7 Tips For Lighting Your Apartment

By Madison White on December 19, 2016

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Most apartments come with not so ideal lighting situations, so how can you make the best of it? Often, finding the right lighting is just finding and using your resources in the best ways possible. Many lighting options are things you didn’t even really think of as lighting!

With just a few tricks and a little bit of forethought, you’ll have a wonderfully lit place that isn’t going to break the bank.

1. Replace your bulbs.

You’ll probably find that the lighting in your current apartment isn’t pretty and certainly doesn’t make you look pretty either. Many apartment complexes use CFL bulbs which are energy efficient, however, they’re often dim and unhelpful in lighting most of your apartment. If you can’t live with these, try replacing them with some warm, white incandescent LED bulbs for a fresher, brighter look for your apartment. These bulbs are also fairly energy efficient so you won’t have to worry about them racking up extra bills.

2. Use windows.

Now, if your apartment is blessed with large, natural light, then you should by all means take advantage of that. However, I’m going to assume that your apartment isn’t one that is so lucky. You may have windows, but if you’re cursed with an unsightly view, you may not be too keen on leaving your curtains open all the time.

If this is the case, you don’t want to sacrifice all of the light coming in. A good alternative is covering them with sheer white curtains that allow light through, but block the terrible view. To add more light if this isn’t enough, try lining the edges around your windows with string lights!

3. Don’t overdo it.

Something that a lot of apartments get wrong is the amount of wattage needed for lighting. Many will opt to get the most “bang for their buck” and buy the largest amount of wattage possible. However, in your apartment, you aren’t going to need a ton of light for a ton of space. It’s better to have multiple fixtures with a lower amount of wattage than one fixture with a ton. High wattage bulbs are usually best for garages, but not your living room. Most of your indoor lighting shouldn’t exceed 40 watts per bulb. Also, this helps you set a more calm and relaxing mood.

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4. Use mirrors.

People often forget that mirrors can be used as a lighting source as well. Mirrors are already a great complement to any space as they make them appear larger than they already are. However, if you’re really looking to amp up the light in your space, place your mirrors near windows so it reflects even more light into the room. You get double the benefits of your mirror and windows without paying a cent in energy costs!

5. Use your shades.

By shades I don’t mean your cool sunglasses, I mean the shades of bulbs you choose. White lights are great because they often emit the most light into a room. However, white lights also usually appear the coldest and don’t have any warmth to them. If you’re looking for something to make your room appear a little cozier, try finding bulbs that have some other color in them to tint your space. A nice yellow would probably work well for those dreary winter months.

6. Go green.

Another great way to utilize lighting in your apartment is to try and use sources that take no electricity at all. This helps your bills at the end of the month, as well as your carbon footprint. Something I love to use frequently are candles to light my space. Especially when I don’t need a ton of light to work on something, say, on my laptop, a lit candle is the perfect amount to keep my room productively lit. Not to mention that candles add a great ambiance and scent to any room. I consider it a win-win.

Be careful though, buying cheap candles may seem like a good idea, but they often burn really quickly. If you opt for something of a little bit better quality, it will last you far longer and you’ll definitely get your money’s worth out of it.

7. Three is a magic number.

If you’re having difficulty trying to figure out what goes in what room, try and remember the rule of threes. Most rooms will have three types of lighting: general lighting (overhead or large space/floor lamps), specific (table and desk lamps), and mood (usually string lights or candles). If you try and keep a balance like this, you’re not going to feel overwhelmed or reliant on one type of lighting and can switch up the space depending on your activities.

You don’t need to be a master electrician to nail the lighting situation in your apartment, just a few key tips and a little ingenuity.

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