Lighting often gets relegated to the end of the home design priority list. If you're a renter, re-wiring automatically gets left out of the equation. And even if you're a homeowner, the cost might so prohibitive that it gets left for "later". However, there are several budget friendly lighting solutions you can bring into your home. These will work to create ambience in any room, especially those darker nooks. We've tried them all in the apartments we've worked on with great results!

Nothing will make your home look more like a dorm than leaving in fluorescent light fixtures. Switch them out and keep the light coming from three different sources: general, task and accent. Always make sure you keep some near task oriented spaces, like by the bed for reading. That way you won't ever have to stand up to switch off your central lights if you don't want to. One caveat: never place lights near the TV to avoid glare.

It does happen: you might be faced with a room in your home with no overhead light fixtures. If you're a renter and don't want to hang one, go with floor lamps. If you're looking for soft, diffused lighting, go with a lamp with a light shade, preferably one in a lighter color. If you're more in need of task lighting, you can opt for solid shades to direct the light specifically where you need it to.

The lights in your home should make your space feel inviting. If you're torn about whether to choose clear or more yellow bulbs, go for yellow. Softer yellow light even sends signals to your body to relax for better sleep at night, plus they mimic natural light better than any other bulb. If you're not sure about which bulbs to pick, go for the ones that mark lowest on the Kelvin scale. Their boxes usually come marked with this information. 2600K to 2700K range bulbs are ideal.

If your apartment is short on space, go for suspended pendant lights. The multiple levels on pendants shine light in different directions, making them especially useful in darker rooms. Classic chandeliers and modern bulb pendants work best. Choose the style that better reflects your personality!

There's not much you can do to increase the amount of natural light coming into your home without undertaking some serious remodeling. However, you can make the most out of the available light by using mirrors. We recommend going with an oversized version, and placing them on the wall next to or opposite a window. When placed adjacent, a mirror will mimic the window and make it seem like you have more of them. When placed opposite, the mirror will reflect outside light and multiply its effect.

If you're not sure about how to better light up your new home, book an appointment with us! Our interior design services are completely free with your lighting purchase. We'll gladly take a look at your space and recommend the best fixtures and decor to suit your taste. It will be fast, easy and fun!