Good lighting can transform your home at the flick of a switch. But getting the right design and illumination can be a difficult task.

Whether your property is large or small traditional or modern, take time to consider the lighting for each room in the home, as the requirements will depend on its function.

If you wish to control lighting in different areas of the room and include specific accent and mood lighting you can ask your electrician to draw up an electrical lighting plan.

When it comes to light sources, the following guide from NICEIC will help you decide which are best for each room. In the kitchen bright light is required for food preparation, while dimmed lighting ca provide a pleasant dining atmosphere.

Where bright light is required, under-unit lighting is often a good option. Halogen downlighters set in the ceiling provide excellent ambient light and are a better solution than pendants or spotlights.

How you light the dining room and sitting room depends on their style, but it is good to have multiple lighting options. The main light source in the dining room is usually hung over the dining table, so go for layers of light, complementing with wall lights and table lamps.

Whether you are applying make up or shaving, it is best to have a bright light in the bathroom, but for relaxing in the tub you may want the option of dimming the lights. Enclosed halogen downlighters, which are preferable to pendant light fittings, must be enclosed if installed above a shower or bath.

All bathroom lights should either b controlled by a wall switch, which must be mounted outside the bathroom or by a ceiling mounted pull-cord switch in the bathroom.

Careful planning and consulting with your electrician will allow you to be creative in the bedroom as the options are endless. Halogen downlighters again offer good ambient light, or you may prefer a mix of wall lights and pendants or chandeliers.

Change your bulbs to save energy and cash

Creating clever lighting does not have mean that you have to replace the lighting fitments or us energy-wasting bulbs as eco-chic light bulbs have arrived on the lighting scene.

Technological developments by Osram means that you can no longer tell the difference in light quality between a energy-saving CFL (compact fluorescent light bulbs) and an incandescent bulb.

The only difference is that CFLs use 80 per cent less electricity and can save about £7 and around 40kgs of C02 per year, per bulb.

The Osram eco-chic range includes designs such as the Duluxstar Twist, Mini Ball, Mini Globe and EL Dim.

Osram's halogen energy-saver range can also replace those energy-wasting spotlights in your kitchen and bathroom. The range uses 30 per cent less energy than standard bulbs and is available in all shapes and sizes, including candles and classic shaped bulbs. These bulbs can also be dimmed.

The Osram range of bulbs are available from Sainsbury's, Robert Dyas and other leading electrical retailers.