Whether you’re planning a big renovation process, or you’re just replacing a couple of light fixtures, electrical changes can be time-consuming and challenging to implement if you aren’t experienced.
While you should always consult an electrician before making any changes to the lighting or fittings in your home, there are some things you can do to make their job easier, like organising your budget in advance and finding some inspiration pictures to help shape your vision. In this article, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about installing new lights and electrical fittings in your home.
The Costs of Lighting Installations
Depending on the complexity of your project, the costs of installing lights or electrical fittings in your home can vary according to the amount of work that needs to be completed, as well as the skill of the electrician required. For example:
- Simple light fitting changes tend to take around one hour, and you can expect to be charged £50-£70.
- Dimmer switch installation is more expensive. These fittings will likely set you back £55-£150, but will still take an electrician about an hour to complete.
- For larger installation projects, like downlighting or loft lights, costs will typically run well into the hundreds, and projects may take up to eight hours. Some electricians may prefer to spread this work across multiple days, so make sure to check in with them on their expectations.
It’s important to remember that these estimates are based on standard fitting or working practices, and the type of fixtures and fittings that you choose will also have a big impact on the cost of your final installation.
Modern fittings, like those that include USB port sockets, tend to run up a higher bill than the white plug socket fittings that come as standard in most homes. You’ll face similar decisions when choosing your fixtures, as a simple lamp fitting will be much cheaper than putting up a chandelier, which will typically take two people to lift, as well as some extra time. Such complexities around lighting prices means that it’s important to understand exactly what you’re looking for, to help you decide on a budget that meets your needs before discussing any prices with an electrician.
Consider Smart Home Lighting
If you want to fully replace your lighting, there are some revolutionary smart home lighting features that can elevate the look of your home. If you’re already planning to change to LED bulbs, then it’s worth investing in a smart lighting system that can take your home one step further.
There are a number of benefits to smart LED lighting that can truly revolutionise your daily life:
Added Convenience
With a smart home lighting system, convenience is at your fingertips, as you can use a mobile phone app to dim your lights or turn them on and off from anywhere. While this might not seem like a big deal if you’re inside, it’s a great way to check that you remembered to turn the lights off at home when you get to the office!
Cost-Saving
Family members always leaving the lights on and driving up costs on the energy bill? Smart lighting allows you to keep track of your lighting and schedule an automatic switch off after certain time periods, saving you money in the long run as well as being better for the environment. If you do decide to switch to LED lighting from regular bulbs, you can even save up to £100 per year on your lighting bill.
Improved Security
On top of being able to switch your lights on from anywhere, your smart lighting system will likely come with an ‘away mode’ setting that rotates your lights on a random timer whilst you’re on holiday or out of town, which acts as a brilliant deterrent for thieves.
Party Perfect
Finally, one of the best features of smart LED lighting is that they’re perfect for parties! Whether you want to change the colours of each light individually, or match the lights to a music system, smart lighting is a great way to boost the atmosphere of any room!
Planning Out Your Changes
Once you have a better idea of your budget, as well as which elements of your lighting you’d like to change in your home, you can plan out these changes before finding a qualified electrician to carry out the work for you. If you’re going all out and installing new lights in your property, then it might be useful to create a mood board that takes inspiration from online sites or business catalogues to accurately pinpoint what you’re looking to achieve with the project.
When you’re designing your mood board, try to include images of the lighting options that you’re considering combined with a number of different colour palettes and accompanying furniture pieces, so that you can also get the best idea of whether the fittings you choose today will still be a suitable addition if you eventually come to sell your property.
Another thing to consider is whether you’d like to incorporate sensor lights into your property as part of your lighting refresh. Sensor lights are an often-overlooked lighting element that can make a big difference to your daily life. From small hallway sensor lights that come on automatically when you walk through the front door, or outside sensors that make parking on the driveway or walking down the garden path at night that little bit easier, you’ll find that these lights are perfect for added convenience.
Finding a Professional
If you’re searching the web for electricians near me, you will likely be inundated with offers of local companies that claim to be the best choice for your job, so it’s important to thoroughly research the options that you consider. You can find reviews here to make sure that your local electrician comes well-recommended. Once you’ve narrowed down your shortlist, there are some questions that you should ask an electrician before you make a decision:
How much experience do you have?
Any reputable, trustworthy electrician will be more than happy to discuss the level of experience they have in the industry, and this will help you to decide whether they’re a right fit for your project. If you just need a simple light fixture putting up, then someone with less experience but the right qualifications might be suitable, whereas a bigger job like a complete rewiring or fitting change might demand someone with more time in the field.
Can I see your portfolio?
Most electricians who have worked on bigger fitting jobs will have a portfolio of past work that they can showcase. It’s even better if you can see testimonials or reviews from past customers.
Will anyone else be entering my home?
Some electricians, especially if they work as part of a large company, may have support on hand from apprentices or students looking to learn on the job. While this shouldn’t put you off, it’s important to check who else will be entering your property so that you can make sure you’re comfortable.
Finding the right electrician for your project can be challenging, but it’s the best way to professionally install new lights and electrical fittings in your home. By following the top tips we’ve discussed around how to source a suitable electrician and the questions you should ask, you can upgrade the look of your home in the safest way possible.
