10 Ways to Update Your Home Lighting

Tired of Having the Same Dull or Florescent Lighting in your Home?

Tired of having the same dull or florescent lighting in your home? Updating your home’s lighting can not only make it more enjoyable to live in, but also boosts your home’s resale value. More importantly, updating your home lighting can significantly change the aesthetics of your home, helping you to re-frame certain areas, change the mood from room to room or improve your productivity in the office, kitchen or garage. Here are some bright ideas to improve the lighting in your home.

1. Install dimmer switches on as many lamps and light fixtures as you can. In the bathroom, a dimmed light can create a soothing mood after a long day at the office. A bedroom becomes more romantic, while kid’s bedrooms can light up with glow-in-the-dark stars. By using dimmers, you control the intensity of light around your home and save energy at the same time.
2. Install under-cabinet light strips in the kitchen, desk area or workroom. By directing light right onto your work area, you will make your tasks easier and more focused.
3. Use back-lighting to give your television even more intensity. You can find affordable back-lights at places like Ikea. Some enterprising hackers have even adapted these lights so they change color depending on what’s on your television screen, mimicking the effects of a Phillips “Ambilight” television. IKEA also makes a nifty table decoration diode light called the Tybble that helps viewer’s eyes adjust better to high-definition television.
4. Add a decorative lamp to your bookshelves. It not only helps break up the density of the books, but it also makes it easier to find what you’re looking for.
5. If your reading space is limited, install a reading light on the wall near the bed or lounging area to make reading a real pleasure.
6. Remove boring ceiling fixtures and install strings of lights in selected areas. You can connect the lights to artwork, reading nooks, dining rooms or work spaces.
7. Light your artwork with small light fixtures attached at the top.
8. Install motion sensors to save on energy costs. You’ll never have to remember to turn off a light when you leave a room again.
9. Install modern light switches that provide a pinpoint of blue light that will guide you to the switch in the dark – no more fumbling around looking for the light switch.
10. Use LED lights that run cool and save you money. The average lifespan of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, is 30 times greater than that of a halogen bulb. They also use 80% less energy and produce a virtually imperceptible level of feat.

What types of unique and updated lighting have you used in your home? Show us in the comment section.

To learn more about what buyers find to be must valuable, visit the 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty® (2-10 HBW®) blog here, or visit 2-10.com/homeowners to learn what a 2-10 HBW Systems and Appliances Service Agreement can do for you.