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Luxury Living Through Lighting Design - Surrey Living Room Transformation

  • Writer: Anita de Villiers
    Anita de Villiers
  • Dec 19, 2025
  • 3 min read

This spacious living room in a Surrey home was completely transformed from a dull, underused area into something truly special. I reimagined the space as a luxurious yet comfortable room, designed for everyday family living as well as elegant entertaining. Thoughtful lighting design became the defining element, adding layers of warmth, sophistication, and subtle drama to this impressive space.


The Design Objectives


The original layout felt awkward and disconnected, with outdated furniture and harsh overhead lighting that left the room feeling uninviting. Despite this, it was clear the space had great potential to become one of the home’s most beautiful rooms. My clients wanted a complete redesign with a glamorous, modern aesthetic and luxurious finishes, and they understood that carefully planned lighting would be essential in bringing this vision to life.


They were inspired by luxury hotel interiors they had discovered during their travels, with warm, rich textures, natural materials and sophisticated spaces. Their goal was a living room that felt stylish and glamorous while remaining comfortable and inviting for family life.



"My clients had a clear vision inspired by the luxury hotels they'd experienced. The challenge was translating that sophistication into a space that worked for everyday family life."

The Design and Details


The redesigned layout introduced two distinct zones: a relaxed family lounge for watching TV and a sociable seating area for entertaining. Each zone was carefully planned to feel both luxurious and practical. Layered lighting played a key role in enhancing the atmosphere, ensuring the room feels welcoming at any time of day.


One of the most impactful changes was removing the harsh overhead lighting. The existing downlights cast unflattering light across the floor and flattened the space. Instead, directional bronze spotlights were carefully positioned to highlight drapery, sculptural elements, and artwork, adding depth and visual interest.


Decorative coving with hidden LED lighting was introduced to define the lounging area while adding another layer of mood lighting. The soft glow from within the bespoke media units subtly highlights the beautifully displayed objects, creating a sense of depth and warmth.



The Statement Pieces


The most striking features are the pair of Amber Sorrento Chandeliers from Pure White Lines, suspended centrally within each zone. Positioned above the conversational seating and lounging areas, they anchor the spaces and create an intimate atmosphere for gathering. Beautifully proportioned to the room's generous size and ceiling height, these sculptural fixtures cast a warm, inviting glow that brings instant drama and a sense of occasion. They have quickly become a favourite talking point.


Equally important are the quieter layers of lighting working throughout the room. The Mosman Bronze Linear Wall Sconces and Mosman Table Lamps from Pure White Lines add understated elegance through their sleek geometric lines and soft alabaster finish. A carefully placed floor lamp, from Andrew Martin, provides focused task lighting exactly where it is needed.


All fixtures are fitted with warm-toned bulbs and controlled via high-quality bronze dimmer switches, giving my clients complete control over the ambience for any mood or occasion.



"The right lighting can completely change how a space feels. It is about highlighting the details, enhancing comfort, and making every corner of a home feel inviting."

The Value of Quality Lighting


With years of experience designing homes across Surrey and South East England, I have learned that lighting is always worth investing in and that professional planning makes a significant difference. Lighting defines how a space feels and functions, and quality fixtures can instantly elevate an interior.


The Amber Sorrento Chandeliers are a perfect example. Their scale, craftsmanship, and the way the amber glass catches and reflects light throughout the day contribute to the room’s refined and sophisticated atmosphere. Even the best budget alternatives simply cannot achieve the same effect.



The Transformation


The difference that good lighting makes in this space cannot be overstated. Where harsh overhead lights once left the room feeling flat, it now has a beautiful balance of light and shadow that brings depth, warmth, and a sense of sophistication.


Whether the family is enjoying a quiet evening reading, watching TV, or hosting guests with ambient and chandelier lighting, the room adapts effortlessly. With full control via dimmer switches, the atmosphere can be adjusted to suit every occasion.


In this Surrey living room, lighting became the element that tied everything together, transforming the space into one the family genuinely loves to use every day.


Ready to elevate your home through thoughtful lighting design?


Lighting should be considered early in any renovation to ensure your space feels both beautiful and functional. If you’re planning a home transformation, I’d love to help you get the design and lighting just right. Get in touch to discuss your project.


 


 
 
 

Comments


Let’s make your home beautiful

"I had a wonderful design experience onsite and online with Anita for 4 rooms (guest bedroom, boy’s room, living room, and kitchen). Anita has such a great sense of my style, but she also elevated it with creative ideas, perfect layout, and great pieces I would have never chosen on my own. The process of design was simple, efficient, and in a timely manner. Anita took my space to the next level. I never imagined my home could look and feel so good!"

IRA VOLOVA

"When designing our new kitchen, Anita supported us every step of the way. Her collaborative approach and eye for detail meant that we now have a stylish and functional kitchen that really works for us. Nothing was too much trouble for Anita. Her strong sense of design and style has ensured that we are incredibly happy with the end result. I would highly recommend using Anita for any interior design project."

VIKTORIA TEGARD

"Anita did an amazing job at designing all of our bathrooms during our house renovation. The visuals she produced were amazing and helped us to confidently make decisions quickly. The builders and plumbers were really impressed with the level of detail on the drawings and this helped the installations run smoothly. We get so many comments from friends and family about how beautiful our bathrooms are and I can’t thank Anita enough for all her hard work. I would 100% recommend her!"

SALLY STICKLAND

"We collaborated with Anita on a visual design for the renovation/refurbishment of our apartment and the outcome surpassed all our expectations. The design was perfectly put together in detail, providing us with an effective design plan that was easy to follow and implement. Anita has the vision to create the most beautiful and stylish designs effectively and in no time. Strongly recommend her for a visual design consultation. An easy and effective design solution which can be implemented in your own time."

SOPHIA MORPHIS NIKA

"We hired the incredible Anita to help us with the interior design of our forever home. Our expectations were well understood and the appropriate recommendations were discussed. Anita interpreted our needs and taste with efficiency, creativity & sensitivity. Anita had great ideas for the spaces and came up with designs we would never have thought up by ourselves.  Her communication, collaboration and design expertise made everything run smoothly. Always available to talk and meet throughout the project which virtually made the ordeal painless despite the size and complexity of the project. It was an absolute joy to work with Anita and we would most definitely recommend her."

BASIL AND MARY-ANN BILLIS

"Our collaboration with Anita De Villiers was excellent. She constructed a very detailed presentation for her vision of our showroom space, and the result was on point. She is a professional, characterised by consistency and passion for what she does."

CHARALAMBOS. K

"Anita has done a commercial project for us and she did an outstanding job for us. We are so pleased with the end result and have had so many compliments on the end result. We would definitely use Anita again without a doubt."

Sonia Varma

"I had an amazing experience working with Anita for my home renovation project. She is incredibly talented, detail-oriented, and truly understands her clients' vision. Anita transformed my kitchen living space to a stylish, functional, and unique to my taste. She was always professional, responsive, and willing to go the extra mile to ensure I was happy with the results.

 

Her design ideas were innovative, yet she stayed within my budget, which I greatly appreciated. From selecting the perfect color palette to choosing furniture and decor, Anita’s expertise was evident in every step of the process. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to elevate their space!"

Frank Templeton

"I had a wonderful design experience onsite and online with Anita for 4 rooms (guest bedroom, boy’s room, living room, and kitchen). Anita has such a great sense of my style, but she also elevated it with creative ideas, perfect layout, and great pieces I would have never chosen on my own. The process of design was simple, efficient, and on timely manner. Anita took my space to the next level. I never imagined my home could look and feel so good!"

Elias Efstathiou

"Anita helped us with all our bathroom designs and renovations. The whole process was made easier, from choosing the ideal layout and product to guiding our installers. We are very pleased with our new bathrooms, and we highly recommend her services."

Nese Safakli

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