What Is Lighting Design?
Lighting design shapes how a space looks, feels, and functions through light. It considers the architecture, finishes, furniture, artwork, natural daylight, sightlines, and how each room is actually used before finalizing fixture locations or control strategies.
A complete lighting design balances ambient, task, accent, and decorative light so the home is comfortable to live in and visually intentional. The goal is not simply to make a room brighter. It is to place the right light, at the right level, in the right location to support both the architecture and the people living in the space.
For homes using Lutron HomeWorks and Ketra, lighting design can also incorporate dimming, tunable white light, full-spectrum color, scenes, and automated changes throughout the day. Those technologies work best when they support a thoughtful lighting plan rather than becoming the design itself.
Lighting Design vs. Lighting Engineering
Lighting engineering focuses on making sure the system can be built, powered, controlled, and operated correctly. It addresses technical requirements such as electrical loads, circuiting, control compatibility, fixture specifications, dimming, wiring, and system performance.
Lighting design focuses on the visual and experiential side of the project: where light should come from, what it should illuminate, how bright it should feel, how different layers work together, and how the lighting supports the architecture, materials, artwork, and everyday use of the space. The strongest projects combine both disciplines so the design intent and the technical system support each other.
Lighting Plan
A coordinated plan showing fixture locations, lighting layers, and design intent throughout the home.
Fixture Schedule & Takeoff
A detailed list of fixture types, quantities, housings, trims, drivers, lamps or light engines, and other required components.
Control & Dimming Requirements
Documentation identifying dimming methods, control compatibility, keypad requirements, and coordination with systems such as Lutron HomeWorks and Ketra.
Project Coordination Documentation
Information that the architect, builder, electrician, purchasing team, and other trades can use to coordinate installation and preserve the lighting design intent.
Transparent Pricing for Quality Lighting Design
At Smarter Homes, we believe in clear and straightforward pricing. Our pricing structure is designed to provide value while ensuring you get the best quality lighting design tailored to your needs.
Tier 1
Standard Lighting Design
$0.75
sq/ft
A structured manufacturer-supported package for projects needing formal CAD-based plans and fixture schedules with an anticipated 15-business-day delivery.
- (1) web-based design consultation and (2) review meetings
- Preliminary plans and fixture schedules for non-decorative and exterior structure lighting
- Final fixture bid schedule, individual specification sheets, and (2) sets of architectural revisions.
Tier 2
Deluxe Lighting Design
$1.25
sq/ft
Includes all Tier 1 services plus advanced coordination for Ketra zoning and keypad placement, delivered within 20 business days.
- Ketra zoning layout for programming and keypad types/locations specified on plan sets
- Customized installation diagrams for the technical team
- Total of (4) review/redling opportunities with one-hour review meetings
Tier 3
Premium Lighting Design
$2.50
sq/ft
The most complete manufacturer-led tier, adding high-end visualization and unlimited design flexibility for estate-level projects (20-day timeline)
- Unlimited scheduled 1-hour meetings and unlimited redline revisions as needed
- Printed lighting calculations for main areas of the home
- (2) Renderings with viewpoints selected by the homeowner
Homeworks Lighting
Controls Plan Set
$0.40
sq/ft
$0.40 per sq/ft ($1,500 minimum) provides a complete layout including Bill of Materials (BOM), labeled loads, wiring diagrams, and backroom equipment layouts.
Lighting Calculations
& Photometric Heat Map
$0.60
sq/ft
$0.60 per sq/ft ($500 minimum) uses IES files and architectural reflectance details to provide measure footcandle calculations and digital lighting representations.
Interior
Realistic Renderings
$1500 - 2500
per room
Interior ($1,500 to $2,500 per room) or Exterior ($2,500 to $5,000 based on scope) models providing accurate visualization from multiple viewpoints; 10-business-day timeline.
Ongoing Project Support
Custom Quoted
Custom quoted on-call support for project management, additional installation guides, and product order scheduling coordination.
Payment Requirement: Full payment is required before the commencement of any design or documentation services.