6 Tips for Better Lighting

Illuminate your home with these brilliant ideas.

by Mary Best

Hoping to brighten your home’s interior? Try a few of these expert lighting solutions.

1. Double Up

View your light fixtures as both functional and beautiful. “We try to make the person look as good in the lighting as the lighting piece does itself,” says Rick Janecek, creative director and director of new product design for Global Views in Dallas. Keep in mind that lighting is more than a functional item; it’s a decorative accent as well.

2. Score with Sconces

If you want a room to seem larger, try mounting wall sconces. Decorative sconces can provide a visual point of interest, while not taking up valuable space on a table or the floor. Sconces excel at distributing light effectively by using the wall as a reflector and projecting light into the room

3. Change Shades

To freshen up a room without spending a lot of money, replace the lampshades. Dated lampshades can make both the lamp and the room look tired.  “I’m sure everyone can think of a grandmother or great-aunt who had a lot of really big, really frilly shades,” says Janecek. “That can make a room seem very old.” He advises putting a new drum shade on an existing lamp to make a great, clean statement. Just make sure the shade is in proper proportion to the lamp—for both appearance and functionality.

4. Light a Fire

To create a flattering atmosphere, illuminate a room with candlelight. “Not only is it beautiful, but it also makes people beautiful,” says Janecek. “Everybody looks better in candlelight.” Even if a room isn’t well decorated, he adds, you can dim the lights and light candles and the room will appear more impressive.

5. Go the Distance

For task lighting, position your reading lamp so the bottom of the shade is parallel to your eyes to prevent a glare, advises the American Lighting Association. And remember hallways should be lit every eight to ten feet. 

6. Let the Sun in

When selecting colors, remember to choose shades that are complementary to the cast of the sunlight where you live. For example, sunlight in a far northern climate is bluer than in warmer climates. Before you paint an interior room, review how sample paint colors look at different times of day and under different types of artificial lighting. Compare how fluorescent, incandescent and halogen lighting alter each of the paint swatches.