Lighting is one of the most important design elements in our home. Not only does great lighting make doing everyday tasks easier, but it’s more flattering and can seriously transform your home.
Instead of reaching for the convenient lamp or last-minute purchase, put some thought into the lighting in your home to really make it feel cozy and loved.
Here are a few easy lighting changes you can incorporate to totally transform your home.
Recessed Lighting in the Kitchen
Recessed lighting, or lighting that’s built into the ceiling, is perfect for the kitchen because it doesn’t get in the way and provides enough light to focus on cooking. It can come in many different forms, hues, shapes, and styles, so do a little research to see what type of lighting fits well in your space.
To create an even brighter kitchen, focus on your kitchen windows. The mix of artificial and natural lighting will really transform the space and make even a small kitchen feel bigger.
Natural Lighting
Speaking of windows, not all lighting needs to come from fixtures! Natural light is so beautiful in a home because it brings in a touch of nature and is a flattering hue for all rooms. If your house doesn’t already have natural light, there are plenty of ways to capitalize on the little that you have. For example, you can:
- Install a skylight in the ceiling
- Decorate with mirrors. Mirrors will reflect the light and make it seem like there’s more
- Paint the walls a light color – especially if you have a blue kitchen
- Ditch the heavy curtains and choose breezy, translucent ones instead
- Install a door with a glass window to let the light in
- Move the furniture so it isn’t blocking any precious window real estate
Natural lighting is so beautiful and can really transform your home. Thank Mother Nature for those bright sun rays shining in!
Energy-Efficient Lighting
Not only does energy-efficient lighting save you money, but it also makes it easy to choose just the right hue for your home. For example, Philips Hue lightbulbs are LED and can be controlled by smart assistants like the Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomePod. You can control these light bulbs by just talking to them and with that, you can dim them, set the right ambiance with over 50,000 shades of white light, and even change the color completely.
LED lights last a lot longer than traditional light bulbs and are more energy efficient and better for the environment. While they may be more expensive upfront, they will save you money in the long-run.
Different Lighting Circuits
If you live in an open-concept style home, make sure you put your lighting on different circuits so you can easily control which lights are off or on. For example, you will have different lighting for your kitchen, your dining area, and your living room. If you have smart light bulbs like the ones mentioned above, this is extremely easy. If not, just make sure you have control switches for each area.
Lighting is often an overlooked part of interior design, but it can really transform your space and highlight the rest of your home. Choose lighting that flatters the space and combine natural and artificial lighting to really brighten up your space.
