Light has way more of an impact in our homes than we might realize. It’s not just a case of turning the overhead light on and hoping for the best. While this works, in that you can see what you’re doing, it’s not the best option for every situation. These lights tend to be harsh and can make a home feel cold or overly bright.

Most rooms have a lot of different sources of light. Using them wisely can make your house feel much more like a home.

‘The big light’

The overhead light, otherwise known as the ‘big light’ or the ‘main light’ is the most obvious option to light a room. It’s bright, it’s easy, and it works. 

But sometimes you want a room to have more depth, to feel more cozy, or to have a different kind of brightness. If you still like the idea of a one-switch option, consider a dimmer light where you can change the brightness. This means you can switch it on fully when you need to, but you can also turn it down in the evening for mood lighting.

Additional sources of light

Light and shadows tend to play around more when you have different sources of light. This can be why a room looks flat and empty with just one light source.

Add some lamps and smaller lights to the room. As well as giving you a less dramatic option than the single, powerful, overhead light, this can add some extra dimensions to the room.

Playing with natural light

Another source of light that should absolutely go in your home is natural sunlight. This is by far the best and most flattering source of light and it can make a room feel light and airy, rather than oppressive and clinical light bright artificial lights.

It’s best if you’re able to control natural light. There are a few ways to do this. Blinds and curtains clock out light and, especially blinds, can be altered to let in small amounts of light or light in patterns. This means you get the best of both worlds.

Light gause curtains are another good way to control natural light, as they diffuse it as it comes into your home. This gives you a nice bright room, but without the harsh sunlight or the lack of privacy an open blind provides.

Mirrors and light

Mirrors can be a surprisingly good way to brighten up a home, because they reflect light and can “bounce” it through your home. 

Blocking out light

Finally, while we love light, sometimes you want to block it out completely, even natural light. Blackout blinds and curtains are great for nighttime when you want to sleep, and if you want even more security and more of a blockage, you can always use roller shutters. These also provide UV protection, which is great if you get a lot of sunlight and want to protect your furniture from the UV rays.