There are many areas that people think of when they’re considering upgrading their home. Usually at the top of the list, of course, people think of the kitchen and bathrooms, flooring, paint, landscaping, pool, etc. These are all worthwhile investments of both your time and your money, and for good reason. One often overlooked improvement, however, is your home’s lighting. This is a big, broad topic because it encompasses your entire home. From the exterior to the interior, from the garage to the pantry and closets. It ranges from task lighting to accent and pathway lighting, and even ambient lighting, which serves no actual purpose other than to make you feel a certain way. Some might ask why additional lighting even matters as long as you have the light that you “need”. Well, I will tell you that lighting is important for many reasons that go far beyond having sufficient light to see what you’re doing. Task lighting is essential, of course, but lighting also creates ambiance and sets the mood. It can be both inviting and a deterrent for those inclined to snoop. Lighting enhances architectural beauty, highlights prominent features, and creates visual space. With all of the many projects I have built, none of them is complete until the lighting is done, and it’s usually one of my favorite features.
Before we dive too deep into all of the ways you can enhance the exterior of your home with lighting, it’s also important to consider a variable that surpasses architectural enhancement, pathway lighting, and all of the other fun things. The simple fact is that homes that are well-lit outside are about half as likely to be burglarized or vandalized. Dark homes are considered “soft targets,” and with 65% of home burglaries happening between 6 pm and 6am, this makes a lot of sense. Bright motion sensor lights are known to deter criminals and also make it easier for cameras to show what’s happening.
Now that we’ve determined that safety is paramount, let’s talk about how lighting brings us the guests we want! It is so inviting to pull up to a home that has beautifully lit, enchanting pathways, trees with uplighting that create drama and intrigue, and a subtle glow across the yard that makes you want to come in and see the rest of the house. This is a great selling feature, which is why we use twilight photography in all of our listings to showcase it. Outback, hang Edison-type string lights that give off that warm amber glow, and place uplighting strategically on your plants and trees, and on structural pillars of a gazebo or pergola. Then set your lighting timer to go on at dusk and turn off at dawn, or bedtime in the back. When your lights turn on, your yard will be transformed from a dark void into a magical, glowing wonderland.
Inside your home, you’ll find countless ways to upgrade your lighting, but first, we need to address lighting color. There are three primary colors of the lighting you can buy. First is soft white, which is a warm, yellowish light. Next is bright white, which is still on the warmer end of the color scale, but it doesn’t appear yellow and is, as it says, brighter. At the other end of the light spectrum is what’s called daylight white. This is a very white light, and it can almost look fluorescent or sterile. Of the three, regardless of aesthetic style, I think bright white is the best choice. It gives the truest color rendering without making things look too yellow or too clinical.
Now for the fun part. First, ceiling can lights are pretty much standard these days in kitchens and hallways, but for large spaces like living rooms and master bedrooms, can lights are essential for everyday living. Chandeliers and pendant lights are great accents and can be turned on in lieu of the can lights for a more subdued or romantic mood. Lighting under and even on top of your cabinets not only gives you a great task light, but it also brightens the surfaces and makes the kitchen feel larger and more open. In some newer and more modern homes, you might see toe-kick lighting in kitchens and bathrooms, which lights up the floors around the cabinets. This creates a very nice glow and makes it feel like the cabinets are almost floating.
Sconce lights on the sides of mirrors in the bathrooms can be a very nice upgrade from the builder-basic globe lighting, and can also be used to frame a nice piece of art or fill out a large wall. One last little tip would be to put your home onto a smart lighting system, and this allows you to dim, set moods, and schedule your lighting according to whatever program you want. All of this, with the simple click of a button or announcement to Alexa!
The truth is, there are endless possibilities for what you can do with lighting, so if you’re considering upgrading your home and want to talk about the improvements you could make in your lighting, please give me a call, and I’d be happy to walk through your home with you and give you some ideas. As always, my consults are free of charge… I just love helping people improve their home :)