Despite the mild temperatures from December through March, the sun still sets earlier in the winter than in the summer. This can lead to your home looking drab. Without all the light shining in, your home may not feel as inviting and could even be a bit dangerous for you to move around in. These winter lighting tips can help.

Let the Light Shine in When You Can

When it’s still relatively warm during the day, especially with the sun out, open up your curtains and blinds and let the light shine in. This natural light brightens the space and helps the room feel warmer and more inviting.

Focus on Your Steps and Stairways

Once natural light gets dimmer, the steps and stairways become more difficult to safely go up and down. By adding light fixtures in these areas, you can make your home a safer place. You can carry laundry up and down steps without worrying about missing a step or two.

Upgrade Old Light Fixtures

You could add LED bulbs to any existing light fixtures, which will increase the lighting in the room. However, those outdated light fixtures may not distribute light well. As a result, they may not emit as much light as they could. By switching to a new light fixture, you could find one that better distributes light so the room remains brighter.

Consider Layered Lighting

Layered lighting means you’re using multiple types of light to improve visibility, enhance the ambiance of a room, and increase functionality. If you don’t already have layered lighting in the main living areas of your home, you may want to consider it.

To layer effectively, start with your ambient light, which is the main lighting in a room. Then, add lighting for any activities you and your family participate in. Soften the lighting in the room by adding accent lights. Dimmers can help you find the right amount of lighting easily and even alter it throughout the day.

Change to Warm Tones

You can make your home feel cozy by adding warm tones of lighting. These more closely resemble traditional incandescent bulbs. They usually give off a soft yellow or amber-colored light. As you’re looking for them, you’ll want to find ones that are 2700K to 3000K. These shades of lighting are best suited for living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, and entryways.

Changing your lighting by switching to warm-colored bulbs, updating your lighting fixtures, or trying to let more natural lighting in during the day can make your home feel homey and comforting. You can also have more light to move around your home freely throughout the evenings. Contact Huseman Electric, serving Dubuque, IA, and the surrounding regions, to let one of our professionals change your home’s lighting for the winter.