I live in a builder grade community. You know the kind, where all of the houses in the neighborhood look exactly the same. Several years ago when we were building our house, I was sulking over the disappointment of having a limited selection of finishes. But ultimately, I saw the light. Truth is, I love my house. I love the location. I love the space, and I realized that we had the opportunity to make our home a space that reflected our unique style. Over the years, we have made quite a few upgrades, but one of the most impactful things we have done was change the lighting in our house.
I tell people all the time that lighting makes a huge difference in the mood, tone and feel of your home. People typically think about paint and furniture updates in a space, but don’t forget to look up. There’s nothing worse than seeing a seemingly nice space with horrible lighting.
When we started, I did a little research on LED light bulbs and the difference between soft, warm, neutral, natural and cool lighting. Turns out the type of bulb that you select impacts your energy and mood. “Bulbs that emit blue light waves produce serotonin, which makes us focused, awake, and alert. Bulbs that don’t emit blue light waves, allow our brain to produce melatonin, which makes us relaxed, drowsy, and ready for a good night sleep.” If you want to learn more about lighting in various spaces, EarthLED: How to Choose the Best LED Light Bulb for Any Room in Your Home is a very informative article.
Here are a few before and after photos of our lighting transformations.
Dining Room
Before and After
Family Room
When we first moved in versus adding a new ceiling fan and recessed lights
Kitchen
Builder grade light fixtures versus updated island pendants and recessed lights
Don’t forget to look up when decorating your space.
Author: Nicky Scott
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