Lighting Control Systems: Finding the Right Fit for Your Home
Lighting control keypads to suit any environment
Lighting control isn’t about fancy gadgets or showing off a touchscreen. It’s about how your home feels — how light behaves, how it responds, and how it supports the way you actually live.
From new builds to listed renovations, the right control system can make lighting seamless, subtle, and intuitive — as if the house simply knows what you want.
At Light Fantastic, we design and install lighting control systems from the world’s leading manufacturers — including Lutron HomeWorks, Lutron RA3, and Control4 — each suited to a different type of project.
Here’s how they compare, and how to choose what’s right for you.
Lutron HomeWorks: The Gold Standard for Whole-Home Control
If you’re building from scratch or doing a large-scale renovation, Lutron HomeWorks is hard to beat. It’s the most powerful and flexible lighting control system available for residential use — and it’s been refined over decades.
Why it stands out:
Total control – HomeWorks manages every circuit of light, shade, and even HVAC control across an entire property, with near-invisible precision.
Design freedom – It integrates perfectly with architectural lighting and shading systems like Lutron Palladiom keypads and Lumaris LED tape.
Scene-based programming – Create custom scenes like “Evening,” “Dinner,” or “Movie” that adjust lights and blinds automatically.
Ultimate reliability – A hardwired backbone with optional wireless extensions — rock solid for long-term performance.
When to choose it:
New builds or full renovations where cabling can be planned in.
Homes where design detail and control precision are top priorities.
Projects with integrated shading, HVAC, and architectural lighting.
In short: HomeWorks is the system you install once and rely on for decades. It’s the quiet professional in the background making everything look effortless.
Lutron RA3: The Modern Hybrid for New Build and Retrofit
Lutron RadioRA 3 brings the same design intelligence as HomeWorks but in a more flexible package. It’s ideal for retrofits, partial renovations, or projects where you want smart control without rewiring the entire house.
Why it’s brilliant:
Hybrid wiring – Use existing cabling where possible, with wireless dimmers and keypads that communicate via Lutron’s ultra-reliable ClearConnect RF protocol.
Scalable system – Start small (a few rooms) and expand to whole-home control later.
Unified app experience – The same polished interface as HomeWorks, with cloud-based remote access and automation.
Elegant design – Works beautifully with Lutron’s modern keypads and scene controllers.
When to choose it:
Renovations or upgrades where rewiring isn’t practical.
Extensions or smaller homes that need premium control without the full HomeWorks infrastructure.
Projects where clients want professional-grade performance and reliability, but more flexibility on installation scope.
In short: RA3 gives you 90 % of HomeWorks’ capability with far fewer constraints — perfect for modern living and intelligent retrofits.
Control4: Smart Lighting Meets Smart Living
If you’re looking for lighting control that ties seamlessly into a wider home automation ecosystem — audio, video, security, and climate — Control4 is the all-rounder that does it all.
Why people love it:
Integrated platform – Lighting, music, TV, heating, door entry, and more — all controlled through one app or keypad.
Great value – A more cost-effective entry point for multi-room control compared to full Lutron HomeWorks.
Flexible installation – Works with both wired and wireless solutions, ideal for retrofit or new build.
Customisable scenes – Link your lighting with other systems — for example, “Movie Mode” could dim the lights, lower the blinds, and start the projector in one button press.
When to choose it:
Homes where lighting, audio, and AV automation are equally important.
Projects that benefit from a single integrated platform for everything.
Clients who want control, comfort, and entertainment all under one ecosystem.
In short: Control4 is the practical multitasker — less specialised than Lutron in pure lighting control, but unbeatable for integration and overall flexibility.
Lighting for People: The Rise of Human-Centric Control
Modern control systems aren’t just about convenience — they’re about wellbeing.
Our bodies are tuned to natural light. Bright, cool light helps us wake and focus; warm, low light tells us to relax and rest. When lighting follows that natural rhythm, it supports sleep, productivity, and overall health.
This is where systems like Lutron HomeWorks, RA3, and Control4 really shine. They can:
Mimic natural daylight by shifting colour temperature through the day — cool white in the morning, soft warm tones at night.
Automate scenes based on time, location, or even sunrise/sunset data.
Integrate with shading systems to manage natural light and glare dynamically.
Synchronise artificial and daylight levels to maintain comfort and visual balance throughout the day.
It’s called human-centric lighting, and it’s more than a buzzword — it’s evidence-based design. Studies from institutions such as the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and Harvard Medical School show that correct circadian lighting can improve mood, concentration, and sleep quality.
A well-configured system quietly takes care of this for you. You simply live, and the light adjusts itself — supporting your rhythm instead of disrupting it.
How to Decide Which Is Right for You
Choosing between HomeWorks, RA3, and Control4 isn’t about which one is “best.” It’s about which one fits.
Project TypeRecommended SystemWhyNew Build / Full RenovationLutron HomeWorksThe most complete and refined solution for architectural lighting, shading, and human-centric control.Retrofit / Partial Renovation Lutron RA3 Minimal disruption, premium performance, full tunable-white and circadian support.Integrated Smart HomeControl4Lighting plus AV, automation, and wellbeing features in one cohesive system.
If you’re not sure which route is right for your home or project, we can advise, design, and commission the system that gives you the right balance of design, control, and wellbeing.
Lighting That Works as Beautifully as It Feels
A well-designed lighting control system should never draw attention to itself.
It should just work — effortlessly, quietly, and perfectly in sync with your home and your body clock.
That’s what we design, specify, and deliver at Light Fantastic.
📞 01892 313181
Whether it’s a full Lutron HomeWorks installation, a flexible RA3 upgrade, or a Control4 system that ties in your whole home, we’ll make sure your lighting feels as good as it looks — day and night.