Lighting & design at home
Light is essential for sight. For older people and people with sight loss, good lighting at home reduces risks and increases safety, independence and quality of life.
Good design can make a significant difference to the daily activities of people with sight loss.
A key area of our research focuses on identifying best practice in lighting and design. This section outlines some of our key findings.
Improve the lighting in your homeThis booklet has been produced by Thomas Pocklington Trust and RNIB. It seeks to demonstrate good lighting practice by giving ideas, hints and tips on how to light your home more effectively.
Specialist training on lighting the homes of people with sight lossThis practical one day programme will enable participants to undertake full lighting audits and develop a detailed specification for adaptations to domestic lighting in the homes of older people and people with sight loss. It has been designed primarily for Rehabilitation Officers and Occupational Therapists but will also be of interest to housing officers.
The importance of good lightingSmall changes to lighting can make big differences to people's lives but lack of information, and caution about electrical works, can mean that practical lighting guidance is rarely provided.
Key features of good lightingOur research has identified the need for action to improve lighting in the home for people with sight loss. Simple changes to general lighting and task lighting can be very effective.
Lighting different roomsConsistent lighting levels across and between rooms reduces adaptation difficulties and makes movement around the home safer. However, different rooms will have different lighting needs.
Design guideThomas Pocklington Trust, in association with Habinteg (the Housing Association for disabled people), has produced a design guide for developing housing for people with sight loss.
For further information on any aspect of our lighting design work, please contact the
Research and Development Team.
