Bright ideas: Your Home's Most Important Feature

We don't pay enough attention to the lighting in our home. Ultimately it is what makes our home inviting….. or not. Whether built in 1920 or 2020, almost all homes have insufficient lighting.

Different tasks need different light

Canned or recessed lighting on the ceiling is helpful for lighting an entire room. However, overhead lighting is not enough to help you see well. Spot lighting is crucial. Strategically placed lamps or sconces are essential to keep your eyes from straining.

Don't forget the kitchen

In our kitchen remodels, we generally recommend LED strips under the upper cabinets. This gives extra illumination for chopping, rinsing produce, and washing dishes. We also love them because they can be left on while the overhead light is off.

Lighting makes your house feel cozy

Don't forget to have a variety of light sources in each room! You may want the kitchen or living room bright for working but subtle for hanging out with family or friends. Lamps and sconces are not just for task lighting -- they can be a nice way to create a romantic mood without needing overhead lights. You may find that adding layers of lighting to each room allows you to transform them to a variety of uses.

Ambience is everywhere

There's nothing more romantic than a backyard strewn with fairy lights. These days, lighting options abound, and savvy homeowners can take advantage! Fairy lights add a magical mood to gardens, decks, and even bedrooms.

Don't forget the dimmer

We love installing dimmer switches to allow you more choices for your recessed or overhead lighting. It is a quick and easy way to create a new mood. There are many different dimmer options including voice activated dimmers and remote controlled options.

Image via @reviewed

It's all about the lightbulb

Lightbulbs can add a bright, cool tone to a room, which can be perfect for your office. Some bulbs mimic daylight and can be great to help you work. But if you find the bulbs in your house are too bright to be cozy, there are many warm tone LED bulbs that provide great light with a slight yellowish cast.

If you feel like the light in your home is too dim or, conversely, too harsh, you may just need to change the lightbulb!