Did you know that, in 2019, the size of the global lighting market was over $118 billion? By 2027, it’s expected to grow to have a value of over $160 billion, with an expected compounded annual growth rate of 4.3%.
This is no surprise, considering how much the right light can completely transform your home, making it more beautiful and bright than ever.
If you’ve been thinking of playing around with your home lighting, you may be curious about lighting tips.
However, you might not be sure where to start. With so many lighting options and different ways to light a room, how do you know how to best light your home?
That’s why we’ve put together this lighting guide. In it, you’ll learn everything you need to about how to make your home the brightest it can be.
Finally, you can relax at home with that perfect amount of beautiful light. Read on to learn more.
Table of Contents
Know Your Types of Indoor Lighting
When lighting a room up the right way, you need to use the right type of lighting. While many people think that you can use the same type of lighting throughout your home, this isn’t the case at all. It’s best to layer light, combining it properly.
In each room of your home, it’s smart to have different types of lighting installed, putting them throughout depending on how you plan to use them.
The three different lighting types are task, accent, and ambient lights.
Task Lights
Task lights are used so that you have all the light you need to be able to complete a specific task. These lights tend to brighter and more focused on a specific area. For example, you might have a lamp by your bedside so you can read.
You might also have a task light in a specific area of your kitchen where you usually do food prep.
Accent Lights
Accent lights are more for adding to the design of your home than for actual function. These lights usually draw attention to specific areas you want to show off. For example, if you have a piece of pottery or a painting you want to show off, accent lights will hit your artwork.
This type of light can also be used to add to the vibe of a room. For example, dimmer switches are usually used with accent lights.
Other types of accent lights include track lighting and wall-mounted lighting.
Ambient Lights
Ambient lights are also called general lights. These are the necessary lights you have in a room that make it possible to see where you’re going and what’s in front of you. These lights usually include wall-mounted fixtures, track lighting, and recessed lighting.
Think About Your Rooms
Now that we’ve reviewed the different types of outdoor lighting, we’ll cover the different types of lighting that usually work for each type of room. That way, you can strike a balance between your preferences and what usually works.
Living Room
Because a living room is a space that has many uses, and one where you tend to socialize and want to show off a bit of your home’s design, you’re likely to have many different light types in this room. First of all, you want ambient light throughout.
In terms of ambient lighting in this room, consider installing recessed or track lighting.
If you have a table in the middle of your living room, consider installing an overhead fixture above.
This can work either as task lighting (so people can see their coffee cups or wine glasses) or a combination of task and ambient lighting (you can simply install a dimmer).
There might also be areas in your living room where you want there to be more focused light. For example, you have a couch with a reading area or a buffet table. Here, use a lamp as a type of task lighting.
Remember that, by cleaning your lampshades regularly, their light will show brighter.
If there are any shadowy areas in your living room, a floor lamp can help light the way. Finally, use any accent lights to show off any artwork or your fancy whiskey collection.
Entryway
Do you want to make an impression the second your guests step through your door? In this case, having a chandelier or fancy pendant light can be the perfect way to light your entryway. If you need a little extra light, you can add a floor or table lamp.
Kitchen
Like your living room, the kitchen will require many different types of lighting. However, most of these will be functional.
To get started, install recessed lighting so that you can see the entire room well. Then, think about your focal areas.
These include the dining table and kitchen island. Over these, install chandeliers or pendant lights.
Finally, think about where you would install task lights. This might include over the stove and sink, and underneath cabinets.
Dining Room
The dining room has pretty straightforward lighting. Over the dining table, have the main light, such as a chandelier or pendant light.
Are there any dark corners or a dishware storage area you want to bring light to? Simply light these up with a table or floor lamp.
Bathroom
In a bathroom, people usually use recessed lighting. However, some people place task lights near the mirror and overhead lights near the bathtub.
Feeling fancy? Install a dimmer switch for when you’re having a relaxing soak.
Bedroom
Bedroom lighting is also pretty simple. Usually, you have main recessed lighting, with a couple of lamps on your dressers or nightstand. Task lighting near your mirror might be useful if you want to see yourself well when getting dressed.
Additionally, think about adding some lights in your closet, especially if it’s a walk-in closet.
Office
In your office, you should have recessed lighting to light up the whole space. If there are any seating areas or dark corners, add floor and table lamps to those areas. Remember that you’ll need a lamp for task lighting where you sit down to work.
Use the Right Bulbs
In addition to choosing the right fixtures for the right rooms, you’ll want to use the right bulbs for each area. In your living room, it might be smart to have lights that dim, since sometimes you’ll want bright lights for a party, but other times warmer lights for reading.
In your bathroom and kitchen, bright lights can be effective because they make it easier to perform tasks (such as applying your makeup or chopping vegetables).
In your bedroom, however, you should use light bulbs that give off a little less light. This way, you can relax when you finally snuggle up in bed in the evening.
Think About Design
When choosing the right lights for your home, you also have to think about design. Do you want lamps and fixtures that are more modern?
Or does your home have more of a retro look? What colors will go best with your furniture and drapes?
By asking yourself these questions, you’ll end up with an interior design that’s consistent and matches your personal style and preferences.
To learn more about how to match your lighting fixtures with your home’s interior, check out this guide, where you can learn about choosing the right aesthetics and size for your fixtures.
Lighting Tips to Make Your Home Brighter
Now that you know about the types of lights and where they belong in your home, you may be ready to start buying lighting. However, if you want to only buy a few lights and use other tricks to brighten up your home, we’ll review these tips now.
Think About the Size of the Light
If you have a bit of a tight budget and you’re buying just a few new lights for your home, you need to think about the size of the light fixture. You don’t want it to take over the room; at the same time, you don’t want it to go unnoticed, either.
Visit a few furniture stores in person so you can see exactly how a light fixture’s function and design brighten up a room.
If you still aren’t sure, buy from a business that allows for free returns, in case the fixture is too large or small.
For example, accent lights shouldn’t be the main attraction of your room, but they should still be bright enough that they draw attention, for example, to the art piece they’re lighting up.
Choose Your Focal Light Fixture
When stepping into your room and deciding how you want to light it, decide what the focal light fixture will be. For example, in your dining room, you want the light over the dining room to be the most important light fixture.
You can spend a bit more on this light fixture, after which you can slowly add additional light fixtures to the room over time.
Update Old Lights and Ceiling Fans
Does your home feel a bit too retro because of its old lights and ceiling fans? By simply replacing these, you can give your home a new, modern look. That way, you’ll only have to replace old fixtures and fans instead of buying a whole new set of lights.
Replace Older Bulbs
If you want bulbs that are more effective and save energy, replace your older bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs. You should also consider installing a dimmer switch, so you’ll have a bit more control of the lighting in each room.
If you want that type of mood lighting, remember to buy three-way bulbs.
Replace Slowly to Save Money
You don’t have to replace all your old fixtures all at once. This can be unnecessarily expensive.
Instead, remove one light at a time, starting with the ones that are dullest or that have ugly fixtures. Your home will be slowly transformed over time.
Remember that by simply replacing a lampshade, you can completely change the look of your lamp without having to buy a new one.
Use Natural Light
Another way to easily brighten up your home is by allowing more natural light in. If you have heavy drapes, leave them open. Or, you can replace them entirely, with thinner drapes or with shades. Make sure these are shades you can close at night for privacy and safety.
Here’s another trick: clean your windows regularly. With the build-up of dust and pollen, they might not be letting in as much light as they could be.
Use Candles
Another great way to light up your home, and to make it feel a little more old-fashioned and romantic, is to use candles. They’re also useful if the power suddenly goes out in your home. Make sure when using candles that you follow these safety tips.
Need More Information?
Now that you’ve learned about all the best lighting tips for how to choose the right lights for your home, you might need more information. Maybe you want to learn about how to improve the design of your home in other ways, such as choosing the right furniture.
Or maybe you want to learn about the latest interior design trends.
Whatever information you need, we have it available. Simply check out our blog. In our real estate and home section, you can learn everything you need to so you can make your home the most beautiful it can be.