Give Your Apartment a Lighting Makeover

Apartment lighting can liven up a dull looking room. With the right lights placed in strategic locations, you can make a cheap painting look expensive, a house plant look gorgeous or draw eyes to a focal point of your choice. Don’t overlook the effective uses of lighting and lamps to transform your apartment. Here’s what you need to know:

Floor Lamps

Floor lamps can create an elegant look while providing adequate lighting for a room. You can find ones with various light settings, from dim to bright, that can set the mood you want in the room. Some rooms in your apartment will look great under bright lights, such as a home office or a child’s room. Others look better with more subtle lighting, such as a living room with a fireplace and mantle or a bedroom.

Table Lamps

Dress up end tables with  antique table lamps or regular lamps. These are handy to have when you’re reading or need to see to make a call, but they can also spruce up your apartment decor. For example, if you enjoy a vintage look, buy retro or multi-colored ceramic table lamps to give your apartment a vintage look and feel. You can also place different colored fabric over lamps to make them give off different color effects in the room. However, don’t leave fabrics on the lamps overnight or when you go to sleep, because you could accidentally start a fire.

Decorative Bulbs

If you want colored lights, but don’t want to cover your lamps with fabric, then you might try decorative bulbs. These are available in a variety of colors, such as blue, yellow and red. Why would you use a colored bulb? You can use decorative bulbs for a child’s birthday party to set a fun mood, or in your bedroom to set a relaxing mood. There are many uses for it, and it’s up to you to get creative and break out of the monotony of the typical white bulb.

Lamp Shades

Another way to make a statement with your apartment lighting is to buy lamp shades that stand out. Some renters who buy lamps from second-hand stores or thrift stores purchase them without lamp shades. These don’t look attractive and can be dangerous, as incandescent bulbs can get very hot. If the lamp tips over, of if a child reaches for the bulb, someone could get hurt. For safety and decorative reasons, buy lamp shades that match the decor of your room. You can also buy these from second-hand stores in good condition that you can swap out with your current shades, or check yard sales, estate sales or antique shops.

Th best apartment lighting you can find is natural sunlight. As you’re giving your apartment a lighting makeover, think about the ways you can optimize natural light in your rooms. Taking simple steps like rearranging furniture so that you don’t block windows can allow more sunlight to enter a room. Your room will come to life with natural sunlight, and the health benefits are many.