The chances are high that it’s a lighting issue. Lighting sets the tone, pulls focus, inspires intimacy, and encourages grand gestures, sometimes doing this all at once to let all your imagination go wild. The right lighting can make a space sing, and a room is not complete until you light it up.
Lighting with Intention
Decide how you want a room to feel, and let that dictate your lighting approach. Bedrooms and living spaces, for example, should feature warm and natural light to enhance that relaxing, cozy atmosphere. Bright and cool lights promote alertness and are better suited to kitchens or office areas.
Layering your lighting — bringing together overhead lights, lamps, accent lighting, or a mix of all — helps create rich, full spaces, and allows you to alter the mood throughout the day if that is what you want.
Layering: The Unsung Hero of Great Design
Just like an all-beige bedroom can look like someone’s cleaned-up memory, so too can one single bright light source turn an otherwise charming den into a low-key interrogation room. Imagine the soft light that comes from a kitchen’s hanging pendant lamps and underneath-the-counter lighting, layered within the cozy glow from a nearby tableside lamp.
Each layer brings something to the table, the spaces becoming brighter and better, and enhancing the vibe as you want. Spice up a tucked-away corner with strategic lighting — think floor and table lamps, or statement sconces — that calls attention to the area you want to celebrate and enjoy.
Lighting as Décor
Lighting is equal parts look and feel. We’re in a new era of lighting styles, so get in on it. Think renewable rattan shades, brass arms, handmade ceramics, paper lanterns, and different colors, shapes, and styles. This is where brands like Serena & Lily come in. Their lighting pieces are refined, light, and breezy.
Their collection is an easy and oh-so-calming coastal aesthetic, yet rich enough for any decor. Whether you’re aiming for organic or streaming light options, lighting is a fun and expressive way to get more of you in your home.
Spotlight What You Love
Use your lighting to guide the eye to special areas of your room. An archway, a bookshelf, a piece of art, or a textured wall can become more important when lit correctly.
Wall washers or directional spotlights help you see your home in a different light and can spotlight everyday items, making them feel almost museum-worthy. They also create interest through contrast. You can make a room feel busier, without adding more, by simply changing the lighting in that room.
Go Seasonal with It
Like bed linens or throw pillows, your lighting should defer to the season. Bright, white light, for example, simulates sunlight, so it’s ideal to have around in the darker winter months. Soft and warm light, on the other hand, in late summer nights is pure magic.
You can change your light bulb, tint, or add dimmers to achieve a different vibe in the same room. Your house can work for you instead of passively doing nothing, and it’s super fun to see.
Mood-Lifting and Mind-Shifting Magic
Great lighting is magical and a game-changer. We’re not just talking about a shift in ambiance, although your home will suddenly feel cozier, more welcoming, and more lived in with the right ambiance. However, we’re talking about a full-on perspective adjustment. It’s like working out, but this is much easier, and your home will look and feel better, even though you hardly broke a sweat.
