How to Plan Your Home’s Lighting During a Renovation
Planning Tips During Renos by Mako Electrical
When you’re knee-deep in a home renovation, it’s easy to get caught up in tiles, paint colours, and flooring decisions. But one element that often gets overlooked—and really shouldn’t—is lighting. Done right, a lighting plan can completely transform your space. Done poorly, it can leave you with frustrating dark spots, harsh glare, or outlets where you don’t need them.
At Mako Electrical, we help homeowners across Nelson get their lighting and electrical systems just right during renovations. Whether you're upgrading a single room or rewiring an entire home, planning your lighting early and thoughtfully makes all the difference.
Let’s explore the key things to consider when planning lighting during a home renovation—and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Why Lighting Planning is Essential During a Reno
Lighting plays both a functional and aesthetic role. It affects how you feel in your home, how effectively you can use your spaces, and even how big or small a room feels.
But lighting isn't just about choosing fixtures. It's about wiring, circuit loads, switch placement, dimmers, zoning, and balancing ambient, task, and accent light. These factors are best planned before the walls are closed up—making the renovation phase your ideal opportunity.
Start With Function, Not Fixtures
Before shopping for beautiful pendants or sconces, think about how you’ll use each space. The kitchen needs bright, focused lighting for cooking. Living rooms may need ambient lighting layered with reading lamps. Bathrooms require strong yet flattering light for grooming.
Ask yourself:
What will I be doing in this space?
Do I need bright task lighting or softer mood lighting?
Are there zones or multi-use areas needing separate control?
Mapping function first helps guide everything from light placement to wiring needs.
Think in Layers
Good lighting design layers three types of light:
Ambient: General lighting that fills the room (e.g., downlights or ceiling lights)
Task: Focused lighting for specific jobs (e.g., under-cabinet lights in the kitchen)
Accent: Decorative or highlighting lights (e.g., wall washers, LED strip lighting)
During renovations, it's important to plan for these layers early—especially for built-in solutions like recessed lights or hardwired pendants. Once your ceiling is closed, adding extra circuits becomes costly.
Placement is Key
During renos, you have a unique window to install wiring exactly where it works best. Consider the following:
Switches at convenient heights and locations (especially near entry points)
Power outlets where appliances or furniture will go
Downlight spacing to avoid shadows and ensure even coverage
Feature lighting locations like kitchen islands or dining tables
Also consider traffic flow: you don’t want to cross a room in the dark to find a switch. Mako Electrical’s renovation specialists can help you optimise switch and outlet placement based on your layout.
Get Smart With Your Lighting
Home renovations are the perfect time to install smart lighting controls. Think app-controlled dimmers, motion sensors, or voice-activated lights.
Planning smart systems during renovations allows you to hardwire them properly, ensuring seamless function and avoiding messy afterthoughts. Plus, many smart switches can help reduce your energy use—great for both the planet and your power bill.
Make Room for Flexibility
Rooms often evolve over time. A home office today could be a nursery tomorrow. So don’t make lighting too rigid. Include dimmers, extra outlets, and multi-way switches to allow for future flexibility.
You might also consider leaving wall conduits or access points for future tech upgrades, like EV charging or solar systems.
Plan for Compliance and Safety
In New Zealand, all electrical work must comply with NZ standards. During renovations, it’s especially important to ensure your lighting plan doesn’t overload circuits or create fire risks.
Partnering with a qualified electrician like Mako Electrical means you’ll get professional advice, compliance certification, and peace of mind that your electrical work is safe, legal, and future-ready.
Kitchen, Bathroom & Outdoor: Special Considerations
Some spaces have unique lighting needs:
Kitchens: Under-cabinet LEDs, pendant task lighting, and layered options are ideal. Plan outlets for benchtop appliances too.
Bathrooms: Lighting here must meet IP (Ingress Protection) ratings due to moisture. Also consider mirror lighting that mimics daylight.
Outdoor Areas: Waterproof fittings, motion sensors, and pathway lighting all need to be installed correctly and safely.
Each of these areas benefit hugely from planning ahead during renovation—not after.
Involve Your Electrician Early
Many homeowners wait until late in the build to talk to their electrician. That’s often too late for optimal lighting plans. By involving Mako Electrical early in your reno project, we can help:
Review plans and suggest lighting improvements
Ensure correct wiring paths before linings go up
Future-proof your home with smart, safe solutions
Identify areas where you can save money long term
Don’t let lighting be an afterthought. Let it be a design feature that works as beautifully as it looks.
Need Help Planning Your Lighting in Nelson?
Whether you’re updating a single room or gutting the entire house, Mako Electrical is your trusted partner for renovation electrical work in Nelson. Our team of registered electricians ensures your lighting plan is functional, future-proof, and flawlessly installed.
Explore our Renovation Electrical Services or get in touch for a free consultation on how to upgrade your home’s lighting during your next project.
Common Questions About Lighting Planning During a Renovation
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Ideally, before the framing and linings go up. This allows for proper wiring, outlet placement, and fixture planning.
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Yes. In NZ, all electrical work must be completed and signed off by a registered electrician to ensure safety and compliance.
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Absolutely. Renovations are the best time to install smart systems for whole-home control and future scalability.
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Work with an electrician to ensure even spacing, correct wattage, and a balance of ambient, task, and accent lights.
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Yes. It’s always more cost-effective to get it right during the renovation than to make changes afterward.
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Switch placement! It greatly affects how convenient and user-friendly your home will feel.
