Room lighting is an essential piece that complements any room, whether it is for practical purposes like garage lighting or warm ambient lighting for your bedroom; choosing the right lighting is crucial.
How many lumens do I need per square meter for my room?
This is a common question asked when looking to add lighting to your space. Below is our guide by room on the recommended amount of lumens per room.
Recommended Lumens Per Room Based On Square Meter
| Room Type | Averagel Size (m²) | Ambient Lighting (Lumens) |
| Kitchen | 14-16m | 5600-6000 |
| Standard Bathroom | 3.5-5m | 1400-2000 |
| Living Room | 20-25m | 4000-5000 |
| Master Bedrooms | 12-16m | 2400-3200 |
| Secondary Bedroom | 9-12m | 1800-2400 |
| Dining Room | 10-15m | 2000-3000 |
How Many Lumens Do You Need For Your Kitchen?
Your kitchen is one of your main rooms that requires clear & functional lighting.
As a rule of thumb, kitchen lighting requires 400 lumens per square metre.
If a typical Australian kitchen is around 14-15 square metres, approximately 5,600-600 lumens are required to provide functional lighting.
Dimmable lighting is recommended if your kitchen opens up into relaxing spaces like the lounge or dining room.
Adding task lighting around counters and cooking areas (about 1,500 lumens) ensures tasks like chopping and cooking are performed safely and effectively.
How Many Lumens Do You Need For Your Bathroom?
Bathroom lighting depends on the type of bathroom:
- Standard Bathrooms: Range from 3.5 to 5 square metres, accommodating essential fixtures like a shower, toilet, and vanity.
- Ensuite Bathrooms: Range between 2.5 to 4 square metres, providing a compact yet functional space attached to a bedroom.
- Powder Rooms: Range between 1.5 to 2 square metres in size.
Bathrooms need clarity without overwhelming brightness.
Allow 400 lumens per square metre in your bathroom, or roughly 2,000 lumens overall for a standard 5m2 bathroom.
Complemented the room with task lighting around mirrors (approximately 1,000 lumens) to create adequate visibility for grooming without excessive brightness.
Dimmable lighting is a common option for bathrooms to provide both a functional and relaxing ambience through lighting.
How Many Lumens Do You Need For Your Living Room?
Living rooms in Australia average around 20 to 25 square metres, depending on adjacent rooms and layout. It is common for open-plan living rooms to be combined with kitchen areas, which increases the room sizes to exceed 30 m2.
Living rooms are usually relaxing and entertaining spaces, where overly bright lighting is not standard.
Around 200 lumens per square metre is ideal for creating a comfortable yet illuminated standard living room between 20 and 25 m2 (between 4,000 and 5,000 lumens). Consider layering with ambient lighting sources like lamps or dimmable fixtures.
Source: Nine
How Many Lumens Do You Need For Your Bedroom?
Bedrooms should be restful sanctuaries. Master bedrooms are between 12-16 square metres; opt for approximately 200 lumens per square metre (about 2,400-3,200 lumens).
This softer level of illumination promotes relaxation. Incorporate bedside lamps or soft lighting solutions to enhance comfort and functionality.
Secondary bedrooms follow the same rule, with secondary bedrooms between 9-12 square metres requiring 1800-2400 lumens.
How Many Lumens Do You Need For Your Dining Room?
Dining rooms averaging 10-15 square metres benefit from softer lighting to create an intimate dining & social atmosphere, especially in open plan integrated kitchen & living spaces.
Aim for 200 lumens per square metre (2,000-3000 lumens in total). Decorative fixtures like pendant lights or chandeliers are excellent choices to add both ambience and style. Choose dimmable lighting options to add versatility to the space.
Final Lighting Thoughts
Correctly matching lumens to your room type creates ambience, comfort & style. By understanding how lumens enhance or detract from your living spaces, you can transform any space from functional to an inviting, relaxing and casual area.
If you have specific requirements or unique spaces, don't hesitate to contact a professional lighting consultant to tailor solutions perfectly suited to your Australian home.
