Make Your Home Stand Out With Great Lighting

One of the best ways that you can make your new home really stand out is with great lighting both inside and outside.

Great lighting can allow you to create the relaxed atmosphere you desire with the flick of a switch, and it is also a great way to really impress your guests.

Lighting decisions can become very overwhelming if you let them.

There are what seems like an endless amount of options to consider and it can be hard to envision what any option will look like in a home that hasn’t been built yet.

However, there are some general guidelines that will help you pick the best lighting for each room. If you are looking to spend a little extra to give your home the added touch of great lighting, here are some areas that you should focus on:

Entryway Lighting

The entryway to your new home will make a first impression on every single guest that comes into the home.

This is where you want to select a standout piece like a hanging lantern or chandelier that really says something about your personality and the feel of the home.

The light fixture you choose should be eye catching, but you also want to avoid anything that might be considered dated a few years from now.

Try to select a piece that has a timeless quality to it.

In addition to the primary light fixture, small tables with great lamps also work great in entryways. Depending on the style of your home, the lamps can be anything from antique to super-modern, provided that they work well with everything else in the home.

The great thing about using lamps is that they can be purchased after your home is finished.

Dining Room Lighting

In the dining room, you are once again going to need to find a signature fixture to be the focal point of the room.

This primary fixture that hangs over the table will need to be the brightest light in the room, and just like the entryway light it should make a statement about the entire home. Once again, you will want to choose something with a timeless quality here.

In addition to a hanging fixture over the dining room table, you might also want to consider adding recessed lighting in the ceiling. Having small recessed lights in the corners of the room can add a feeling of warmth and comfort to your guests’ dining experience.

Another great way to warm up the dining room is with battery powered votive candles.

Lighting in Other Rooms

In all of the other rooms of your new home, you are going to want to think in terms of layers and accents.

You will want to have multiple light sources in each room that allow you to mix and match the way the room feels to anyone in it.

One of the easiest ways to improve any light fixture is to add dimmers to all of the light switches, making each light adjustable.

In order to create different layers of lighting, you will want to consider wall sconces as well as different types of recessed accent lighting.

Sconces can be used to create dramatic lighting against walls or to light artwork that you hang throughout the home.

Using recessed lighting to accent certain areas of a room like bookshelves or bedding can also be a nice touch.

Another great idea is to have custom lighting built into a staircase.

Outdoor Lighting

While indoor lighting is probably most important, outdoor lighting should not be overlooked.

Most homeowners severely underestimate the impact that great exterior lighting can have on their home.

The best part about exterior lighting today is that most of it is solar powered, making installation easy!

Make sure that you give extra thought to lining your walkway and driveway with light. You also might want to consider spotlights on any trees or on the house itself.

The more you can do to light up the outside of your home, the more welcoming it will feel.

There is virtually no end to the amount of creative lighting you can add to your new home, and most of these options don’t have to be incredibly pricey. We highly recommend using ENERGY STAR LED bulbs which can be purchased from local retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot.

You might want to spend a little extra on fixtures for the entryway and dining room, but every other room can be filled with layers and accents using more inexpensive fixtures.

The key to making your new home stand out with great lighting is taking the time to really think through all of your options.