Spring is here, and it’s a season of decluttering, cleaning and refreshing living spaces. It’s a time when many households begin home improvement projects. But what if you want to update your home without the hassles and financial commitment of a full-blown renovation?

Let lighting be your home improvement secret weapon this season. Lighting can define a space or act as its final decorative touch. It can illuminate darker corners and add volume to a room. It can take a dark and drab space and turn it into a light-filled room that feels warm and welcoming.

 

Lighting Is Budget Friendly

Depending on the project, home improvements can increase your home’s value and offer an impressive return on investment. But it doesn’t come without a cost, and Americans spent $18,000 on average on home renovations in 2021 and 2022. That’s a serious chunk of change, and not everyone wants or is able to take that kind of financial plunge.

As an alternative, quick fixes and smaller projects can change the look of a room without a big investment. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on home renovations this year, updating your lighting can help you change a room’s look for less.

And as long you don’t need new outlets or to move existing ones, chances are you can take care of the installation yourself. No pricey contractors or handymen required. But that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Leverage the guidance and expertise of a lighting showroom to help plan your project and make your selections. A professional lighting consultant will review home plans, photos, and drawings and map out a lighting plan just for you. They’ll learn how your household functions in each room and take your style preferences and budget into account in their recommendations.

Refresh vs. Renovation

Updating your lighting is for those who are looking to make a noticeable improvement to their homes without all of the struggles and stressors of a renovation. It’s a refresh or small update that doesn’t involve contractors in your home, the cacophony of tools, and all the dust and debris that comes along with them.

 

“It’s gratifying to help a customer who has lived in their house for 15-20 years or even longer and they just decide it’s time for an update. It could be a dining fixture or kitchen pendant, and it brings new light to their space, and they get excited about living in their house again with just that simple change.”

– Megan Rockafellow, Lighting Designer, Spectrum Lighting & Interiors

 

A small and attainable project like a lighting update can give you a sense of accomplishment and boost your confidence before embarking on a more challenging renovation. It’s also a great first project to tackle as a first-time homeowner wanting to make a quick change.

As long as no major electrical work is required, most people can swap out fixtures or bulbs in an afternoon. Ideal for weekend warriors and busy families, a lighting refresh is a straightforward project that promises instant gratification.

A Small Lighting Change Makes a Big Impact

Knowing where to start is often the hardest part of any home project. Luckily with lighting, there are quick and easy ways to brighten up and change the look of your space.

Bring on the Layers

Lighting consultants and interior designers often recommend layering your lighting in a room. It’s a fancy way of describing the three types of lighting a room needs for optimal illumination.

Ambient lighting is your room’s primary source of general overhead lighting.

Accent lighting is used to highlight a specific area or furnishing in a room.

Task lighting provides a narrow but intense cast of light to perform a function or activity, like reading, working or meal preparation.

Do a walk-through of your rooms, making a note of any missing lighting. Take this list with you to a local lighting showroom, along with photos of your rooms, to get recommendations and plan to meet your needs.

 

“It can be something as simple as changing out the spec rate for an existing fixture, or selecting a nicer-quality or more decorative new fixture.”

– Phil Sherer, General Manager, Masterpiece Lighting & Home

Style Switch

Sometimes an easy fixture update can breathe new life into a room. Perhaps an older brass chandelier is looking outdated in the entryway, or you’d like your kitchen pendant finishes to match the cabinet hardware. 

One of the best things about lighting is it’s easy to change! It’s a kind of lower-stakes improvement project that doesn’t require the same commitment as a flooring or tile project. Some manufacturers even offer fixtures with mix-and-match features so you can switch out colors, finishes, and shade styles easily. 

Replace Your Bulbs

Even a simple change like switching out light bulbs can change the feel of a room. Color temperature in particular is an important thing to consider when bulb shopping because it describes the color characteristics of light. Measured in Kelvins, a higher temperature registers on the blue end, while a lower Kelvin rating means a warmer and more welcoming glow. 

Everyone experiences light differently, and the right bulb choice will balance a room’s requirement for ample illumination with how you want to function and feel in the space. In other words, your choice of light bulb should provide enough light to see and move around while reflecting your personal style. 

This is also where a lighting showroom can offer guidance. From energy-saving LED bulbs to vintage-inspired filament options, a local lighting consultant will match the best bulbs and their corresponding ratings to your fixtures in each room.

Get the Look for Less With Lighting

Don’t let your budget or busy schedule hold you back from updating your home so it’s a source of enjoyment and pride. A little lighting goes a long way toward making big changes in how your rooms look and feel. 

Select the right lighting for your style and budget by taking advantage of the complimentary design services of a Lighting One member showroom.