7 Top Lighting Design Tips for Your Home
When it comes to decorating our home, we tend to spend a lot of time on painting, appliances and the placement of furniture. But did you know that you could dramatically change the look and feel of your home by just making a few lighting changes? Let’s take a moment to discuss 7 lighting tips for your home, but first, let’s talk about the psychology behind lighting.
7 Lighting Tips for Your Home
So how can we harness the power of light in our homes? Well, there are a few tricks that you can use. The great thing about these tips is that they are simple and easy to carry out.
1. Use Mirrors
Mirrors are commonly used as a way to make a small space seem bigger. However, did you know that they can also be used to make your home seem brighter? Simply place mirrors so that they reflect and amplify your lighting. You can put them above fireplaces, behind dining table and beside buffets.
2. Add More Lumens
Most people are usually so busy trying to create natural light that they forget that artificial light can be just as effective. So if you are interested in creating a certain ambiance but still want to have a brightly lit home, then consider purchasing bulbs that offer higher lumens. In this way, you will be able to up the intensity and have more control over the lighting.
3. Brighten dark Corners
Depending on the room size and windows you may have dark spots that don’t get much natural light or little from your main ceiling light then adding a lamp or feature light to brighten up these areas can make the room feel larger.
Adding a feature lamp is a great way to bright up the corners, if space is limited then how about a Hue Bloom, you can then adjust the corner to suit, using different colors and also adjusting the brightness deepening on the mood and also how you use the room.
4. Avoid All White
This tip may seem a bit counterintuitive. After all, we have been told that white paint and furniture can make a room feel much larger and brighter. While this can be helpful in some cases, it can also do more harm than good in others. You see, if the lighting is not just right, your all-white room will come out completely flat.
Instead of all white, try using smart color bulbs that are more neutral or saturated. Try a creamy beige or even a warm grey. Does this mean that you should choose all dark colors like royal blue? Absolutely not. However, it does mean that white is not the end all be all answer to brighter lighting.
5. Add Texture and Contrast
The key to using dark pieces of furniture and even accent walls in your home is to consider the contrast. Yes, darker colors can sometimes make your room feel brighter if they are used in contrast with lighter colors. For example, use a charcoal dresser or dark be comforter in order to emphasize the lightness you would like to create. So use darker colors in order to bring more attention to the lighter colors.
Not interested in dark furniture? You can also consider adding a little texture to your decor. For instance, you can always add a few accessory pieces to draw attention to brighter elements in the room. Put down a fur throw rug or one that is woven knit. Sure, your room may be a little monochromatic, but that does not mean it has to be boring. Texture helps to liven things up.
6. Use Shades That Are Lightweight
If your home happens to feature a lot of windows, then don’t cover them with heavy draperies. Instead, add a few lightweight treatments–whether sheer draperies or shades. In this way, you can have privacy but still, experience the effects of natural light shining through your home. No matter what material you choose, do your best to avoid heavy and dark prints. Look for treatments that feature soft neutrals. In the best case scenario, your room will have a subtle glow.
7. Try Light strips
If you are someone who hates clutter, then there is a good chance that you do not want to add a lot of floor or table lamps to your home. And while you would love to install new lightingthis can sometimes be too much for your budget. A great solution is to add lighting that features rope or tape. These can be easily placed along the ceiling or around your baseboards in order to bring brightness into an otherwise dreary room. What’s great about this type of lighting is that it relatively inexpensive and it is easy to install. This is a great way to eliminate any and all clutter.
As you can see, lighting can have a powerful effect on the way you feel. Luckily, there are several things that you can do in order to improve the lighting in your home. The key is to pay attention to detail as well as perspective.
Psychology Behind Lighting
When it comes to lighting, the intensity can have a significant impact on your mood and emotions. In fact, research that was published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology shows that the more intense your lighting, the more powerful your emotions. Check out our Infographic on how smart lights can improve your mood.
The study examined the link between ambient brightness and emotions and included six experiments. One of these experiments showed that even when the temperature of the room remained the same, bright light caused the subjects to feel warm.
In another experiment, researchers studied the participants’ feelings towards certain things. When seen in brighter lighting, their emotions were much more intense: For instance, they thought people were more attractive or that words were more positive. It was eventually concluded that certain lighting has the ability to affect theperception of temperature and trigger emotionality when it comes to everyday decisions.
Founder & Editor
Mike is the founder of Hue Home Lighting, a huge Hue fan with far too many lights, covering home and garden. A smart home gadget addict and also enjoys the odd bit of DIY
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Roger Middleton
My wife and I have been trying to increase the mood and lighting of our home. I liked that you had mentioned that brightening dark corners can make your home look a lot nicer and feel larger. We’ll have to start looking around for a lighting designer that can help us out, and we’ll be making sure we light up the dark corners.