Find your home dark and dingy for too much of the average day? Then why not brighten up the place with some brand new home lighting options.
If you live in a cramped, small home that doesn’t always let in enough light, you might find yourself starting to get depressed about it pretty quickly – after all, plenty of scientists support the idea that natural light boosts happiness and self-esteem, and being deprived this vital human resource can leave you feeling a bit blue and down in the dumps. Plus homes that don’t have enough light can look smaller than they actually are, as well as looking dingy, uncomfortable and claustrophobic – hardly a welcoming environment for any sort of family occasion.
Fortunately, there is a solution – just add some new light fixtures and fittings in the rooms that lack access to any natural light! These days there are a range of different styles, designs and levels of brightness for almost any room in the home – so what else is there to think about?
Lighting a Particular Room
Before purchasing any new lights you should spare a bit of time to take the room in at all hours of the day – from lunchtime to evening and well into the night, you need to get an idea of how much light actually penetrates the room and where it is most needed. You should also think about what the room is used for and how regularly it needs some kind of bright light source, and whether or not mirrors or other reflective surfaces will affect the addition of extra light sources.
Choosing Fixtures and Fittings
Next, you need to think about the best location for your new light fittings. Are there things in the way, such as wall brackets or large pieces of furniture? Do you need extra plug sockets or an extension lead to accommodate your new lights? If it’s a small room, you’ll also need to make sure there are enough fittings in place and that the additional lights won’t make the place appear to cramped and squashed.
Types of Home Lights
Finally, it’s time to pick out the new lighting models that are right for you. There are a wide range of fixtures to choose from these days – from dimmer switches, fluorescent tubing and halogen spotlights to grand chandeliers, cosy lamps or even additional skylights – that you might feel a bit overwhelmed at first, but take the time to look through every magazine, home improvement brochure and online gallery to get a good idea of what you like.
You’ll also need to budget beforehand to make sure you can afford the lighting fixtures, and then see if the models or lamps you pick out fit neatly with the overall décor of your home, or at least the room in question. After that, just make sure you get things fitted by a fully qualified electrician and you’ll have the new lights up and running in no time – so you won’t have to worry about sitting in a dull, dark room any longer.
image credit: homedecorationconcepts.com
