Last Updated on September 23, 2022
If you’ve watched a movie or attended an event where people exuded a romantic glow, you may wonder how to replicate the same atmosphere in your home. Most event planners and filmmakers will tell you that the secret to creating the perfect home ambiance is through lighting.
However, not all lighting concepts are created equal. If you want to create the perfect atmosphere for a romantic date night or a selfie that draws attention, you must balance the functionality and flattery of your lighting design. In this post, we cover eight unique ways to do that yourself!
Layer your Lighting
If your house has only one overhead light, it can create shadows and make your environment appear one-dimensional. Such a state is undesirable for a selfie, let alone an important event like a date night dinner.
Instead, take the layered approach when designing your lighting for more options and interest in a room. To do this, arrange various light sources – from the table and floor lamps to pendants and other fixtures across the room. Ensure they are positioned at varying lengths and diffusion levels to make your space feel larger and cozier.
Consider Bulb Type Carefully
If you’re the type to pick just any bulb from the store, you’ll always struggle to create the perfect lighting ambiance in your home. Some bulbs, especially compact fluorescent lamps and bulbs, cast unflattering hazy greenish colors. As you purchase bulbs for your home, consider the following:
- The type of atmosphere you’re trying to create (low or high temp)
- Level of brightness required (in watts)
- Energy efficiency and environmental friendliness
Currently, only one type of bulb fits the bill in this regard – the LED bulb. These bulbs emit a cleaner, more flattering light and are efficient and long-lasting.
Light the Walls
Walls with flattering colors can add glow to your home if properly illuminated. The secret is to place lighting sources, whether lamps or recessed lights, out of plain sight, behind objects such as furniture, plants, or any other architectural structure.
When light bounces off these surfaces, it hits your walls, creating a flattering glow on objects and characters within your home. The reflected light also converts your walls into canvases that make beautiful backdrops for selfies or pictures. For the illumination to spread evenly across a room, ensure the light sources are not too close or far from the walls. If possible, try installing wall fixtures such as sconces with head-high shades, as they also add a flattering appearance.
Repurpose Bathroom Lighting
Bathrooms are the most challenging areas to light in a home due to the small space, clutter, and excessive light reflection from mirrors, but it’s not impossible. There are various ways to introduce flattering lights to your bathroom and achieve your desired ambiance.
If your bathroom has flattering wall colors like white or pale pastels, installing a glowing light in the center will allow the light to bounce off the walls and illuminate the room.
Alternatively, you could light up sconces, especially if you have a bright, reflective bathroom, as they provide enough flattering light for selfies. Lastly, LED light fixtures on either side of the mirror provide enough light without creating shadows, creating an appealing and glamorous environment for makeup sessions.
Choose Appropriate Color Rating Index
The Color Rating Index (CRI) measures how well a bulb displays color. Some bulbs have CRI information on the package. If you come across one, take a closer look at the rating indicated on the chart. While light sources with an 80 to 90 CRI rating are considered good, those with a 90 and above are best as they emit better and more natural colors under the light. But, if a light bulb doesn’t have a CRI, look closely at the color written on the package. Then, experiment with different colors to find one that is most flattering to your home. These range from daylight to warm white, soft white, and clear. When in doubt, a pink light bulb is the safest as it makes you look youthful.
Divide a Room into Balanced Parts
Another way to achieve flattering light in your home is to use the rule of thirds. This rule instructs that you divide a room into three equally balanced sections – the bottom, middle, and top. Then, arrange your household items in each section proportionately, so furniture occupies the bottom section, art, wall hangings in the middle area, and lighting in the upper third.
But, instead of only installing in a third of the area, put lights in every section to allow multiple light sources to introduce flattering light and make the space feel brighter. To do this, light the bottom section using table lamps, floor lamps, and strip cabinet lights. Whereas wall sconces, taller floor lamps, and low-hanging pendants should occupy the middle section. The top-third area can have recessed ceiling lighting, flush mount fixtures, strip lighting, and pendants for chandeliers.
Allow Part Darkness
While you may want your entire home lit with flattering lights, it pays to have breaks and pauses in-between spaces. After all, you may not always want to be in a well-lit room, or your eyes might need a rest.
So, even as you maintain brightness in most of your space, introduce low light levels to deemphasize some areas. Do this interchangeably between well-lit rooms around the house for the best impact.
Look Your Best as You “Netflix n’ chill” with the Help of Great Lighting.
These tips are guaranteed to provide your desired lighting effect. What’s more, most of them are straightforward DIY projects you can undertake in your free time.
If you’d like to know whether you achieved the desired impact, try standing in different sections of your room and taking selfies. If you’re using a quality camera, you will undoubtedly produce clear images that mask flaws or imperfections like acne. Talk to a professional designer if you experience any challenges or have questions about these methods.