Even though it seems like a small thing, good lighting can improve any space in your home. It will make a room feel cosier and help you separate different portions of your living space. Open-concept dwellings, especially, benefit from a great lighting strategy.
Lighting your home perfectly doesn’t mean driving up your energy use, though. In fact, you can use a smart lighting strategy to improve the comfort of your home while decreasing your energy bills.
Nowadays, there are many lighting options available and it’s fun to browse around home décor websites and find the style that fits your current aesthetic. Here are some lighting tips that will do wonders for your home while saving you energy!
1. Natural Light
We often ignore natural light, but it is an easy way to make space feel wide. Of course, floor-to-ceiling windows do help, but not everyone has them. If your home doesn’t get too much natural light, you can maximize it by keeping your windows as clean as possible. Avoid heavy curtains and go for something light or sheer. Are there any obstacles near the windows, such as shelves and other pieces of furniture? Move them somewhere else and let in the natural light.
Of course, not every home has windows on all walls, but you can still create that illusion. Add more light grey or light brown furniture. Angle the pieces towards the window so that the light can bounce off them. Consider not putting any shades on your windows to open up space even more. If you need to have curtains, go for white ones.
2. Layers of Light
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Having just one light source in each room is not optimal. It’s better to use layers. Most designers will say to aim for at least three light sources. Your primary source of light is typically overhead, with specific lighting on a table and ambient light at different points.
You can minimize your energy use by reserving that overhead lighting for times when you really need to light the entire room, especially if you got the first point on this list, natural lighting down right. Reach for task lighting first and light only the space you need. Working from home, for example, can use minimal light and feel more relaxing if you have a table lamp.
Table lamps come in all shapes and colours, so choose the one that goes with the rest of your décor and make it fun. Remember that lamps with dark shades will illuminate a surface better, while lighter shades cast more light. You can also make your home feel warmer by using candles, sconces and other decorative lighting pieces.
3. Reflective Surfaces
Reflective surfaces like mirrors or metallic decorations will bounce the light around and make small spaces appear larger and more well-lit. These pieces can also be very decorative and add more elegance to your home. High gloss wall paint will also reflect natural light.
Try using a mirror instead of a painting in your dining room. Just make sure you place it close to a window. You can play around with the frame colour and the design. Mirrors catch the light very well, and the difference will be noticeable right away.
4. Create Ambiance
Dimmers will not only help you set the perfect mood in your home but also save you electricity. You can install dimmer switches in pretty much any room of your house, and they are super easy to use. These gadgets will help you balance natural and artificial light effortlessly. They’ll also instantly let you set the ideal atmosphere for a romantic dinner or a family movie night.
There are also light control apps that can control the lights in your home. Of course, these apps require special light bulbs that are connected to Wi-Fi. Users can turn them off and on with just one click. These apps also have different modes you can select, depending on the occasion.
If you like collecting candles, don’t keep them altogether in the same place. Instead, use them to decorate different surfaces. Candles are both gorgeous and useful as a light source. Candlelight will also add warmth to your living space. So light them up during the colder months of the year and create a cozy atmosphere.
5. Think Outside the Box
With so many lighting options out there, you can let your imagination run free. Use light to decorate your home and fully customize it. Once the essential spaces are lit, add pieces you can use as low-light alternatives when you don’t need full visibility.
To add that perfect touch to a game room or bar try using neon signs to elicit that feeling of being immersed in the space. Or if you want something inspirational, you can create custom neon signs with your favourite motivational quotes on them.
LED fairy lights are great for highlighting parts of the home, such as bookshelves or a plant collection. They look magical, and you can use them instead of an overhead light if you’re just leaving a light on for someone who’s coming home.
Feature image: Vera Cho; Image 1: Вахтбович Максим
