Six Ways to Improve the Lighting in Your Home
Better lighting can improve your home’s safety—for example, increased visibility will reduce tripping hazards in dark hallways or stairwells—and improve energy efficiency to save money on your energy bills. Upgraded lighting can also increase the value of your home when you are looking to sell it. Here are six ways to improve the lighting in your home.
Use natural light
Brightening your home doesn’t necessarily require adding a lot of artificial light (which will increase your energy bills). Natural light is free and good for your mood. You can capitalize on natural light in your home by painting walls in lighter colors and ceilings in white, strategically placing mirrors in hallways or corners, and choosing sun shades or sheer curtains instead of heavy drapes. Keeping your windows clean helps too.
If you have the budget for a larger renovation, larger windows and skylights, as well as lighter floors and tiles, can also increase the amount of light entering and reflecting around your home.
Provide constant light from room to room
Bright light in one room and dim light in another, or frequent changes in temperature from warm to cool, require your eyes to constantly adapt. You should consider lighting options depending on the function of the room and whether you need ambient, task or accent lighting (or a combination of all three), but avoid sharp contrasts from one room to the next. Choose the same color temperature and wattage range – just make sure you choose the right bulbs (ideally more efficient ones) for your lamps and fixtures.
Install motion sensors
Motion sensor lights can be a good security enhancement for hallways and stairwells that don’t need to be constantly lit. Good options include plug-in nightlights with motion sensors or battery-powered LED strips if you don’t have outlets where you need them. Contrasting stripes can also make stairs easier to navigate in dark conditions.
Adjust the placement of lamps and fixtures
Wall and ceiling-facing fixtures, as well as frosted glass covers and lampshades, can diffuse harsh light and reduce glare, reducing eye strain. Install upward-facing lighting on the tops of cabinets, as well as lighting at different height levels, from table lamps to floor lamps and wall and ceiling lights. Recessed ceiling lights can also create softer lighting.
Decorate your kitchen and bathroom
Your kitchen and bathroom pose potential hazards, such as slipping while bathing and handling sharp or hot objects while cooking, which can be mitigated with better lighting. Light strips or LED pucks work well under cabinets to illuminate counters, as well as closets and pantries. It’s also a good idea to have a separate light in the shower or above the bathtub.
Increase flexibility with smart lighting and dimmers.
Switching to smart bulbs allows you to control your lighting from anywhere using an app or voice assistant, and customize routines that match your changing lighting needs throughout the day, be it brightness or color tone. You can also install manual dimmers to brighten or dim your ceiling lights as needed.