You want lighting installation that enhances the mood and atmosphere of the area while still being functional.
Residential lighting solutions are many and varied and while cost can be a big factor when deciding on how to light your living room, it shouldn't be the most important one. You want lighting installation that enhances the mood and atmosphere of the area, while still being functional so ignore the cost of the job in Australia. There are no hard and fast rules for cost as everyone has different tastes. Options to consider include:
Pendant lights
LED lighting
Outdoor lightscaping
Track lighting
Halogen downlights
Type of light | Estimated cost to install |
|---|---|
Halogen bulbs | $3 to $7 per light (average $5) |
CFL lights | $3 to $7 per light (average $5) |
Linear florescent | $3 to $15 per light fitting |
LED bulbs | $5 to $25 per bulb (these have the highest life span) |
If you want a particular area to stand out, accent lighting fixture or the accent lights is what you need. You can use this type of lamp in your living room while watching television and for up-lighting around countertops in your kitchen, amongst other things. They can be used as bathroom lighting. As with any other type of lighting option, the key is to find solutions that are cost-efficient without sacrificing too much functionality or style.
This is usually associated with desk lamps or the lights above the stove. Whatever the case may be, this sort of lighting is typically bright and provides direct illumination to a small area so you can complete a task. It's not as fast-acting as ambient light, but it certainly gets the job done.
There are many different types of decorative lighting on the market today. Everything from string lights for outdoor patios to candle chandeliers in your dining room will help add some style to any area that needs it. Light fixtures with multiple bulbs or lighting options are also very popular and look great when installed correctly.
Sometimes general or overall lighting, this option is designed to create the right mood in a room. You'll typically find that this type of lighting comes from overhead fixtures or recessed lighting cans.
The cost of lighting installation (light fitting costs and rates) will vary depending on the difficulty of the project. For a basic lighting installation, an electrician will typically charge under $100 for a residential light fixture. They may also charge for additional tasks such as running wire from an electrical panel to the fixture and mounting it to a wall or ceiling.
Some electricians will charge a flat rate to install multiple fixtures. Others may charge a flat rate for the entire job. An electrician might also be asked to replace an existing fixture with a new light that has more features or is more aesthetically pleasing. These types of installations typically take longer than installing something new due to removing time-consuming old wiring and mounting hardware from the old light fixture.An electrician will typically will charge the below for certain jobs.
Location | Estimated cost per hour |
|---|---|
Sydney | $100 to $132 |
Adelaide | $85 to $93 |
Brisbane | $93 to $97 |
Perth | $91 to $95 |
Melbourne | $80 to $87 |
You can expect additional service fees and other charges not included in the above estimates.
LED lights are the most energy efficient. The best type of lighting for any given room is dependent on the amount of light your home needs. For example, a bedroom with one window will need less lights than a living room where there is only overhead led lighting or led lights. Choose from any of these types and find the right one for your area:
These provide good illumination and can be used in spaces with high ceilings to produce the impression that they're larger. Tungsten lamps are less efficient than other types of lighting, and the bulbs are thicker than others. Rate/Price: Average
These are very bright and will provide ample light in any room. However, the heat that is emitted by this type of bulb can damage furniture or artwork in a space if left unattended. They also take slightly longer to achieve full brightness than other types of lights. Rate/Price: High
These are best used for decorative spaces such as dining rooms, living rooms and foyers because they cast an amber tone in the room. The downside to this type of lighting is that it varies greatly in intensity until it reaches its peak illumination level. At times the lamp may appear quite dim. Price/Rate: High
These are typically found in office buildings or large open areas with tall ceilings. Flourescent lamps produce a bluish-white light, are energy efficient and can last for several years in an office setting. The downside is that they might not be pleasing to the eye when used with paintings or other artwork because it may change the appearance of colours. Rate/ Price: Average
This type of lamp provides significant savings over time. It's also quieter than other options. The LED lamp is typically more expensive up front than other options. However, over time the energy savings results in a lower total cost of ownership compared to other types of lighting. Price: Low
These are energy efficient and can be used in smaller rooms like bathrooms. The downside is that the light it emits has a slightly blue tint. CFL lamps are not compatible with dimmer switches and are known for their flickering noise. Price: Low
Each lighting fixture will have different needs when it comes to wiring. New lights can simply be connected between an existing power source and an existing light switch, with no additional wiring necessary. If the new light features a connection that fits into an existing wall outlet, then no additional wiring is required. This also applies if your home has a central junction box in which all of the fixtures are plugged into one location. The majority of homes built before 1950 feature this type of arrangement as it was popular during that time period. Each room will need its own dedicated circuit to ensure safety and optimal function for those fixtures. Newer homes typically have more advanced electrical systems that provide separate circuits to each room, either through overhead connections or underground conduits leading from the main connection to the home. It is important that each room be connected to its own circuit board for optimal performance of any lighting fixtures in that location.
A typical installation for a new light fixture takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Adding a new electrical line can take longer depending on how many other lines are running into that area and whether the wiring system needs to be replaced. With a pendant light, you can expect your electrician to be between 30 minutes to an hour. If it's a ceiling fan with multiple lights, it will take about two hours for installation. Installing downlights can be a huge task as not only does the electrician need to run wires, but he will also have to cut a hole in your ceiling that can be as large as 20 cm. This process can take anywhere from three to five hours depending on the length of your ceiling and how many lights need to be installed.
Depending on your electrical system and location, you may have a minimum number of outlets required per room or space. If this is the case then the electrician will need to make sure any new lighting fixtures he installs meet those requirements. Making changes can often result in having to upgrade existing systems such as service panels or wiring in order for new lighting fixtures to work properly. Your electrician should run tests after the installation has been completed to ensure that everything is working properly.