There are two things interior designers agree on when it comes to lighting: absolutely no spotlights and install a 5 amp circuit switch in your rooms. The first is well discussed, the second less so. It’s a piece of advice that comes up regularly in our series of decorating do’s and don’ts, with the likes of Rita Konig, Philip Hooper And Angelique Squire all espousing their virtues. But what is a 5 amp circuit and why do you need one?

Before answering that question, it’s worth looking at lighting in general, as it’s a part of home design that is notoriously difficult to achieve without a designer – which is why we see so many spotlights , light strips and cool-colored bulbs everywhere. There are a myriad of things you can do to have better lighting and of course you will find many lamps with warm bulbs in almost every home. Home and garden House. The only problem with this is that you then end up with the potential scenario of entering or leaving a room and having to turn on individual lamps if you want everything to be on. This is not the case, with the right lighting system in place. You can get serious on this front and use a Sally Storey-style system with different zones in a room and a hotel room light switch panel that dictates what’s on, when and to what extent.

However, this is beyond most people’s budgets or expectations. This is where the 5 amp circuit is the answer. As Kate Guinness advises“I love being able to light a space with just one dim lamp, and there’s nothing more annoying than having to turn on each lamp individually. If you are doing any rewiring, it is a no-brainer to install a 5 amp circuit to allow you to turn on all the lights from the wall. “For a lighting system using a lot of lamps, a 5 amp circuit is essential,” confirms Claire Gaskin. She goes on to say that “having a single wall switch to control all your table and floor lamps gives the ability to adjust the ambiance. »

A 5 amp switch is simply a wall switch that has various plugs plugged into it, meaning you turn on all the lamp switches when you plug them in and then they are all controlled by the main switch. The only condition – and the reason they are used for lamps – is that they are designed for devices that draw less than 5 amps. The other thing designers advise when adding this lighting system is to put them on a dimmer switch (you’ll need dimmable bulbs) so you have complete control over the ambiance.

If you are planning a renovation or rewiring living room Or bedrooma 5 amp circuit is non-negotiable. However, for anyone reading this who loves the lights but is constantly jumping up and down to turn them on and off and has no plans for rewiring in the future, don’t worry. There is a solution, perhaps a little cumbersome, but which will have the desired effect: a pack of five (or three) remote-controlled mains switches. Available from Amazon for a bargain, they work just like a 5 amp circuit, allowing you to plug your lights into them and then light them all up with a single press of a remote control. It’s not perfect, but it’s a pretty nifty solution and will make your life a lot easier without having to re-plaster your walls.

Set of five remote-controlled power socket adapters

A final word from Rita König to really drive the point home: “Put the lamps on 5 amp wall outlets or you’ll go crazy jumping in and out of bed (or couch) to turn them on and off.” »