I’ll admit: I’m a lighting junkie.  From vintage Edison-era bulbs to intricate track lighting systems, nothing gets me as excited as well-designed illumination.  Problem is, re-rigging the entire lighting layout in your home can be expensive.  With an eye toward value and a few well-placed candle hurricane lamps, here are three high-impact, low-cost ideas for enhancing the lighting in your flat.

Integrated bathroom lighting

Integrated lighting – that is, lighting that is built into a home’s overall digital or architectural design – is a terrific idea, but it often proves costly to install.  If you’re a home owner or renter on a budget, you might consider starting with a small room and working from there.  The loo is a great place to start because it’s typically tiny and in need of practical lighting.  The easiest way to provide this is by incorporating illuminated bathroom mirrors.  Not only do these mirrors look terrific, but they also provide the kind of strong lighting often missing from sink areas where such illumination is essential.

The other kind of reading light

Unlike CDs and DVDs, your books deserve to be kept in the open and put on display.  Adding small, overhanging lamps to the top of your bookcases will help you find every title in your collection while adding a nice soft glow to your living area.  In the same way, placing lamps outside of cabinets will shed some light on your clothing and valuables and also help add to the overall ambience of your room by reflecting off the cabinet’s closed doors.  Traditional oak wardrobes work just fine here, but for an extra special effect I suggest investing in some white cabinets made with particle or fiberboard, which will really make the room shine.

Set the mood

The last several decades have seen an increase in popularity of the dimmer light switch, but lately purists have turned to more natural means of mood lighting.  Hurricane lamps carry with them a classic look and are a safe way to incorporate candles into your lighting scheme.  Likewise, small table lamps are cheap and can accompany natural light from your windows to give your flat a warm glow that’s high on class and great for your energy bill.

Got any other tips for playing with light in your flat?  Let’s hear ‘em in the comment section below!

Did you know?

The hurricane lamp derives its name from its ability to protect flames from strong drafts or winds.

-Jeff O.

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