You’ve just moved into a new apartment and you’ve taken it upon yourself to completely redesign the space in a bid to make it feel more personal. From rummaging through boxes for rugs you already have to shop online for curtains and upholstery to spice it all up.
Yet, the room still isn’t coming together like you thought it would. Why? Our best bet is that you forgot the one thing that ties the entire space together – the lighting.
From bringing it all incoherence to complete chaos – here’s a list of eight hacks on how you can transform your home lighting for a new look!
Make it stand out
Source: Olaug Modern Large Single Circle Ring Ceiling Light
We’ve all seen fancy chandeliers and bold lighting fixtures hanging off of the ceiling. However, not many people living in small apartments or cozy, little homes have paid much head to install a bold lighting fixture. This is something that has become synonymous with fancy furniture all around. That’s where you’re wrong.
Incorporating a bold ceiling light fixture does not equate to having everything else blend in with it. Instead, this will direct attention upwards, making it the star of the room while also opening up space in other corners of the room. Big bold lights are known to add drama, and they have the capacity of tricking the eye into thinking that space is much larger than it is according to interior designers. There is, nevertheless, the fact that no matter how big the ceiling fixture might be, it won’t bring in much light if you’re lacking natural light or have no other fixtures to accentuate the light with.
Lampshades are more than just accents
Source: Kaja Adjustable Reading Floor Lamp
The most important part of a standing lamp, a side table lamp or even a desk lamp for many is the lampshade. While many people think of them as accents or decorative ornaments, they garner much more praise for the quality of light that you end up getting out of the lamp. When choosing a lampshade, it is important to know the lighting goal you’re looking to achieve with it.
Pick the right color
Source: Mynte Contemporary Arc Floor Lamp
It’s pretty redundant to say: lighter shades will allow more light to come through compared to darker light shades. Darker shades make the light appear more localized and shine above the fixture rather than through it. Similarly, the pattern of your light shade can also allow or limit the amount of light that comes out.
Hence, when choosing a lampshade, it’s important to consider which corner of the room you would choose it for. If it’s for your study corner, perhaps going with a lampshade that gives off more light; a lighter shade or a mesh-work pattern would work better. Alternatively, if you’re using the lamp more as an accent rather than to illuminate the entire room, you might prefer a lampshade in a darker tone.
Incandescent lights make it feel more relaxing
Source: Francesca Contemporary Clear Crystal Chandelier
Your home is your sanctuary and your sanctuary does not have to follow through with one particular aura. Different rooms or spaces are usually designated for different intents; the kitchen is more uplifting, the living room is more inviting and the bedroom is more soothing. About the latter most, interior designers have urged homeowners to rethink incandescent lighting.
Yellow light over blue light
Source: Athene Cone Shade Scandinavian Hanging Light Set
The lighting in your home should make you feel comfortable and not like you’re sitting in an uninviting area. A fixture or a stand that gives off a softer, yellow light accomplishes that goal. It’s more relaxing and sends signals to your body for better sleep at night. If you think we’re making this up to get you onboard the incandescent train, then you’re wrong.
Blue light is reported to suppress melatonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. Compare that with a soft, yellow light that makes you snooze right through the night. That’s right – science!
Mirrors and lights – make them work together
Source: Lennart Antique Brass Shade Floor Lamp
Mirrors are known to make rooms appear larger and more spacious. Designers suggest making mirrors and lights work in association with one another to give the room more light. In effect, you would be maximizing the light that’s already there.
Think of it this way, your bathroom or powder room tends to have the best lighting. That’s in part because you have a larger mirror there that bounces light more towards space.
Task lighting: The name says it all
Source: Orestes Contemporary Chic Sleek Wall Lamp
Your light fixture isn’t supposed to bring a light just to the more visible areas in your room. That might even beat the very need for light. What you need is to focus on task lighting just as much as you would on overall lighting. Not only is it important to brighten up less prone areas, but it also adds a more modern and aesthetic chic look to your room.
When choosing fixtures, do not stop once the overall brightness of the room has been satisfactorily achieved. Take it up a step by adding lighting to areas of your room more focused on light tasks such as reading in your bedroom or chopping up vegetables in the kitchen.
Quality matched with vibe
Source: Acey Frosted Glass With Wood Pillars Hanging Lamp
The function is a factor you can not overlook at any cost. However, do not overlook the importance of how your light could tie in with your overall vibe. Your light comes with a fixture and that could just as well be treated like a piece of furniture with different finishes such as metal, glass wood or concrete.
Conclusion:
Home lightings are a crucial aspect of redesigning and recreating your living space. We’ve all dreamed of one day living in our fantasy home, but not many have taken into account just how big of a difference lighting can make to it.
