How to Choose the Perfect Light for Your Living Room in Pakistan

The living room or as most Pakistanis call it baithak / drawing room is the place where guests are greeted and where tea is served, and family hours are spent. However, many people tend to overlook the fact of lighting and opt for it last-minute just before Eid or a marriage. Just like in any other room, the right lighting can enhance the charm of a small space, and the wrong lighting can dull even a well-decorated room. Selecting the ideal light for your living room in Pakistan can be a challenging task .Choosing the right light for your living room in Pakistan can be a difficult decision.

1. The golden rule is to use layered lighting, not just one bulb.

In most of the Pakistani houses, a single light is used in the house, mostly a ceiling fan with attached bulb or one chandelier. Instead, interior designers suggest that there be three layers: Ambient light — this is the primary ceiling light or chandelier in the room, for overall light in the room Task lighting – table lamps or floor lamps, at the reading corners or sofa set. Accent lighting such as the LED strip lights behind a TV unit, false ceiling or showcase lights which are commonly seen in newer Pakistani houses for a modern feel. Mix these two options for flexibility – bright for guests, softer for a casual evening. Which type of warm white/cool white table lamps is the ideal choice?

2. What Pakistanis REALLY like.

This is the most frequently asked question by the customers. In general: Warm white (2700K-3000K) is ideal for classic and formal baithak with wooden fittings, Chiniot-style sofa or Persian rug (provides a warm and welcoming ambiance). Cool white / daylight (5000K–6500K) is most suitable in contemporary, modern and minimalist living room spaces with white and grey colors and is more prevalent in newer housing societies like the Bahria Town or the DHA. In case of any doubt, it's best to go with the warm white color as most Pakistani drawing rooms photographs and looks better for gatherings.

3. Plan for load shedding.

which is more of a problem in Pakistan than in nearly any other country. The lighting option here is not to be ignored by the fact of planned and unplanned load shedding particularly during summer. Some good tips: Use LED lighting instead of CFL or incandescent — LEDs consume up to 80% less power than CFL or incandescent lighting which can be important if you are using a UPS or inverter during a power failure. If you have a home UPS, look at the wattage load, a room with a lot of high wattage halogen spotlights can quickly exhaust a smaller UPS. LED chandeliers and LED panel lights use much less backup power. While these may not be necessary, think about installing rechargeable/emergency LED lights or battery backed lamps as a layer of protection in outage prone areas.

4. Chandeliers: What to expect in terms of price and style.

 Although Pakistani living rooms are the current hub of chandeliers, it is still a great choice for formal baithaks. A basic cost estimate (dependent upon your supplier and design): Basic LED chandeliers: PKR 8,000–20,000 For medium-range crystal effect chandeliers, the price falls between PKR 20,000 to 50,000. For premium/imported style crystal chandeliers, the price starts from PKR 50,000. Hint: Make sure the size of the chandelier is proportional to the size of the room, otherwise, a large chandelier would overpower a small baithak.

5. False Ceiling and LED Strip Lighting – The Emerging Trend.

The false ceiling in newer homes in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi has come a long way with the introduction of recessed LED spotlights and cove/strip lighting. This is effective, because: Makes a hotel lobby style feel that's popular for guests to stay in LED strips (some are remote controlled to change colour) can be used to change colour for various occasions: soft white for everyday use, coloured tones for Eid or wedding decorations etc. It decreases the need for a single fixture, and will not leave the room in darkness if one bulb burns out 6. Practical Buying Checklist To purchase: Check: Voltage tolerance (220-240V with some voltage tolerance for surges): Cheaper unbranded LEDs tend to fail faster in Pakistan due to the electric power fluctuations in the country. Reputable local sellers usually have a warranty of 6-12 months for the LED fixtures. Dimmable, very convenient for a living room that can be used for family occasions or entertaining guests. Installation requirements of  chandeliers and false ceiling lights require installation, plugs and play don't. Take this into account when creating your budget and timeline.

FAQs 

Q: For Pakistani living room, best light color is white or light grey? 

A: For a traditional baithak setup, use warm white (2700K to 3000K) and for a modern, minimalist setup, use cool white.

Q: Is it worthwhile to use LED chandeliers over the traditional ones in Pakistan?

A: Yes, LED chandeliers are much longer lasting than halogen or incandescent chandeliers and use a lot less power when frequent load shedding is present along with rising electricity prices.

Q: What is the recommended number of lights in an average Pakistani drawing room?

A: For the most part 12 x 14 ft baithaks do fine with one main chandelier or ceiling light combined with two accent points (wall lights or a floor lamp), full layered lighting is not needed in the room unless it is an outlandish size.

Q: The most Reliable living room lights available in Islamabad and Rawalpindi?

A: onlightofficial.com

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