nothing wrong in changing up the designs as well. What's important is that you like it! However, in this case, going for the same design as the master bedroom would do just fine if you are looking for consistency.
Bedroom: $144
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Bathrooms are areas that generally contain higher humidity. And in Singapore where humidity is already at such high levels, we would recommend going for water-resistant downlight that are IP rated for extra protection. The Idro IP-rated spotlights are fitted with a silicon sealed casing to prevent water vapors from entering the the fixture.
Bathroom 1: $59
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Master Bedroom: $144
Bedroom: $144
Living Room: $312
Foyer: $78
Kitchen: $37.80
Bathroom 1: $59
Bathroom 2: $59
Balcony: $85
Total Cost: $918.80
Conclusion:
Of course, this is only one of many different possibilities that can work out for your house interior. What we have recommended are just some of the more basic range of lightings that Shiok Lighting has to offer.
If after reading this article, you still have any doubts to planning and budgeting, do feel free to visit our showroom where lighting specialists will be able to run you through their range of products and at the same time provide well-informed tips to help light up your home without compromising the beauty of it.
Alternatively, if you already have an idea of what you need, simply visit our website (https://www.shioklighting.com/shop) where the specifications and pricing of the products are stated in a transparent fashion.