Let’s Talk Lights

One of my biggest pet peeves (and my children are guilty of this) is not utilizing lamps in your space. Overhead lighting serves a purpose but so do lamps, undercounter lights and sconces.  Your home will feel so much more inviting if you allow all of your lighting to work together. I will never forget coming back from our honeymoon and my mom and sister-in-law had decorated our little apartment. They had put all of the new bedding on, hung pictures and washed the new towels but my favorite part was having the lamps on when we arrived. It just provided a softness and warmth that made it feel like home. My mom always left a lamp on and I do the same today. Two to three lamps in a space is usually plenty. If you have an open floor plan you may need a few more.  Lamps add interest to the room so please let them shine! Now, the number one thing that I add to almost any building project is extra can lights. There is no such thing as too many.  But there is such a thing as too much light so I like to add dimmers to my dining room, living room and even outdoor spaces. Unless you want your house to feel like Vegas, start adjusting your light accordingly as the sun goes down. I also recommend multiple switches to take full advantage of all your overhead options which may include art lights, can lights and fixtures.  Now selecting light fixtures may have to have it’s own page! That can be a daunting task even for those of us who look at them all the time. Finding the right style and scale requires research and time. So for now, for the love of lamps, please turn them on!