A guide to General, Accent and Task Lights with Pooky
With longer nights ahead of us, it is necessary to have the right light sources around our homes to ensure they are well lit. But what about style, colour and texture? Besides serving a very important function, lights can help bring a scheme together, add character and even fun to a room. That's why it is one of the most important aspects in interior design, one that you really need to think of early in your design process.
Interior design mandates that each room should have 3 types of lighting: General, Task and Accent. Want to know more about them?
"After layout, lighting is the second thing I add to any design, as it is so important", says KLC trained Interior Designer Phoebe Oldrey of Smartstyle Interiors.
"It really is the key to building the right atmosphere in a room", Phoebe goes on. "All my designs cover the 3 main types of lighting: General – that’s your all over lighting; Accent – the fun stuff that picks up features in the room; and Task – lighting that helps you do tasks like reading lights, desk lights or lights on kitchen counter tops".
Task Lights
I remember some time ago, I joined a workshop by interior designer Abigail Ahern (the Queen of Dark Rooms) and heard how a room should have anything between 5 to ten light sources (some of her own rooms have as many as 13!). Not all light sources have to be electricity-ran however. Candles and reflective surfaces also count.
Desk Lights
Task lights can be used on a desk within work spaces but can also be handy over kitchen worktops and in reading nooks. These are usually directing the light at specific angle to ensure it is focused and bright enough for you to perform a certain task.
Above: Working the black and brass trend is the Mo desk light from Pooky, with black hood and base. Graceful and full of poise, this beauty is quite tall so needs a bit of space.
An articulating fixture is useful when you move in various positions around your work station - you can bring the light close or move it away from you to avoid reflection on a computer screen for example.
Over your island pendant lights
Elegant, delicate and with the perfect angles, you can hang the large and long Luxor lantern in clear glass above a kitchen island. If you have more lights in the room, you can hang this very low as shown below.
Luxor Lantern Light, Pooky.com, from £135. £330 as shown.
Dining in style - Lights over a Dining Table
Named after Ursula Andress, goddess of style and cool in the sixties, the Ursula chandelier (below) has curves, style and a certain sex appeal.
A mid-century future classic, it rocks black and brass (again) and can be hang at varying heights from the ceiling. All the lights can be pointed as you wish. With a wingspan of 120cm, this is a statement piece, but at £395 it will not leave you out of pocket.
Ursula Chandelier, £395
Accent Lights
These are the types of lights that can help you bring a scheme together, usually by reflecting colour or texture that you see elsewhere in a room, or adding some contrast.
In the photo below, Phoebe Oldrey (Smartstyle Interiors) used the Verdura table lamps in blown glass, from Pooky, to frame a sofa in these Barristers' Chambers. The lamp base echoes the colour of the cushions, making the scheme coherent and breaking the neutral colours in the most delightful way.
Photo: Daniela Exley
"Table lamps are fab as they can cover Task lighting but also give you a sculptural accessory to lift your decorative scheme" continues Phoebe. "It’s the double whammy product for us designers, one that does two great jobs in one piece". I couldn't agree more.
Be bold with colour
Not long ago I wrote you a piece about 10 ways to add colour with lights. It's a great read so if you love colour, do give it a go!
A fuchsia drum shade over the Salamander eau de nil glass base (£225, both Pooky) is just enough to take this romantic scheme to a whole new level. For a patterned design try this pink block printed straight empire shade (from £50). For a similar bed, try the Ercol for John Lewis Shalstone Bed Frame in Oak (£899).
How about some geometrics mixed with florals? I believe I know quite a few people who would love this style! This is the new Lottie table lamp (from Pooky) with a cobalt blue and stone glaze with a shade in Sunshine Hand made parchment. For a similar wallpaper try Matthew Williamson.
Lottie table lamp, £95 for the base
Add texture
Looking for something more architectural? In a room that lacks focal points try a lamp that has unexpected curves and shape to draw attention to a specific area, like a reading nook or a console table, creating a little vignette.
Crescent lamp base, £180.
Accent lights can be used to add texture in a space. If you want to be subtle in your design, choose material that is replicated in other furniture in your room, for example use a brass base when you already have a brass coffee table.
One of my favourite materials in the Pooky collection is resin. I used their Lucas Green resin lamp base with straight empire velvet shades in my guest room (reveal coming up soon!) and could not be happier. This is a base that adds interest in the room with both shape and colour.
Lucas table lamp in green. Photo: Jenny Kakoudakis for Seasons in Colour
General Lighting
Don't forget your general lighting! It is the base where you built up from. Make sure it is functional but also elegant and complimentary to your design. For central pendants, try something with a little bit more oomph than usual and if you have wall lights, use them to infuse colour in your room.
Always ensure that you use shades that allow enough light through if you do not plan on adding accent lights in the same room. Clear glass shades are your best bet!
Tutu pendant in clear glass, £94
So if you made it all the way to this little paragraph, thank you! While it might look like it, this is not a sponsored post. I love Pooky and have been following them for ages. I first came across them on my way to this Sofa.com event in 2015 and have been meaning to include them in one of my designs ever since.
It seems that my dream has come true, our guest room reveal is coming up very shortly! Have you come across this brand before and what are your thoughts on shapes and colours? And how do you find the new VELVET (yes, velvet!) shades?
Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014 and the luxury interior design blog All The Pretty Homes in 2024. When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.
