Wagner Realty
October
7
7
Cozy and Bright: How to Illuminate Your Home as Days Get Shorter
The days are getting shorter! Right now, you might be enjoying the earlier sunsets and dim, cozy mornings. In a few more weeks, you might find yourself leaving for work when it's still dark outside! These shorter, darker days definitely call for better lighting, inside and out. Luckily, our real estate agents have some tips to help with that.
- Add Some Task Lighting
Task lighting is targeted light that you can depend on when performing certain tasks. For example, a reading light is a specific type of task light.
Tomorrow, as you go about your day, pay attention to all the things you struggle to do with minimal light. Maybe you have a hard time seeing the coffee at the back of the shelf. Maybe you're always feeling around blindly for your robe in the dark corner. Then, add task lighting to these darker spaces. Battery-operated, stick-on lights work well if you don't want to call an electrician. - Put Outdoor Lights on a Timer
If you're tired of pulling up to a dark house, put your porch or front door lights on a timer. This way, you can set them to automatically turn on around 4:30 or 5:00 when it starts to get dark in the winter.
Depending on how your outdoor lights are wired, you may be able to install a timer yourself at the plug. Even if you do have to call an electrician, this is a quick and inexpensive job for them to handle. - Add Solar Lights
Another way to better illuminate your house and yard is to install solar lights along your walkways. Look for ones that you can simply stick into the ground. They'll charge in the sun by day, then illuminate the path by night.
Solar lights along walkways also make life easier for delivery drivers and visitors, who often arrive after dark in the winter months. - Choose Whiter Light
Do you still have some yellow-toned light bulbs in your home? Try replacing them with bulbs that emit white light instead.
White light has a more natural look and will remind you of natural sunlight. Not only can it help cheer you up, but it can also help your decor and color scheme look less dreary and washed out in the winter. - Install a Statement Light Fixture
This is a great time to take a simple or boring light fixture and replace it with one that makes a statement. Install the chandelier you've been dreaming of in the dining room or the cool, modern light fixture in your living room.
You'll rely on this light a lot in the coming months, so you'll really get to enjoy it. Plus, you can deliberately pick a light fixture that incorporates more bulbs and throws more light, which is suitable for this dim season. - Add Some Candles
Candles create a relaxed, rejuvenating vibe and are also a good way to add a little extra light to your home in the evening. So, visit a local candle store and start building your collection. Look for some unique, stylish holders and displays for them, too.
If you have kids or pets, you may want to go with electric candles for safety reasons. Consider complementing them with some bowls of homemade potpourri to add the scent component.
Don't let the shorter days get you down this winter! With these lighting tips, your home will be cozy and well-illuminated. Don't hesitate to contact us if you're still looking for Sarasota homes for sale or Bradenton homes for sale. Our agents are happy to help.