Lighting is one of the most exciting parts of a renovation, and one of the easiest to leave too late. By the time most people start browsing pendants, the walls are already closed, the wiring is in, and the perfect light has nowhere to go.
The good news? Getting lighting right isn't about knowing everything up front. It's about making the right decisions at the right stage. This checklist walks you through each phase of a renovation, whether you're managing it yourself or working alongside an interior designer, architect or builder.
Doing it yourself, or with a designer?
Both work beautifully. The difference is simply who carries each decision.
If you're managing the renovation yourself, you're the one briefing the electrician, so you'll need a clear lighting plan: a marked-up floor plan showing every light, switch and dimmer. Don't worry if you haven't chosen every fitting yet; you need positions and types first, products second.
If you're working with an interior designer or architect, they'll usually draw the lighting plan and specify fittings. Your role is to make sure the plan reflects how you actually live, and to review selections in person where you can.
Throughout this checklist, look for notes on what to focus on in each scenario.
Stage 1: Planning and design
When: before your plans or drawings are finalised.
This is when lighting costs nothing to change, so it's the time to dream big and think practically.
☐ Walk through each room and note how you use it at different times: morning coffee, working from home, dinner, winding down.
☐ Decide where your feature pieces will live: a pendant over the dining table, a statement light in the void or entry, wall lights either side of the bed.
☐ Note ceiling heights, especially voids, raked ceilings and stairwells, as these shape which fittings will work.
☐ Sketch your furniture layout. Pendants should centre on the island or table, not the room, and wall lights should relate to beds, mirrors and artwork.
☐ Plan three layers in each room: ambient (general light), task (for cooking, reading and grooming) and accent (to highlight art, texture or architecture).
☐ Think about daylight. How does natural light move through the space, and where will you need light first as the sun goes down?
☐ Set a lighting budget early, separating everyday lighting (downlights, strip lighting) from decorative feature pieces.
Going it alone: start a simple mood board of the lights you love, then book a design consultation with our team to test scale and suitability before you commit.
With a designer: share your mood board and how you live. Ask to see the lighting plan as its own drawing, separate from the electrical plan, so you can review it clearly.
Stage 2: Before the electrical rough-in
When: before the electrician runs wiring and before walls, ceilings and tiling close up.
This is the most important deadline in your lighting journey. The rough-in is when wiring is run through the frame of your home. Changes afterwards mean cutting into finished walls, and often a second electrician visit.
☐ Confirm the exact position of every ceiling light, pendant, wall light and downlight on the plan.
☐ Set wall light heights (typically around eye level, but check the fitting's design and the furniture below).
☐ Confirm pendant positions relative to benches, tables and beds, and check they won't clash with beams, bulkheads, joists or rangehoods.
☐ Plan switch locations against door swings, and add two-way switches for stairs, long hallways and bedrooms.
☐ Decide which lights will be on dimmers, and check they're compatible with the fittings you're considering.
☐ Mark in LED strip lighting for joinery, shelving, under-cabinet and toe-kick lighting, as these need to be planned with your cabinet maker.
☐ Plan power points for table and floor lamps, including floor sockets in open-plan living areas.
☐ For bathrooms, confirm vanity and mirror lighting before tiling. Lights either side of a mirror at eye level are more flattering than a single light above.
☐ Plan outdoor lighting: front door, pathway, garden and alfresco areas.
☐ Decide on any smart lighting or automation, as it often needs different wiring.
☐ Check that heavy fittings (large pendants and chandeliers) have adequate ceiling support.
Going it alone: walk the site with your electrician before rough-in and mark positions on the floor or frame. Your electrician will usually supply standard downlights, but you'll choose the decorative pieces, so have their dimensions and installation requirements ready.
With a designer: ask your designer to attend or confirm the rough-in walk-through, and request manufacturer spec sheets for every fitting so your electrician has what they need.
Stage 3: Selecting and ordering
When: as soon as positions are locked in, ideally well before fit-off.
Many designer lights are made to order and shipped from overseas, so ordering late is one of the most common reasons renovations end up with temporary bare globes.
☐ Finalise your feature pieces and confirm sizes against your plan and ceiling heights.
☐ Check each fitting's lead time and plan orders around your fit-off date.
☐ Check IP ratings for bathrooms and outdoor areas, and choose corrosion-resistant materials if you live near the coast.
☐ Confirm finishes against your tapware, hardware and joinery samples.
☐ Check each fitting's globe type and whether globes are included.
☐ Confirm drop lengths for pendants, especially over islands, dining tables and voids.
Going it alone: see pieces in person where you can. Scale, finish and glow are hard to judge on a screen. Working to a tight deadline? Our Designer on Demand range is ready to ship in 4–6 weeks.
With a designer: interior designers, architects and builders can access pricing and support through our Trade program. Ask your designer to confirm lead times as part of the project schedule.
Stage 4: Fit-off and finishing
When: once walls are painted, joinery is in and the electrician returns to install.
☐ Choose a consistent colour temperature. Warm white (2700K–3000K) suits most living areas and bedrooms.
☐ Check pendant heights once installed. A good starting point is roughly 75–90cm above a dining table or island, adjusted to suit the fitting and your sightlines.
☐ Test every dimmer through its full range to check for flicker or buzzing.
☐ Visit each room at night. This is when you'll see gaps, glare and dark corners.
☐ Add table and floor lamps to fill the gaps and soften the space.
☐ Keep product manuals, warranties and electrical compliance certificates together.
Going it alone: be on site for fit-off if you can, so you can adjust pendant drops and positions on the day.
With a designer: ask your designer to review the lighting at night before signing off, and add lamps as part of the final styling.
Room-by-room quick check
- Kitchen: pendants centred on the island, task lighting over benches, strip lighting under cabinets.
Rain Pendant Light & Angle Wall Light
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Dining: a feature pendant or linear light scaled to the table, on a dimmer.
Sky-Fall Pendant Light & Bai Chandelier Pendant Light
- Living: layered ambient light, wall lights or lamps, and power points where lamps will go.
Flar Table Lamp & Muse Wall Light
- Bedroom: bedside wall lights or pendants, two-way switching, and warm, dimmable light.
Globo Cesta Pendant Light & Lucca Wall Light
- Bathroom: mirror lighting at eye level, IP-rated fittings, and planning finished before tiling.
Orb Sur Wall Light & Coral Frosted Wall Light
- Entry and hallway: a welcoming first impression, wall lights to guide the way, and a light at the front door.
Zeus Discus Wall Light & Black Note Double Wall Light
- Voids and stairwells: statement pendants with long drops, ceiling support and safe access for maintenance.
Emilia Pendant Light & Typha Pendant Light
- Outdoor: front door, pathways, garden and alfresco, with the right IP rating and materials for your location.
Chelsie Step Light & Nilo Outdoor Wall Light
Light it right, from the start
The best-lit homes aren't the ones with the most lights. They're the ones where lighting was planned early, layered thoughtfully and chosen with care. Whether you're renovating on your own or working with a designer, our team can help you plan your lighting, test scale and source the right pieces for every stage.
Book a design consultation at The Nook Showroom, or explore our Trade program if you're a designer, architect or builder.
Puzzle Round Wall/Ceiling Light
