Ever get the feeling that your home doesn’t quite feel finished, no matter what you do? Like there’s something amiss you can’t quite put your finger on? For a lot of people, the missing connection is lighting.
Lighting that’s been treated as an afterthought, not as part of the design and style, leads to things feeling flat, looking unfinished and letting the vibe down entirely. However, it’s not a complete write-off. All you need is some lighting tweaks in places that enhance your home, pull it all together and finally give you that a-ha moment you’ve been looking for.
LED Strip Lighting
This is the perfect lighting for any space where you need discreet options but still want dynamic illumination. You don’t necessarily see the fitting, but you can see the effect. Without it being too intense or obtrusive.
Run them under kitchen cabinets to light up worktops or properly so you’re not blocking the ambience in kitchen lighting when you’re preparing dinner. Sit LED strip lights inside alcoves and shelving to create an even glow that gives a backflow to whatever sits in these spaces to highlight them. You can add strip light behind headboards, on stairs, under cabinets and behind TV and media units. They add that soft vibe without being harsh like overhead lighting can be.
Wall Lights
Wall lights are practical in spaces where you can’t have or don’t want lamps, and overhead ceiling lighting isn’t enough, and they’re ideal for smaller spaces too.
Add wall lights above shelving, above pictures or art, hang them on either side of your bed, along hallways to spread light more evenly than one central light source, or at even points up staircases. They’re a feasible, space-saving option that really helps you add depth and character to any space.
Floor Lamps
Floor lamps work best in corners that would otherwise stay dark. Pop one behind an armchair in a reading corner. Place it next to an armchair or even hang it over a desk. Not only does it create the perfect glow for reading or working, but it also stops the room from feeling flat and one-dimensional.
Table Lamps
Pretty self-explanatory, but you should never underestimate the power a table lamp can have on your whole vibe. Even when turned off. They bring balance to a room, and you can place them on desks, sideboards, bedside tables or anywhere you want softer lighting and something pretty to look at.
And when you’re looking at how to layer lighting in a room, any room, they’re your go-to and add a more understated lighting choice wherever you place them.
Ceiling Pendants
Now, ceiling lights get a lot of hate, but when styled with the rest of the room and other options, they are not the enemy. The trick is to not over-rely on them. An angle pendant in the centre of the room isn’t what you need.
Instead, choose your ceiling pendants in conjunction with other lighting and décor choices. The aim is for them to be deliberate, not an afterthought. Add a dramatic ceiling light over a dining table, hang a dropped pendant light over a breakfast bar from a high ceiling, and for lower ceilings or smaller rooms, choose plush options that give out warm, not harsh, white light. You’ll notice the difference instantly.
