A well-lit home makes your living, sleeping, work and relaxation spaces more functional and enjoyable than most people realise. Yet creating a lighting plan or giving consideration to suitable lighting is often last-minute or forgotten completely. Not with these expert tips.

When homes and additions are designed, many owner-builders can forget about the important role played by lighting. A well-lit home will create a cosy atmosphere where desired, make a room look larger, enable tasks to be more functional, and be used to highlight features or key points in a room (not to mention, making it a nicer place in which to be).

Bad lighting can make a room look smaller, dull, drab, and make the colours of the room look different or uncoordinated. So to make your home look its best, being well-lit is key, and it isn’t all just about the lightbulbs that you use. So here are some tips to help brighten the look of your home.

 

Light in Layers

The key to having a well-lit home is about the layers of light of which there are three in a room.

The first is the ambient light that comes in from the windows, pendant lights or overhead lights when it is nighttime. They disperse the light evenly.

The second is task lighting using spotlights to highlight certain areas, such as wall lights, or countertop spotlights.

The third layer is accent lighting which is more decorative including like table lamps or chandeliers. So bear this all in mind when you are choosing the kind of light you want in a home.

 

Make the Most of Daylight

Daylight, or natural light, is always going to be the best source when it comes to having a well-lit home. So although the daylight only half of the day, being able to maximize it when it is there is the ideal way to get a light and bright home.

Looking for a blinds and curtains sale can be a good idea if you want to add some extra features to your windows. You just need to make sure that they aren’t going to block out the daylight or can be pulled back and away fully from the window area.

So a blind and curtain combo can be a good idea, as the blinds can be opened in the daytime, and the curtains used to frame the window. For the best well-lit home, avoid curtains that are too thick and heavy unless you can draw them right back revealing the whole window and maximising the natural light.

Use Dimmer Switches

Dimmer switches installed into a home can be a great way to save energy, as well as control how well-lit the room is. You can create the ambience that you want in the room, as well as being able to tone-down any ambient lighting that is a little bright.

Another benefit of them is that they are a good way to extend the life of your light bulbs. When they’re not working flat out each time, they will last longer.

 

Vary the Wattage

If you want a light and bright room, then naturally, you are likely to think that just getting some high-wattage light bulbs is the answer.

But in reality, it can be a good idea to vary the wattage bulbs that you have, especially in the same room. Take a kitchen, for example.

You don’t need to have the same wattage in each bulb. Having lower wattage in the wall lights, and pendant lights are a good idea, and then a higher wattage in the countertop lighting.

Need More Lighting Help?

As an Interior Designer, I can help you plan your lighting for a well-lit home via my Plush Design Interiors business. Please feel free to contact me on 0421 043 505 or penelope@plushdesigninteriors.com.au. I’ll be happy to help you.