Case basis: a 110㎡ three-bedroom old apartment was refurbished for a growing family. The lighting scope covered entry storage cove light, a removed-wall kitchen with island and folding glass door, dining banquette, a 17㎡ living room with open bookwall and mist-green platform, master/guest/children bedrooms, and two bathrooms with relocated doors. This article converts the case into a specification-ready plan for lighting distributors, builders, property managers and electrical contractors.
Key takeaways
- Old-home refits need layered light: cove/storage, task, accent, ambient—not one central ceiling lamp.
- Specify by room, not by “bulb type”: entry IP20 cove 2700–3000K CRI≥90; kitchen task IP20–IP44 CRI≥90 3000–4000K UGR<19; bath vanity IP44, shower IP65, CRI≥90 3000K.
- B2B buyers need different docs: distributor price/SKU pack, builder fixture schedule, property maintenance/IP spare plan, contractor driver/dimming/zone plan.
Who This Guide Serves
A renovated home is specified differently by buyer type. Distributors need resale SKUs and spare parts; builders need fixture schedules and coordination drawings; property managers need low-maintenance, uniform replacements; electrical contractors need IP, CRI, UGR, voltage, dimming and compliance data.
- Lighting distributors: bundle cove LED strips, downlights, under-cabinet task bars, vanity/ip fixtures and smart drivers by room pack.
- Builders and developers: standardize one fixture family per phase, coordinate cut-outs, conduits and switch positions before plastering.
- Property management companies: request modular drivers, sealed IP enclosures and asset-ID replacement lists to reduce callouts.
- Electrical and lighting service contractors: verify zones, IP, load, dimming protocol and driver access before commissioning.
Renovation Lighting Principles for Old Homes
Old apartments usually suffer from insufficient sockets, single central ceiling light, low natural light in the kitchen, and no dedicated storage light. The refit should use four layers:
- Ambient: recessed LED downlights or cove light for overall illumination, IP20 in dry rooms.
- Task: under-cabinet kitchen bars, vanity mirrors, desk lamps and banquette reading light for work areas.
- Accent: bookwall grazing, mist-green ripple-panel wash, artwork and cabinet detailing.
- Storage/cove: shoe cabinet, walk-in utility and custom wardrobes get sensor or door-triggered LED to improve usability and safety.
Specify color rendering rather than cheapest lamps: residential living, kitchen and bath should use CRI≥90 for accurate wood, fabric and skin tones; task counters should control glare with UGR<19.
Room-by-Room Specification Table
| Space in renovation | Recommended fixture | IP | CCT | CRI | B2B note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry shoe cabinet / cove | Hidden LED strip, diffused profile | IP20 | 2700–3000K | ≥90 | Distributor strip roll + driver kit; contractor hides cable in cabinet carcass |
| Kitchen island & worktop | Under-cabinet bar + recessed downlight | IP20–IP44 | 3000–4000K | ≥90 | UGR<19 over counters; builder provides detailed drawings |
| Dining banquette | Dimmable pendant or downlight | IP20 | 2700–3000K default, 3000–4000K if study use | ≥90 | Tunable driver simplifies multi-use scenarios |
| Living room bookwall & platform | Accent linear + ambient downlight + cove | IP20 | 2700–3000K | ≥90 | Accent optics protect books; mist-green panels use low-glare wash |
| Master/children study | Desk task light + ambient downlight | IP20 | 3000–4000K study, 2700–3000K relax | ≥90 | Children’s desk needs flicker-free driver, anti-glare shade |
| Guest bedroom | Ambient downlight + bedside reading | IP20 | 2700–3000K | ≥90 | Bed-base storage light optional with door sensor |
| Public bath vanity / wet zone | Mirror light / recessed fixture | Vanity IP44, shower IP65 | 3000K | ≥90 | Contractor follows local bathroom zones; property prefers sealed drivers |
Entry, Shoe Storage and Cove Light
The original case uses a custom shoe cabinet, mist-green ripple panel behind the seating niche, and hidden cove light at the top. For B2B specification:
- Use 2700–3000K hidden LED strip with diffuser to wash the ripple panel and avoid hotspots.
- Place a low-output motion sensor so the entry lights automatically when residents arrive at night.
- For distributors, sell “cabinet cove kit” = strip + aluminum profile + driver + sensor; for property managers, label the driver model in the asset register.
Install note: keep transformers in ventilated cabinet voids, not behind combustible panels; provide a serviceable driver bracket.
Kitchen Island, Folding Door and Task Light
The renovation removed three non-load-bearing walls, added a black-frame/folding glass partition, built an island with sink, water-filtration and dishwasher, and created a dual-channel circulation. Lighting must support prep, cooking, cleaning and visual connection to the dining/living area.
- Island sink/worktop: under-cabinet LED bar, CRI≥90, 3000–4000K, UGR<19 to avoid glare on stainless and stone.
- Ambient: recessed downlights on a separate circuit; use IP20 inside dry kitchen, IP44 if splash zone is close to the sink.
- Folding glass wall: do not mount heavy pendants on fragile frames; use ceiling-recessed downlights or track with low-profile heads.
- Energy/service: specify 90–120 lm/W LED and replaceable drivers; distributors can offer 3000K/4000K switchable modules for builder approval.
Dining Banquette and Multi-Use Task Light
The banquette increases seating and circulation, and can be used for children’s study while parents cook. Specify:
- Dimmable pendant or downlight over the table, 2700K for meals, preset 3500–4000K for study.
- Separate circuit for banquette task reading to avoid over-lighting the whole room.
- For property portfolios, use same pendant family across units to simplify spare lamps and drivers.
Living Room Bookwall, Mist-Green Platform and Ambient Light
The 17㎡ living room combines a TV wall with open shelving, mist-green ripple panels and a window-side platform. Lighting goals: readable books, calm green surface, no screen glare.
- Bookwall accent: linear grazing light or shelf-integrated LED, CRI≥90, 2700–3000K; avoid high heat strip near books.
- Ambient: 3–5 recessed downlights with UGR<19, spaced by ceiling height; use 36–40° medium beam for standard ceilings, narrower for high ceilings.
- Platform/nook: low-level cove or floor washer on mist-green panels; keep brightness soft for relaxation.
- TV anti-glare: bias lighting behind the TV and reduced downlight output when watching.
Master, Guest and Children Study Lighting
Master bedroom
Use unified wood-clad desk, bedside and headboard lighting. Specify task desk light 3000–4000K CRI≥90, ambient downlight 2700–3000K, and bedside reading with anti-glare shade.
Guest bedroom for elderly
Keep controls at accessible height, use uniform warm light 2700–3000K, add bed-base storage strip with door sensor, and avoid very low contrast that increases fall risk at night.
Children’s bedroom
Provide a 2m desk with flicker-free task light, open-bookcase shelf light, and playful but low-glare headboard accent. All cables and drivers must be child-safe, serviceable and separate from toy storage.
Relocated Bathrooms: Vanity, Shower and IP Rating
The case relocates the main bath door into an L-shaped five-zone layout—hanging clothes, dressing, vanity, toilet, shower—and places the public vanity outside with iron-glass dry-wet separation. Specifications:
- Vanity/external basin: IP44 mirror light or vertical sidelights, CRI≥90, 3000K for skin tones.
- Shower zone: IP65 recessed fixture, sealed driver, low-glare diffuser.
- Dressing zone: CRI≥90, 3000K, even facial light; avoid shadows from single overhead spot.
- Contractor checklist: local bathroom zone rules, RCD/GFCI as applicable, isolated driver, accessible replacement.
Smart Controls, Dimming and Maintenance
- Use 0–10V or DALI for builder/commercial projects; trailing-edge phase dimming for simple residential refits.
- Tunable white 2700–4000K in kitchen, dining, study and children’s room supports meal, study and relax scenes.
- Property managers: centralize driver models, keep IP-rated spare list, schedule LED module replacement rather than full fixture replacement.
- Distributors: offer “renovation room pack” with strip, downlight, under-cabinet bar, vanity IP fixture, driver and sensor.
B2B Procurement Checklists
Lighting distributors
- Build SKU bundles by room: entry cove, kitchen task, dining dimmable, living accent, bath IP, bedroom study.
- Provide cut-sheet, IES/photometric data, CRI, CCT options, IP, driver type, warranty 3–5 years.
- Stock spare drivers, lenses, gaskets and sensors for old-home retrofit accounts.
Builders and developers
- Issue fixture schedule: model, cut-out, CCT, IP, dimming, room, quantity.
- Coordinate kitchen island, folding glass, bookwall and bathroom zones before ceiling closing.
- Standardize one trim/finish per project phase for warranty and visual consistency.
Property management companies
- Require IP44–IP65 in wet areas, modular drivers, asset-ID labels, same mounting kit across units.
- Request maintenance manual: cleaning, driver replacement interval, spare-part order code.
Electrical and lighting service contractors
- Verify load, voltage input, driver compatibility, dimming protocol, bathroom zones and conduit access.
- Test photocell/sensor/motion independently; document UGR and lux targets for task areas.
- Hand over as-built lighting schedule with driver model and replacement procedure.
FAQ
What IP rating is required for old-home bathroom renovation?
Use IP44 for vanity and external basin areas, and IP65 for shower zones or direct water-exposure fixtures. Dry rooms such as living room, bedroom and entry storage normally use IP20, while kitchen splash zones may use IP44 depending on local rules.
Which color temperature works for multi-use renovation spaces?
Specify 2700–3000K for ambient and relaxation, 3000–4000K for kitchen task and study, and CRI≥90 throughout residential areas. Tunable-white drivers are practical for dining banquettes and children’s desks.
How should distributors bundle old-home renovation lighting?
Bundle by room rather than by single product: cove LED strip with profile and driver, under-cabinet task bar, recessed downlights with selected beam angle, IP vanity/shower fixtures, and smart dimming drivers. Include cut-sheets, photometrics, certifications and spare-part codes.
What should electrical contractors check before commissioning?
Confirm bathroom zones and IP, driver/dimmer compatibility, CCT and CRI, UGR over task surfaces, sensor settings, accessible driver replacement, and as-built fixture schedule. Test each scene before handover.
Related products and resources
- LED Wall Lights
- Ceiling lighting
- IP-rated bathroom vanity and shower lights
- Residential lighting specification guide for contractors
- Request distributor and project quotation
Need a fixture schedule, B2B price pack or sample kit for old-home renovation projects? Contact our specification team for distributors, builders, property managers and electrical contractors.
