Key takeaways
- Design in layers: ambient, task, accent and decorative — not one ceiling light per room
- Fix colour temperature per space (warm 2700–3000K for hospitality) and keep it consistent
- Specify a high CRI (90+) so stone, wood and skin tones look right
- Confirm voltage, plug/socket type and certification for the destination country
- Plan spares and standardisation across hotel room types
- Use CAD and photometric analysis before committing to a fixture schedule
1. Light in layers, not one fixture per room
Good interiors use four layers of light, and each is specified separately:
- Ambient: general illumination — cove, recessed or ceiling.
- Task: where work happens — desk, kitchen counter, bathroom mirror.
- Accent: to graze a stone wall, wash a facade or spotlight art.
- Decorative: chandeliers, pendants and table lamps that give the room its character.
A room with only ambient light feels flat; a room with all four layers feels designed.
2. Colour temperature and CRI
- Colour temperature (K): hospitality interiors usually sit at 2700–3000K for a warm, restful feel; 4000K suits back-of-house and some commercial areas. Do not mix temperatures within one space.
- CRI (colour rendering): specify 90+. A low-CRI light makes marble look grey and skin look ill — it is the single most common lighting mistake in fit-outs.
- Beam angles and lux levels should follow the room's function; lobbies and corridors are not the same specification.
3. Room-by-room guidance
- Lobby: a dramatic decorative centrepiece plus accent lighting on stone and reception joinery; higher ambient level.
- Guest room: warm ambient plus bedside reading lights, a desk lamp, a bathroom mirror light and a night light; keep all warm and dimmable.
- Corridor: rhythmic wall or ceiling accents that guide the eye and hide doors; avoid glare at eye level.
- Restaurant: low ambient, strong table accents — light the table, not the room.
- Villa exterior: facade washing, path and step lighting, and garden accents; specify IP ratings for wet and outdoor use.
4. Voltage, sockets and certification for export
This is where imported lighting projects stall at customs or on site:
- Match the voltage to the destination (220–240V for most of Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe).
- Choose lamp bases and drivers that are locally replaceable (E27/B22, or standard LED drivers).
- Confirm certification and documentation required for import (CE and equivalents, test reports).
- Keep spares of drivers and lamps; LED failures are usually driver failures.
5. Custom fixtures and lead time
Statement chandeliers and bespoke fixtures are often made to order. Provide the ceiling height, fixing points and any structural weight, and allow realistic lead time and a sample or rendering for approval before production.
6. Design support: CAD and photometric analysis
Lighting a project blind is expensive to fix. VIGOHOME provides residential, commercial and custom lighting with design support from brand partners — CAD drawings, lighting calculations and photometric analysis — so lux levels, beam angles and fixture positions are modelled before the schedule is fixed.
7. How lighting fits the material package
Lighting is quoted with the stone, wood and metal it will graze, so finishes and colour temperatures are chosen together. See the Lighting section of the products page, and plan the mixed load with how many categories fit in one container.
Frequently asked questions
What colour temperature should hotels use?
Most hospitality interiors use 2700-3000K for a warm, restful feel, with 4000K reserved for back-of-house and some commercial areas. Keep one temperature within a space rather than mixing.
Why does CRI matter for stone and wood?
CRI is how accurately a light renders colour. Below about 80, marble reads grey and skin tones look wrong; for hospitality, specify CRI 90 or higher so stone, timber and finishes look as intended.
What voltage is lighting for Africa or Southeast Asia?
Most of Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe use 220-240V at 50Hz. Specify the voltage to match the destination and choose locally replaceable lamp bases and drivers.
Does VIGOHOME offer lighting design?
Yes. VIGOHOME supplies lighting with design support from brand partners, including CAD drawings, lighting calculations and photometric analysis, so fixture positions and light levels are modelled before you commit.
Next: choose the wall finishes lighting will graze in wall panels vs paint vs wallpaper.