How to Use Light to Make Your Home Sparkle

Artists and photographers talk about chasing light. Light brings us a sense of contentment and helps to create spaces that feel open and inviting. Working with natural light and artificial light is key to make your home feel fresh and airy. There are some easy ways to work with light throughout the interior (and exterior) of your home. Take a look at these tips if you’re looking for a change in your home’s lighting scheme.

Natural Light- The first thing to evaluate is your home’s natural light situation. Do you have windows that allow for natural light? Take a look at your window treatments on these windows. If you’re covering up a window with heavy draperies, you aren’t doing your home any favors. Consider hanging your curtain rods wider than the window to maximize the natural light. If a room doesn’t need a ton of privacy, consider sheer panels to allow more light into the space. During the daylight hours, consider using tie backs or raising shades in order to increase the light.

Layering Artificial Light- Even with optimal natural lighting, you need to consider a room’s light during the darker hours. You will also want to add some artificial light in rooms to illumine corners that don’t get great sunshine during the day. Overhead lights serve a purpose, but in many rooms they shouldn’t be the primary source of light. Use floor lamps, table lamps, and accent lamps throughout your home to  avoid dark corners or awkward shadows in a space. Using a good mix of lamps, sconces, and overhead fixtures will make your space feel fresh and well-lit.

Lumens and Temperature- If you’ve shopped for light bulbs recently, you’re likely to have seen a plethora of options. From Edison-style bulbs to halogen bulbs, the options can feel overwhelming! But color temperature on your bulbs is just as important as your light fixtures. LED bulbs are a smart choice for longevity and energy savings. Lumens and Kelvins are what you’ll notice on boxes of LED bulbs. Lumens translate to the wattage equivalent or brightness. Check the conversion to see how the lumens compare to your favorite halogen bulbs. Kelvins are the color temperature. We all know how cold a super blue light can look; an overly yellow light can look just as bad. A great rule of thumb is to look for a 2700K bulb for interior lights, which is also sometimes known as soft white. This is a great way to ensure a well-lit, but not overly cold looking bulb.

Outdoor Lighting- Don’t stop with the interior of your home. Your exterior needs to be well lit to look its best. Starting with your outdoor fixtures, find bulbs that complement your exterior finishes and give ample light for entering your home at night. Consider up-lighting or putting spotlights on trees and landscaping for a multi-dimensional look. You can also use motion lights for crime prevention. Hang exposed bulb string lights above your patio for warm weather entertaining. The options for outdoor light are just as multifaceted as the indoor lighting options. Don’t just settle for one simple porch light, illuminate your home from as many angles as possible!

Light is a great way to add some sparkle and dimension to your home’s interior and exterior. Try these tips to add the missing link to your home’s design plan.

Photo by Eneida Nieves via Pexels.com.