Lighting is EVERYTHING. I say this constantly whether it’s my design clients, my staging clients or even friends and family. If you do NOTHING else in your home, improve the lighting. The difference is literally night and day.
1. Replace Outdated Lighting with Modern-Day Styles
On the homes that we flip and on the homes that we decorate, we never skip on updating the lighting. There are homes with an assortment of overhead lighting where my homeowners don’t understand what having beautiful lamps and accent lighting can bring to the space. There are rooms with NO overhead lighting and only lamps and rooms that homeowners don’t fully utilize without understanding WHY.
2. Add Multiple Sources for Even Lighting
Think about lighting in layers! There are three types of lighting.
Ambient lighting illuminates the space. Overhead cans, a chandelier or other ceiling light…these lights provide the lighting to help navigate the space. Think about the light switch you flick when you walk in so you don’t stub your toe. THAT is ambient lighting.
Task lighting is, as the name implies, lighting that makes a task easier to see. A reading light over your shoulder, undercounter light to help you prepare your dinner or a desk lamp to make writing a check easier. These are all examples of task lighting.
Accent lighting is the final layer. A dark corner lit up with wall sconce or a bookcase with a small lamp. A sweet little lamp on a child’s dresser to scare away the boogeyman. These are all examples of accent lighting!
ALL of these types of lighting are appropriate and (I would argue!) necessary for every room. Layers of light.
3. Capture All the Right Angles
Whether you’re selling your home or styling your home you’ll want your home to be well lit. Great lighting will help to showcase your treasures, and just give your home a positive and lovely disposition.
Need a little help lighting up your life? Give us a call to see if illumination might just be the answer to make you love your least favorite room!
Xoxo,
Pamela
