Choosing the Right Lighting for Your Furniture
- Alastair Johnson
- Sep 22
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Lighting isn’t just practical, it transforms how your fitted furniture feels and functions. The right light can turn alcoves into cosy reading corners, make wardrobes feel luxurious to use, and create a warm glow in living spaces. At Freebird Interiors, we design furniture and lighting together, so they work seamlessly as one.
Trusted Expertise
We’ve recently partnered with Sensio, a UK-based lighting design company known for their innovation in LED lighting. They approached us because they wanted to bring their expertise into fitted furniture, and we’re proud to be showcasing their products. It’s another way we show customers that we’re trusted not only by homeowners, but by leading suppliers in our industry.
Lighting Principles We Live By
When it comes to lighting, we keep a few simple principles in mind:
No glare. Light should never shine directly into your eyes. We design so fittings are hidden and you see only the soft glow.
Keep it simple. Straightforward controls, such as a single button you can tap or hold to dim.
Future-proof. We plan ahead so that cables and connections are easy to access for maintenance.
Simple lighting Solutions
Designed and Tested On-site in Sheffield
We always design lighting so that the light source is mostly out of your line of sight - no glare, no hot spots, no exposed LEDs. The aim is a soft glow that enhances the space rather than draws attention to the fitting itself.
Because we build everything in our Sheffield workshop, we can pre-design lighting runs, machine grooves, perform test-fits, and plan access for cables and drivers. That means the lighting feels built-in rather than tacked on, and you’re never left with trailing wires or awkward retrofits.
Warm vs Cool
One of the first questions customers often ask is whether to choose warm or cool white lighting.
We’ve found that light temperature completely changes the feel of a room. Warm white (around 3000K) creates a cosy, relaxed atmosphere and is what we most often fit in living spaces, bedrooms and alcoves. It also avoids the “blue light” effect that can feel harsh or overstimulating in the evening.
Natural or daylight tones (around 4000K) are useful when accurate colour rendering matters, for example, in display areas, hobby spaces or where artwork, wine, fabrics or materials are being showcased. Cool white is rarely used in our residential work, but we can advise if there’s a reason to choose it.
With some lights, such as the Sensio Apex spotlight (see video below), we can even set the lighting temperature after installation. This gives flexibility if you’re unsure between warm and neutral, or if the room connects to areas with different lighting tones.
Spots or Strips?
Both spotlights and LED strips have their place, and often the best result comes from layering the two. Strips give a continuous glow under shelves or within cabinetry, while spotlights can pick out key areas or create depth.
Because we’ve fitted so many different styles over the years, we can guide you through what will look best and last longest. We test-fit lighting in the workshop, plan cabling routes from the start, and make sure every light sits exactly where it should, not drilled in as an afterthought on site.
Lighting Without the Hassle
A lot of people assume fitted lighting means hiring an electrician or rewiring a room. In most cases, it doesn’t. Our systems are usually plug-and-play, running from an existing socket, and we handle the switching. If a socket needs moving or adding, we can work with your electrician or recommend one.
For customers who want lighting later or in spaces without wiring, there are excellent battery-powered options such as slim magnetic lights with long battery life, USB charging and motion sensors. These can be retrofitted neatly without disruption.
See the Difference Lighting Makes
We’ve started capturing before-and-after lighting shots because they show just how much lighting elevates a piece of furniture. A media unit or alcove can look smart on its own but when you switch on the lighting, it suddenly feels intentional, atmospheric and alive.
We can also show examples where rear lighting creates a silhouette through glass, or where spotlights bring texture and material to life. These are the kinds of details customers don’t always think to ask for, but immediately respond to once they see them.
Leave It to Us
Lighting can feel technical if you’re not used to it, but it doesn't need to. Our job is to think through the details from wiring and dimming to colour temperature and control, so you don’t have to. Whether it's a display cabinet, a record collection, a hallway alcove or a media wall, we’ll guide you to options that look good, feel right and work beautifully day to day.
In most cases, our customers don’t start by asking for lighting but once they see what’s possible, they wouldn’t want their furniture without it!
Get in touch to ask a question about lighting or your fitted furniture ideas, or get started today by booking a design visit.