How well does your current lighting illuminate your home? Can you walk into the kitchen or living room, flip on the lights, and see everything clearly? Or do you walk into the rooms in your house, turn on the lights, and feel like it’s not enough?
If you’re not satisfied with the way your rooms are lit, it’s probably time to upgrade your lighting. If you’re thinking it’s too hard because you don’t know what to change, don’t worry. Selecting the right fixtures and setup is easy with the help of a lighting professional and a licensed electrician who can install the wiring, no matter how complex your needs.
Do you really need to get new lighting? If you’re experiencing any of the following situations, you’re probably due for a change.
1. You Feel Like You Live in A Cave
Believe it or not, many homes are built in a way that feels like you’re living in a cave. Sometimes, that’s caused by a lack of natural light, usually from small or limited windows. Other times, it’s because there are no overhead lights. Floor lamps are nice, but they don’t illuminate a whole room.
If you can’t get enough light in your house and it feels more like a cave than a cozy residence, that’s the biggest sign that you’re due for an interior lighting upgrade. While you may not be able to do anything about a lack of natural light or windows, you can get certain light fixtures and specific bulbs that will light up each room in ways you never thought possible.
2. Your Mood Is Suffering
You should feel uplifted in your home, and if you’ve got dim or poor lighting, that’s going to be tough. The light that surrounds you in your home has a real impact on your mood. Good lighting will make you feel good, while poor lighting – especially if it’s dim – will make you feel down.
If you don’t feel inspired or happy in your home, and you have poor lighting, that’s your cue to call in a lighting specialist. You might be surprised at how much your mood will improve by making your home a little brighter.
If you don’t have the budget for a pro, here are some simple ways you can improve your lighting on your own:
- Add reflective surfaces, like mirrors, metallic finishes, and glossy floors. These things will bounce light around the room and make it brighter.
- Put at least 3 sources of light in every room. Light that comes from a singular source won’t do much in any room. The ideal is to have 3 sources, like overhead lighting, a table lamp, and some kind of ambient light.
- Clean your windows. It sounds basic, but it can help.
- Get decorative lighting fixtures. Sometimes just swapping out a simple fixture can improve the lighting in a room.
- Add strip lights under your cabinets in the kitchen.
- Light your darkest corners with floor lamps.
- Use light bulbs that simulate daylight for the best indoor lighting.
If you’re on a budget, you can find affordable table lamps and other types of lighting at department stores. Get a few and put them where you need light most. Even the smallest improvement can make you feel better.
3. You Can’t Read Books Easily
For avid readers, the struggle to find the perfect reading environment is all too real, especially when it comes to adequate lighting. While a book light may suffice for a quick fix, it’s hardly a sustainable solution for prolonged reading sessions.
Investing in a permanent lighting upgrade is the key to enhancing your reading experience and ensuring optimal comfort. By integrating a dedicated lighting solution into your reading nook or space, you can bid farewell to the inconvenience of adjusting a flimsy book light or straining your eyes under inadequate illumination.
Whether you opt for adjustable floor lamps, stylish wall sconces, or overhead pendant lights, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creating an inviting and well-lit reading environment. With the right lighting setup in place, you can immerse yourself in the pages of your favorite books without any distractions, allowing you to fully indulge in the joy of reading for hours on end.
4. Your Cupboards Are Dark
It’s frustrating having to find things in the naturally dark areas in your home, like your pantry or other cupboards. These areas are extremely easy to illuminate. All you need are some LED strip lights or battery-powered push lights that you can stick to the inside of the wall.
Battery-powered lighting comes in all shapes and sizes. Some are giant round buttons that you push on and off, while others are made of hard plastic and have a row of 5 or so lights with a separate on/off button. There are even lights made to simulate a real light switch that you flip on and off. For cupboards and small, dark areas, you definitely have options.
Don’t suffer in a dark house
If you aren’t happy with the lighting in your home, start making changes to illuminate your most important rooms first. If you don’t want to do the work yourself, upgrading your lights can be as easy as calling a lighting professional.
