Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Interior Lighting

Good lighting is everything and makes all the difference in any size room. If your space is feeling cramped, gloomy or dull one of the easiest ways to fix this without redesigning the entire interior, is to reconstruct the overall atmosphere by adding the right types of lighting.

Turn your room from drab to fab with these simple and inexpensive ways to boost your interior lighting and make your home feel more inviting and charming.

Choose the right shade - or no shade at all

Finding the right light starts with picking the perfect shade, as they can make or break the aesthetic. With so many choices though, this can be easier said than done. If you're aiming for a more subdued environment with decorative accent lighting, an opaque shade in a dark colour will work just fine. To really open up the space while at the same time serving a practical purpose, go with a white shade or something completely transparent to let more light through and create cooler toned illumination.

Mix it up

Layering the lighting in a space is key to an effective design, especially in larger spaces. This technique adds more dimension and makes the space appear warmer and brighter. It also bounces illumination throughout the room and eliminates shadows that can sometimes appear in dark corners. Typically, it involves a mix of different categories of lighting including task, ambient and accent lighting.

Task lighting is practical, such as a bedside reading lamp or the bathroom vanity light, ambient lighting is the foundational illumination present in every room such as recessed lighting or ceiling fan lighting, and accent lighting is not necessarily functional but instead it serves as decoration, adding to the overall style of the room. Neglecting one of these styles in a room is often the reason why a room may feel dreary or dull. Using all three of these approaches simultaneously helps to create a well lit room that not only feels cosy, but also works as a functional space.

Match your lighting to your decor

If your lighting doesn’t match the style of your home, it can throw the whole room off. Lighting should complement your interior design. For rooms with a lot going on, pick more subtle fixtures that still provide a functional purpose but don’t take away from the overall aesthetic. If you have an extravagant lighting fixture, make it the centerpiece of the room and choose furniture that plays to the flashiness without distracting too much from it.

Make use of high ceilings with hanging fixtures

Chandeliers are a great way to spice up the current lighting in any room. Whether you’re looking to add a dramatic touch to your grand dining room with a crystal chandelier or want to ditch the traditional bedside table lamps and install pendant lighting above your bed, hanging fixtures can make all the difference. This solution is also a great way to save space and take advantage of high ceilings, especially in small cramped rooms, making it seem much larger and less crowded.

Update old light fixtures

Has the current lighting in your home been there since the 70’s? Outdated lighting can change the entire aura of a room. Get rid of that dingy old brass pendant and replace it with something that speaks to the 21st century. Opt for eye-catching lighting with a crystal chandelier or go with something more low key and sleek with a glass pendant light.

Play with height

Make use of wasted wall space by installing stylish, functional wall lights to brighten up your space. Less harsh than your typical lamp or chandelier, wall lights bring a soft glow to the space and help to create a comfortable and relaxing setting to easily unwind in. Wall lights work well in dark narrow spaces, such as hallways and entryways to create a welcoming environment, or can be used as secondary accent illuminations in larger areas or to highlight artwork.

Make the switch to LED lights

There’s no excuse not to be using LED lighting when selecting light globes for your home. Up to 80% more efficient than fluorescent and incandescent lights, 95% of the energy in LEDs is converted into light and only 5% is wasted as heat. Less energy means less greenhouse gas emissions making these globe alternatives much better for the environment. They also contain no toxic elements, where alternatives sometimes contain mercury that can contaminate the environment when broken or disposed of.

LED lights also have a longer lifespan, lasting up to six times as long as other light globes. A longer life not only means reduced replacements, but also lower carbon emissions. LED lights also provide better light quality distribution meaning less LED lights are needed to achieve a similar level of brightness. 

Light up dark corners

With awkward, empty corners comes challenges on ways you make use of the wasted space. One of the easiest ways you can transform a small, shaded area is by adding a wall light or large standing lamp. This will immediately bring light to the space and eliminate the darkness.

Maximise natural light

Bring on the natural light. If your room is embellished with large windows, take advantage of this! Keep your windows sparkly clean and avoid dark window hangings, instead choosing something more sheer and transparent. Natural light not only keeps your room feeling bright and airy, but it can also provide serious benefits to your well-being and health.

Incorporate reflective surfaces

Is your room incredibly small or lacking natural light? An easy way to fix this is by utilising mirrors or reflective surfaces to bounce natural light around, giving the illusion of a bigger, brighter room. Big or small, a mirror can go a long way when it comes to generating more light and a deceivingly larger space.

For unique lighting options that you can utilise in your home, shop with Ivory & Deene. From sleek pendant lights to grand chandeliers, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect fixture to help solve your current interior lighting dilemmas.