Lighting in your home goes beyond aesthetics or convenience. It also acts as a stimulus that affects human perception, mood, and behavior. Do you ever wonder how light affects visuals, behavior, and the overall atmosphere?
More often than not, homeowners don’t take home lighting as a crucial factor in designing their homes. Sure, you can put it an incandescent light bulb here and there, and you’re done. But that’s not enough.
Lighting can vastly improve your home in ways you didn’t even imagine. For instance, the different types of lighting alone can significantly improve a space from morning until the evening. We will elaborate on this later.
For now, let me give you these six expert tips on lighting your home so you can achieve aesthetics, convenience, and productivity.
- Allow natural sunlight as much as possible
When it comes to home design, natural lighting is always preferable. If you can add more glass windows, or skylights at home – then all the better!
In case you don’t know, the sun is vital to a human’s survival. We need a healthy amount of sunlight daily for our overall physical and mental wellbeing. Aside from Vitamin D, which is crucial for bone structure development, sunlight also stimulates some biological mechanisms in the human body that improve productivity.
- Install LED light bulbs instead of incandescent light bulbs
Aside from the fact that LED light bulbs provide better lighting in any space, they also save you a lot of money compared to their incandescent counterparts. Only five percent of the latter’s energy is turned into light.
On the other hand, 90 percent of a LED light bulb’s energy is turned into light. That said, using these will make for better light perception and will allow for a cooler atmosphere.
Last but not least, you’re not only saving on utility bills due to lower energy consumption, but you’re also looking at more durability. Plus, you’re reducing your carbon footprint when using these types of bulbs.
- Install different types of lighting
There is no one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to home lighting. The types of lighting will depend on the kind of room, usage, and preference. Yet there are four common types of lighting you should incorporate in your home.
- Ambient lighting or general lighting is the primary light source that provides overall lighting in every area at home.
- Accent lighting acts as dramatic lighting that emphasizes a piece of painting or a picture frame.
- Decorative lighting could be any pendant, light strip, chandelier, or sconce that attracts attention and gives a room an extra oomph.
- Task lighting is used in specific areas that people use for performing tasks to make working more convenient.
- Integrate smart lighting
Smart lighting is an innovation where lighting fixtures are automated depending on several conditions such as natural light penetration or occupancy. You can install smart lighting in tandem with your eco-friendly light bulbs to drive your utility bills even lower.
- Add a dimmer
Dimmers are great for instantly transforming a room’s vibe through little adjustments here and there. Although installing different types of lighting will suffice, dimmers are there to provide whatever the homeowners want in their space if the need arises.
For example, if you’re continually hosting parties or small get-togethers at home, you can put dimmers in your dining area. That way, after you’ve used the ambient lighting during dinner time, you can dim the lights for some intimate drinks-and-convo session with friends.
- Don’t ignore landscape and exterior lighting
If you have a beautiful landscape, amp it up through landscape lighting. This is perfect when you have an outdoor kitchen, a patio, or a balcony where you can spend most of your nights.
In addition, don’t ignore your door entrance, pathway, or garage entrance. The most important thing about lighting your home is not only about illumination but also its primary purpose – safety.
Author Bio:
Evelyn Paulson is a passionate blogger who loves to share tips on home improvement, home renovation, and interior designs. She is currently working with Liquid LEDs, a premier supplier of Classic, Vintage, and Edison style led light bulbs.
