Smart lighting is far more than a bulb you control from your phone. A proper lighting control system lets you set the mood of a whole room with one button, dim every circuit smoothly, schedule lights for security, and control everything from keypads, an app or your voice. The key to getting it right is planning it before the walls are closed up.
What a lighting control system does
- Scenes: one button sets several circuits to preset levels, such as “Dinner”, “Film” or “All off”
- Smooth dimming of LED downlights, wall lights and feature lighting
- Neat keypads in place of banks of switches
- App and voice control, plus integration with heating, blinds and audio
- Timers and astronomical clocks to switch lighting at dusk, or simulate occupancy when you’re away
Wired or wireless?
Wired systems such as KNX, Lutron HomeWorks and Loxone run dedicated control cabling and usually bring lighting circuits back to a central panel. They’re the most robust and flexible choice for new builds and full renovations, where cabling can be run before plastering.
Wireless systems such as Rako wireless and Lutron’s wireless ranges replace standard switches and dimmers with smart versions that talk to each other wirelessly. They’re ideal for retrofit, where you want smart control without chasing walls.
Crestron sits at the high end, typically used where lighting is integrated with whole-home AV, security and climate control.
Plan it before plastering
If you’re renovating or extending, a few decisions at first fix save a lot of money and mess later:
- decide on wired or wireless early, as it changes how every circuit is cabled
- neutral at every switch position, which many smart dimmers need
- deep back boxes for smart dimmers and keypads
- a central location for panels, power supplies and network equipment, with ventilation and access
- data cabling to the hub and key rooms
- LED and driver compatibility, since not every LED fitting dims smoothly on every dimmer, so choose fittings and controls together
Start simple, expand later
You don’t have to automate everything on day one. A sensible approach is to install the cabling and backbone during the build, fit control to the main living spaces, and add rooms later. Wireless systems also make it easy to extend over time.
Work with an electrician who does both
Smart lighting is only as good as the electrical installation behind it. We design and install lighting control alongside the rest of the electrics, so circuits, dimming, keypads and data are planned together. See our smart homes service and our chandelier and feature lighting post. We cover London and Essex, with our own engineers working every day across Chigwell, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Woodford, Ilford, Romford, Brentwood and Epping. Call 020 8227 0035 or request a quote.