How To Improve The Lighting In Your Home
Lighting plays an essential role in creating the ideal ambiance in a home. A poorly lit space can be unappealing and have a negative impact. Hence, it’s ideal to improve the lighting to make a space appealing and welcoming for both your household and any guests who might drop by.
In previous years, adding an overhead light or table lamp was usually enough to brighten a space. However, today's lighting options have become vast, offering numerous choices that best fit or complement the interior of your home.
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1. Maximize Natural Light
One of the initial considerations to keep in mind is making the most of natural light. Achieving the best effect of natural light will vary depending on the direction your house faces.
If your home faces south, you can expect a good amount of sunlight to flow in. However, it depends on the interior layout to ensure that light covers every angle.
Make sure to regularly clean all the windows to allow sunlight to flow freely. You can control the amount of light during specific times of the day by installing blinds or light-filtering curtains. If you have sliding doors, you can utilize roller blinds, vertical blinds, Roman blinds, and cellular or honeycomb shades, to name a few.
Maximizing the natural light in your home can also help lower your monthly utility bill, as there will be less need for artificial lighting.
2. Add A Mirror
If an area in your home is dim, consider utilizing reflective surfaces. Adding a wide mirror can make a significant difference to the space. Mirrors effectively reflect light, illuminating any dark corners in a room.
You can hang or position mirrors adjacent to windows or on opposite walls. Doing so helps redirect natural light into the dim sections of your home.
To maximize the use of mirrors, try different positions by angling them to redirect sunlight toward the ceiling. This helps lessen glare and allows the light to disperse evenly throughout your space. You can also incorporate other types of reflective surfaces, such as objects with glossy surfaces or glass tiles, to boost the brightness level in a space.
3. Invest In LED Lights
If you want to improve the brightness in your home while prioritizing energy efficiency, consider switching to light-emitting diode (LED) lights. LED lights are more energy efficient than conventional incandescent bulbs and have a longer lifespan, making them a good choice for an eco-friendly home.
Nowadays, a good selection of various sizes and shapes of LED lights are available. If you still have several incandescent light bulbs in your home, it's a good time to switch to LED lights.
4. Incorporate The Right Light Fixtures
Adding more fixtures is a straightforward way to improve the lighting in your home. If you have a dim hallway or corner, installing pendant lights or wall sconces works best. Adding floor lamps can improve the ambiance in a dining area or living room.
It's crucial to remember that there are three major types of light fixtures: ambient, task, and accent lighting. These can be incorporated into your home's interior to provide additional illumination.
Ambient: These fixtures impart soft light and are the ideal choice in stairwells, hallways, and areas of your home that receive less traffic.
Task: Task lighting mainly highlights specific activities in a room, such as cooking, reading, or working.
Accent: Accent lighting provides visual interest to a room, usually available as decorative pieces. It's ideal if you have an artwork or gallery to showcase.
Depending on how you want to maximize the lighting in your home, you can combine these types of light fixtures to your liking. Nowadays, a good selection of sizes, shapes, and shades are available that best complement your home's interior.
5. Implement Layered Lighting
The layered lighting approach can be the ideal choice to boost the ambiance of any room in your home. Layered lighting best creates a tranquil environment while going about your daily routine.
Layered lighting utilizes several types of lighting to create a well-lit area. For example, you can use multiple light sources in space for work during the daytime, and as night approaches, you can adjust the mood for cozy nighttime reading or an entertaining vibe. Generally, layered lighting combines ambient, task, and accent lighting.
6. Utilize A Lighting Fixture As The Focal Point
A suitable light fixture can tie together the entire theme or style of a room, in addition to boosting the illumination. Think about a position where a light fixture can draw attention. For example, you can install a chandelier in a spacious family room or dining area. For smaller spaces, you can use a floor lamp or align sconces on a wall piece. If you’re still undecided, it’s best to check out light fixture models to serve as inspiration for your home upgrade.
7. Showcase Art And Wall Pieces
If you're eager to display art pieces, especially in the hallway or living area, install lights to illuminate them. This approach creates a focal point in your home while brightening the interior. LED lights are ideal for illuminating wall pieces due to their superior color rendering.
8. Switch To A Smart Lighting System
Investing in a smart lighting system is worth considering for homeowners eager to elevate the lighting for convenience. With an automated system, you can schedule the turning on and off of lights in your home. For example, you can program when to turn off the lights at night.
Automating the lighting in your home ensures convenience and eliminates the hassle of manually operating lights. Depending on your current system, you can also modify the intensity and color of the light if you have colored LED bulbs.
9. Install Dimmers
Adding dimmers in your home is key to conveniently changing a room's environment while also saving on your energy bill. Consider installing dimmer switches in the rooms of your home to gain control over the lighting. Dimmers allow you to balance artificial light with natural light during specific times of the day.
Final Thoughts
Proper lighting plays a crucial role in creating your home's ideal feel and ambiance. Luckily, with some planning and considering these insightful tips, you can make this a reality. While some upgrades can be do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, others may require further planning with a professional. Finding the appropriate lighting blend will make your home an appealing and welcoming space that your household and guests will love.
Author: Editorial Team
Cover image by AdobeStock
