How We Created LED Skylight Lighting Feature in Putney
We transformed this modern skylight into a striking architectural feature with bespoke concealed LED lighting integrated around the perimeter. Careful planning of the LED profiles, cabling and power supply allowed us to create a clean, continuous glow that complements the room’s contemporary lighting design.
Type
Residential
Location
Putney
Duration
2-3 days
Scale
5 Bedroom House
Key stats
Property size
5 Bedroom House
Duration
2-3 days
Project overview
About this project
There are some electrical installations where the best result is achieved when you barely notice the electrical work itself — you simply notice how good the finished space looks. This bespoke LED skylight lighting installation is a perfect example. For this project, we wanted to turn an existing architectural feature into something that would look just as impressive in the evening as it does during the day. The skylight already brought natural daylight into the room, but by integrating concealed LED lighting around its perimeter, we were able to transform it into a striking feature after dark. At Daddy Electrician Ltd, our work on projects like this starts long before the LED strip is switched on. The positioning, cable routes, LED profiles, drivers and finished building details all have to work together to achieve a clean result. The Idea: Make the Skylight Part of the Lighting Design The aim wasn't simply to put an LED strip around a skylight. We wanted the lighting to look built into the architecture of the room. Looking at the finished installation, you can see a continuous line of light around the internal perimeter of the roof light. The actual lighting source is kept discreet, allowing the illuminated edge of the skylight to become the feature. This was particularly important because the room already had recessed ceiling spotlights. Rather than competing with them, the skylight lighting needed to add another layer of softer, more architectural illumination. 📍Planning the Installation With concealed LED lighting, planning is one of the most important parts of the job. Before the surrounding finishes were completed, we considered where the LED lighting would sit, how we would get power to it and how the cabling could be installed without affecting the clean appearance of the finished skylight. We also needed to consider the position of the LED driver/power supply. Components that may require future maintenance should be considered at the planning stage rather than simply being buried behind a finished ceiling. This is why we always encourage clients, builders and designers to involve the electrician early when they are considering bespoke LED lighting for an extension or renovation. It gives us much more control over the finished result. 🔦Creating the Recessed LED Detail One of the key elements of this installation was creating the recessed detail around the skylight. Rather than fixing visible LED tape directly onto the finished surface, the lighting was incorporated into the perimeter detail of the roof light. This created two important benefits. Firstly, the LED source itself remains discreet when looking up at the skylight. Secondly, recessing the lighting helps create the continuous illuminated border that gives this installation its architectural appearance. Getting the position right was important. Too exposed and the individual LED source could become visible; too deeply recessed and we could lose some of the lighting effect. The finished position gives us the balance we wanted. 🔦Installing the LED Lighting Once the preparation and cable routes were in place, we could install the LED lighting system around the skylight. The LED strip was installed within an appropriate profile to create a professional installation and help produce a cleaner, more consistent line of light. We paid particular attention to the corners and transitions around the skylight. On this type of installation, small details matter. An uneven section, visible cable or poorly positioned LED strip can become very noticeable once the lighting is switched on. Our objective was therefore to make the complete perimeter appear as one continuous lighting feature. Coordinating the Electrical Work With the Finished Ceiling Another important part of creating this result was coordinating our electrical work with the surrounding building finishes. The electrical preparation needs to happen at the correct stage. Once the cables and lighting positions had been established, the surrounding skylight reveal and ceiling could be finished neatly around the lighting detail. This allows the plastering and decoration to meet the lighting installation cleanly, rather than trying to add an LED system afterwards. It's a relatively small difference during construction, but it can make a significant difference to the final appearance. 📍Testing the Finished Skylight Lighting Once everything was installed and the finishing work was complete, we tested the lighting and checked the complete perimeter. We wanted to make sure that the LED illumination was consistent and that the finished effect worked with the other lighting in the room. The recessed downlights provide the main practical lighting, while the skylight LEDs introduce a softer architectural layer. The combination gives the homeowner much more flexibility over the atmosphere of the room. 📍The Finished Result We're really pleased with how this one came together. During the daytime, the skylight remains a clean architectural feature bringing natural daylight into the property. When the LED lighting is switched on, the character of the feature changes completely. The concealed lighting highlights the shape and depth of the rooflight and creates a warm illuminated perimeter without adding another visible ceiling fitting. It's exactly the type of detail that demonstrates what can be achieved when electrical installation, lighting design and interior finishing are planned together.
Client requirements
The client from Putney wanted to enhance the skylight with subtle, integrated LED lighting that would complement the modern interior without leaving visible cables or bulky fittings. The requirement was for a clean, continuous perimeter glow that would highlight the skylight after dark while working seamlessly alongside the existing recessed ceiling lighting.
Challenges faced
The main challenge was achieving a clean, continuous LED lighting effect around the skylight while keeping the light source, cabling and power components discreet. Careful coordination with the ceiling and skylight finishes was essential, particularly around the corners and recessed sections, to ensure even illumination and a seamless architectural finish without compromising future access to serviceable electrical components.
Before & after
Before
After
Results & benefits
The completed installation transformed the skylight into a striking architectural lighting feature, with a clean and continuous LED glow around its perimeter. The result is a modern, high-quality finish that enhances the room after dark, complements the recessed ceiling lighting and demonstrates how carefully planned bespoke LED lighting can become an integral part of the interior design.
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