Brighten Up
When it comes to lighting in your home, many people don’t realize the effects it can have, but instead stick to the basics (or whatever bulbs are on sale at the store). But light is more than just a means to avoid bumping into furniture or see what culinary masterpiece (or disaster in some cases) your spouse prepared for dinner. Indoor or out, lighting can be used to set a mood and tone for any room, send a message, change the way a space appears, alter your own mood, and make visitors feel at home. Not a lighting expert? Don’t worry, we’ve seen the light here at WRG and are here to assist you!
Soak Up the Sun: Relying on natural light definitely has some major advantages. For one, it can slash your energy costs. Secondly, vitamin D is good for you, so soak it up! If there is a room in your home that faces to the south or southwest, it will enjoy the most sunlight throughout the day. Even better news, it only takes a few simple steps to maximize the natural glow of the room.
- Use light-colored paint on the walls.
- Use light furniture.
- Strategically place mirrors to multiply the amount of sunshine that reaches the room.
These steps will help to reflect the sunshine throughout the room and light up even the darkest corners.
- Use cotton and linen curtains for your window treatments.
- Avoid heavy velvet drapes or dark colored damask treatments.
Using light material for your window treatments will give the room a lighter feel by allowing sunlight to still enter the room instead of blocking it out like heavier fabrics do. If you must have heavy window treatments to keep out the harsh elements you can face during the summer or winter, make sure you can tie or push them back to let the most light in when you want it.
If you’re thinking about renovating, perhaps you should take into consideration adding windows or glass doors to the room so you can maximize the amount of natural light that enters the room.
So Many Choices
Recessed lights, sconces, and chandeliers are examples of fixtures that produce ambient lighting, which is soft and welcoming. Ambient lighting is generally a low lighting level created by overhead fixtures by allowing light to bounce off surfaces around the room. This creates an ambience that is very different from that created by task lighting.
Your table lamp and directed lighting fixtures (task lighting) like those fitted under cabinets generally create a brighter, focused light (because they’re there for a reason). Almost all light bulbs are LED these days, which are up to 99% more efficient than the old incandescent bulbs that are being slowly phased out of circulation. These bulbs are now available in different colors that can ease the overly bright glow some people feel they produce. Try a blue-toned bulb for a softer light.
Brighten Up Your Patio: If you enjoy entertaining guests outdoors or just have a great patio that you love to wind down on, outdoor lighting is crucial to setting a mood, just as you would inside! Luckily, there are a variety of options for you to choose from…
- Tiki Lights. These can be fun, and some even come with special oils that help repel pesky insects, but they aren’t the best option if you really need to see what you’re doing, as when you’re grilling or trying to cut food on a plate.
- Hanging Lanterns. These can provide a more focused light that is still soft and inviting.
- LED and Solar Lights. These great little inventions will help to save you money when lighting the great outdoors.
- Candles. These are the best choice for setting a more intimate mood. Another advantage, candles can be combined with lanterns or even fluorescent lights to help soften the mood while still allowing you to see what you’re doing.
There are so many options when it comes to selecting lighting. It’s really up to you, but hopefully this information will help! Contact Wilson Realty Group today for assistance with all of your real estate needs!