8 Solutions to Brighten Rooms with Poor Lighting

When it comes to getting a good night’s rest, the darker your room, the better. Light can actually disturb your circadian rhythm by disrupting the brain’s production of melatonin, which can lead to medical issues, such as depression, obesity and cardiovascular disease. But, what if your room is dark all the time, even during the day? This is a common problem for homeowners and it’s one that’s difficult to fix because the typical causes—such as windows that are shaded by outside trees, windows facing north or having too few windows—require structural changes and major renovations. Lightening up a dark and gloomy room can instantly make it more appealing, but if adding windows or remodeling isn’t an option, never fear. Here are eight easy design solutions that will brighten up a room with poor lighting. 

1. Add Extra Lighting

If your room isn’t receiving enough natural light from your windows, then the easiest thing for you to do is to provide more light for yourself. Unfortunately, you can’t just place a lamp anywhere in the room and consider the job done. Having only a single source of light can create shadows. Instead, add two or three additional light fixtures to thoroughly illuminate your space and avoid casting shadows. If it’s your bedroom that has poor lighting, start with placing a lamp on your nightstand or mount a light fixture to the wall near your bed. If you share your bed, put a light on both sides. Add a floor lamp and install a ceiling fan with a light fixture if you can as this offers the benefit of a brighter and more comfortable room. Avoid large, heavy light fixtures as they can make a room feel dark and heavy. 

2. Paint the Ceiling White

Painting your ceiling white can not only make a room feel taller and larger, but it can also make it feel brighter and more open. The key is to make sure that you’re using the correct shade of white. If you really want to brighten a dark room, make sure you use the clearest, truest, brightest white you can find and avoid cream, ivory and off-white colors. 

3. Use Mirrors

Many people don’t realize this, but mirrors are actually perfect for brightening dark rooms. The best practice is to hang your mirror directly across from the windows to reflect as much natural light as possible around your space. If you can’t do this because of the way your windows are positioned in the room, don’t worry. No matter where you place your mirrors in a room, they can help open up any space. 

4. Swap Out Window Treatments

Window treatments are a must for any room, but if your goal is to brighten up an already dark space, then you’ll want to avoid heavy blinds and shades that are intended to filter or block out natural light. Instead, opt for window treatments that are light and sheer and can be easily lowered for privacy at night. Roman shades are a great option for this purpose. If you have small children or pets, consider having cordless blinds installed to keep them safe and prevent choking. 

5. Choose the Right Color

If you’re going to paint the walls in your room, then it’s important to select the right color. In a dark and dreary room with little natural light, the color you choose will make a tremendous difference in how bright and open the room feels. Avoid dark or rich tones and opt for lighter, paler shades that will reflect the room’s artificial light and make your space feel brighter and larger. Pastel shades, such as mint, mauve, lavender, periwinkle and butter work well for this purpose and also create a soothing and soft atmosphere. 

6. Add Contrast

If you aren’t careful, your furniture, bedding and accessories can disappear in a dark space. Add contrast to your room by replacing your overstuffed and heavy furniture with lighter pieces that have a medium finish and swapping out your existing bedding and accessories with something new in a color that compliments the color of your walls but gives enough contrast so that they don’t vanish into the gloom. 

7. Lighten Up Dark Floors

Don’t forget about your floors! Flooring can set the tone for an entire room. A dark floor can make a room feel small and heavy, while a lighter colored floor can open it up. If you can’t refinish or replace your dark flooring, then the best way to brighten up this space is by putting down a light-toned area rug. It can be solid or patterned, as long as the overall color scheme is light enough to bring instant brightness to your space. 

8. Add Greenery

When it comes to compensating for a lack of natural light, using natural elements—such as potted plants and flowers—can help transform even the most cave-like room into a brighter and more cheerful space. Choose pots in bold, vibrant colors to display your flowers and greenery and make sure to use plants that thrive in low light, such as ferns, pothos or spider plants, so they don’t die on you. If you’re not a plant person and prefer something low-maintenance and easy to care for, artificial plants are a great alternative. 

Final Thoughts

Just to be clear—a room that doesn’t receive a lot of natural light isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It stays a lot cooler in the summer than rooms with a lot of windows do and you’re less likely to be awakened by the glaring sun when you want to sleep in on the weekend. However, a lack of light can make a space feel dark, gloomy and uninviting. If remodeling isn’t an option, try these eight tips to improve the brightness of your room.

Guest Post - How the right light can increase productivity when working from home.

The amount of daylight each day can really make all the difference to how productive or unproductive we are! While many of us are aware that the weather can really affect the way we feel, fewer appreciate the impact that different lighting can have on us generally – and particularly on how well we work from home.

Light can really affect how we feel and can lift our mood, making us confident and optimistic or it can pull our spirits down making us sluggish and lethargic This of course, will in turn affect how well we perform and how well we can concentrate. Office designers have long appreciated the impact that good and bad lighting has on staff, their happiness in the work environment and importantly, the level of their productivity.

Why is good interior lighting important?

If you are working remotely from home, the indoor lighting that you have in your work space is very important and should be evaluated. If you have good lighting that is comfortable to work in during office hours and is of the right color temperature, you are going to enjoy your work more, achieve more and feel greater satisfaction. This is a win-win situation! 

How it affects your ‘body clock’

The importance of good lighting is linked to our internal body clocks which are very light sensitive. Our body clocks are known as circadian rhythms and they ensure that we wake up approximately the same time every morning and fall asleep the same time at night too. This body clock is very sensitive so it can easily get ‘thrown out’ when the clocks change altering the hours of daylight and darkness. Those who do night shifts for work such as medical staff and other night workers find it incredibly hard to get to sleep during the day. After a while, however, their body adapts.

Does the type of lighting matter?

The type of light that you have in your workspace is very important. If you have lights with a soft golden glow, the chances are you will be struggling to concentrate after a while. Your body has interpreted the cosy lighting to be a signal to relax. In contrast, if the lighting is cool, clear and bright, your brain will immediately go into ‘work mode’ with all neurons ready for action!

Scientists and researchers have run many tests to establish if there is a link between the type of lighting and the level of productivity. They found that 26%-28% of workers did not feel as tired as their levels of melatonin were suppressed by the bright light. A similar percentage were definitely feeling more alert. Importantly, there was a nearly 20% increase in their levels of productivity. Another interesting observation recorded by the researchers was that the staff members found that they were not reaching for snack foods as readily. Perhaps the level of snacking can be determined by lighting?

Is there an easy solution?

If you are working from home, it is well worth assessing your lighting situation. Even if your home is a rental property, it is fairly easy to adjust the lighting to ensure that the color temperature of the lights is an optimal level. The great news is that you will notice the difference they make in just days. What you need to assess is the Kelvin measurement (k). This is a numerical measurement of the color emitted by light. When the lights are on, they emit tomes of different colors. This measurement is normally labeled on the box your lights come in. It is sometimes marked on the light bulb itself depending on the brand.

If you have a light bulb that is covering the area in a warm golden glow, it probably has a low Kelvin reading of 2000k - 4000k. If the lighting is bright and cool it is probably mid-range at 4000k - 5500k. Finally, if the lighting is really bright and has a strong blue hue, you have got light with the highest measurement of 5500k - 7000k. 4000k - 5000k is typically the most common for a work environment but there is no hard and fast rule as to which type will work best for you. A little experimentation will soon indicate which lighting ensures you are in a productive mood and not dozing off.

Here's to productive days ahead!

A simple solution to the problem is to have a light study run for your space. Particularly if you have an in home office, workshop or garage, this can be a surefire way to pick the best lighting. LED shop lighting can be an ideal fit for any work area attached to your house, but perhaps recessed lighting is the way to go in your space. A light study can help you determine the best solution for your unique space to fulfill your unique needs. Will all your new found productivity, hopefully a nice bonus will be on it’s way!

Author Bio: Shaimaa Mortada is an expert marketer, author. And she has helped business owners achieve their exposure with marketing strategies. She enjoys writing and making an impact in the digital world.

Guest Post - 6 Tips On Properly Lighting Your Study

All rooms need to have some sort of light for you to function in, especially when it comes to the place where you study, or just relax from a hard-day’s work and dabble on a hobby. In that case, study or work rooms should be well-lit at all times, so that you won’t strain yourself from having to squint in a dim or dark setting, and cause you to have headaches. 

Here are six tips for lightening up a study or work room properly.

Table/Desk Lamps

“There are many table and desk lamps on the market that are both fashionable and functional,” says Tyrone Fish, a lifestyle blogger at Essayroo and State of writing. “Choosing a lamp depends on what kind of study or work room that you want to put it in. In other words, whatever acquires your personality and taste, go with it.”

As an added bonus, most lamps let you adjust the lighting, depending on what you’re doing.

“Some lamps are adjustable to where you can move the neck or head in almost any angle that you want to illuminate in your room,” adds Fish. “Or, some lamps let you lower the light to where it doesn’t interfere with sleep. Remember – only you know your preferred lighting; and, reputable sites like BlackMango can help you find the right lamp for you.”

Installing A Cool, Overhead Light

When the sun is out during the day, it can be really bright; but at sundown, the sunlight isn’t as bright, naturally hinting that your body has to go to bed. This is especially true with room lighting – you’ll need to have the place bright in order to work, or else the low lighting will make you fall asleep. And yes, low lighting will cause you to fall asleep, when you try to cram a few extra hours of studying before a big test, or typing up an essay at night. 

Therefore, a cool, overhead light is what you need. “Cool” bulbs light up bright and white, while old bulbs give off “warm” light, which is yellowish like sunset in the evenings. 

Minimal Interior Design

Oddly enough, a clean and tidy workspace makes the room appear brighter and larger, in comparison to a crammed room which can make it look dingy and tight. In other words, it’s best to have good housekeeping practices for your study or work room to make the place look brighter. Even minimizing the litter of papers and books can make a huge difference in your room. 

Have Wall Lamps

Wall-mounted lamps are ideal for people who love to read books and magazines in bed, or for those who can’t have a desk or table in the room. A mounted lamp will not only save you space in the room, but can also give you light in places where you would love to have it at (like the bed example).

All you have to do is install the wall lamp on either the headboard or the wall, and it can be adjusted to target light in the direction of your magazine or book, or bedside table.

Have Soft Colors

Soft colors can make your room brighter, making it ideal for study and work rooms. However, if you’re into dark colors, be prepared to accommodate for the lack of brightness with lamps or other artificial lighting. The takeaway here is that soft colors, with their bright appearance, may help you to stay awake longer than dark colors. 

Natural Light

“Natural lighting is considered the best type of lighting for almost any room,” says Jeremy Camm, a design blogger at Australian help and Paper fellows. “And, the best part is that it doesn’t cost you anything. Natural light gives you that needed sense of positivity, and doesn’t strain your eyes as much as artificial lighting does whenever you read or writing. Although this is a huge benefit for daytime people instead of night owls, it still doesn’t hurt to have your desk next to the window, and sit in natural lighting every once in a while.”

Conclusion

So, why suffer from reading in a dim setting, when you can treat yourself to a well-lit study? Instead of having eyestrain and headaches, why not incorporate appropriate and adequate lighting in your study? Trust us – your body and mind will thank you for it. 

Author Bio: Molly Crockett writes amazing articles for UK writings and Boom essays. In her spare time, she is an online writing consultant for Academized. As a marketing writer, she shares her unique lifestyle tips and personal development advice with her audience.

Guest Post - How to Brighten Up Your Home with Light Fixture Arrangements

The English say that their home is their castle, but that saying goes for everyone. You feel cozy, safe and relaxed at home. You are house proud and you do everything to make your home more pleasant and comfortable.

But sometimes you have to deal with issues such as poor natural light, making your house dark. Since light is not only a basic necessity but a proven mood booster, you should do everything you can to bright up your home.

Various light fixture arrangements can bring not just more light, but also a stylish look to your home. Here are various ways in which you can install them around your house:

1. Make Everyone Feel Welcome from the Front Door

Many people place a mat with the word “Welcome” written on it in front of their door. But you can take things a bit further with a neon sign that spells the word. 

Of course, some people appreciate discretion. Thus, you can simply place a regular light fixture that helps your house guests find the doorbell in the evening. To save energy, you can add a motion detector that turns on the light for about half a minute, enough for your guest to ring the bell and walk inside the house.

2. Showcase Your Favorite Decorations

Everyone has a favorite paining, statuette or trinket that they proudly display in the living room. It may have sentimental value, or you just love the way it looks. Thus, you want it to stand out and become a focal visual point in the room.

You can easily do that with a clever light fixture arrangement. With a bit of planning, you can create a wonderful play of lights and shadows that make the decoration stand out and look its best.

3. No More Dark Corridors

Corridors and hallways are a problem in every home. They usually do not have any source of natural light, except for when the doors to the rooms are open. This can be a problem for small children and elderly people who are generally more prone to accidents in the house.

You can solve this problem with a few light fixture arrangements. Place them in strategic points to provide as much light to the corridor without using too much electricity. With a little creative touch, these neon lights can actually double up as decorations for the corridor.

4. Have One on the House

For some time, it is fashionable to have a mini-bar in the house. It makes sense for people with children – they keep all the alcoholic drinks in one place, away from the little ones.

Usually, the mini-bar is place in a corner, out of the way. This area may need supplementary lighting, especially if you are trying your drink mixing skills. With a simple light fixture arrangement, you will get the desired effect, with minimum costs.

5. Add a Bit of Color to Your Home

Colored neon lights can brighten up your home with a simple click on a switch. You can turn your living room either in a romantic setting for dinner or a cheerful lounge for a party with friends simply by changing the lighting.

However, you should be careful about selecting the colors for each room. Colors have a direct effect on mood and state of mind. Thus:

• Red and orange – these are colors that inspire energy and even hunger. They are ideal for the kitchen, but not for the living room;

• Blue and purple – these colors help the mind focus. You should use them for your home office;

• Green and lavender inspire a refreshed and tranquil state of mind. It is a great choice for the den and the bedroom;

• Yellow is a happy color. Many parents choose it for the nursery and the children’s study room.

6. Create a Reading Corner

Many people enjoy sitting in a comfortable armchair with a good book and a delicious cup of coffee or tea. The reading corner is their private sanctuary. And they manage to have it, even in a small house.

You can create yours, too. Your favorite armchair and a light fixture to provide adequate lighting to read, placed next to the bookcase, will help you spend a few quiet hours every day and escape into the fantasy world of books.

7. Personalize Your Den

At the end of a busy day of work and spending time with the family, some people want a few quiet moments alone. If you are one of them, you probably have a den – a small room where you can practice your hobbies.

This is, probably, the room that best represent you. You surround yourself with all the things you like. You can take your interior decorations further with creative light fixtures. Colored neon signs shaped as the logo of your favorite sports team or music band, focus lighting on your own sports trophies (if you won any) will help you enjoy your den even more.

8. The Temple of Cleanliness Gets a Makeover

When it comes to brightness, no room needs it as much as the bathroom. For privacy reasons, most bathrooms do not have a window. If they have one, it is covered with frosting film which greatly reduces the amount of natural light.

So, light fixture arrangements are a must for your bathroom. And since you need them, why not make sure they look great and make this room pleasant and relaxing? You can opt for various designs, from sea waves to rain drops and pick soothing colors, such as light blue or lavender.

9. Don’t Forget about the Patio

If you are lucky enough to have a patio, you should make the most of it. You can spend a lot of quality time with your family and friends during the warm season, having lunch, drinks, or simply talking. 

With adequate lighting fixture arrangements, you patio can be a funky disco scene, or a serene relaxation corner. If you also have potted plants on the patio, spot lighting can show them off, giving the overall look of a luxurious exotic garden.

Author bio: Lara Douglas is a young woman who loves interior designing and home decor. She is passionate about new trends and fashion forward home décor ideas. She regularly posts at Neon Signs Depot.