How to Use Lighting to Make Your Room Bigger, Brighter, and Prettier

There are many ways to design and furnish a room that makes it look bigger and brighter than it really is. A lot of these techniques involve selecting the use of mirrors, or the right kind of furniture, wallpaper, and flooring. However, one other way to make your rooms look much more amazing is through the use of proper lighting.

Good lighting can either make or break the aesthetic in a room. Too little and a room will feel dark and gloomy. Too much and it can be overwhelming for one's senses. These days there are so many creative and modern ways to add lighting to your room, including recessed ceiling lights, dimmable floor lamps, classic Tiffany lamps, and much more.

That said, there are some common tips and tricks to giving your room that perfect level of lighting. And that's exactly what we're going to be exploring in this article.

1. Start With Color

Before you begin canvassing and purchasing a set of light fixtures, first have a look at the room or rooms that you want to brighten.

Darker colors, for example, tend to absorb light, whereas lighter colors will reflect them. Are your walls and floors covered in darker or lighter shades? Granted, repainting your walls and floors white takes a lot of effort. However, there are some quick and easy fixes you can do, such as:

A. Buy a bright-colored rug

A bright rug isn't nearly as costly or expensive as changing the tiles and flooring in your home. Colorful carpets can definitely brighten up a room that doesn't get much natural light, while plain white ones will be able to reflect a lot of light around the room.

Additionally, bright-colored furniture is also a good way to balance out a dark room. Because dark rooms tend to feel a bit cozy, adding a set of white chairs, sofas, and cushions can instantly liven them up a bit more.

B. Install a large, decorative mirror

One other way to have light circulate around the area is through the use of mirrors. Mirrors not only help make your room look brighter, but also bigger. The illusion can help give a room a great sense of depth and space.

C. Hang Vibrant Art Pieces

One way to give those dark walls a little more pop is by hanging a couple of photographs or paintings. The contrast can help brighten the room, even if your photos are merely in black and white. Because they stand out, these pieces can also become focal points in your room, making for good conversation.

2. Dimmable Lights Can Help Set the Mood

The best thing about dimmable floor lamps, desk lamps, and ceiling lights is that they can be adjusted for different times of the day. Again, when it comes to using lighting to give your room that striking beauty, it's all about finding balance.

If your windows face either the east or west, for example, there will be specific times throughout the day when they'll receive a lot of natural light, and times when they won't. Dimmable lights can help balance and even out the light in the room.

3. Stick to LED Bulbs

The main problem with fluorescent light bulbs is that they tend to cast a somewhat green hue that may not work well with the lighting and aesthetic in your room. They also tend to be a bit hazy and look decidedly unnatural.

For that reason, stick to LED bulbs. They're not only more energy efficient compared to fluorescent bulbs, but they're also cleaner and more consistent in terms of the light they give off.

4. Choose the Most Flattering Light Temperature

Do you prefer a warmer, yellowish light surrounding your room, or a cooler bluish one? The color temperature of light is dependent on what are called Kelvins. Simply put, Kelvins are the primary unit of temperature in the International System of Units (SI).

In terms of lighting, they measure the color temperature of light. The warmer the light, the lower the Kelvin number. The higher the Degrees Kelvin, the whiter the light appears.

Generally speaking, most interior designers and lighting designers will say that the most flattering lights are those with a color temperature of 2700 Kelvins. This color temperature would fit perfectly in your bedroom and living room.

However, there are certain areas that you might also want a whiter, more neutral light, such as in the kitchen and bathroom. Determining the right color of your cooking ingredients is important, after all.

Mix Up Your Lighting

Proper and balanced lighting can really help set the stage for any room. We recommend experimenting with various light fixtures and lamps. If you're looking to browse through dimmable floor lamps, torchiere lamps, or arc lamps, have a look through our selection. We have some amazing modern, multi-functional lights that can help brighten your room and your display.