The economy may be in the doldrums, but that doesn’t mean your decor has to be there too. It’s possible to turn dark, dreary and dated decor into light and lively on a shoestring budget.
What’s the secret to sprucing up when you’re working with a tight budget? Lighten up — literally.
Upgrading your home’s lighting can impart a whole new atmosphere, and you don’t need to spend big bucks on pricey new fixtures to do it. Simple, budget-friendly changes can make a big difference in how your home looks and feels, and how much you enjoy living there.
The experts at American Lighting Association offer a few tips for creating a big impact on a small budget.
First, consider the first impression guests (or potential buyers) have of your home. “Upgrading exterior lighting or entryway lighting can improve the curb appeal and first impression of your home,” said Monty Gilbertson, manager of Lighting Designs by Wettsteins in La Crosse, Wis.
Michael Berman, a lighting consultant with Chatsworth, Calif.-based Lamps Plus, agrees. “Replacing old, worn-out fixtures, purchasing inexpensive landscape lights to highlight interesting architectural elements or plantscapes can make it love at first sight for potential buyers,” he said.
Once you’ve upgraded the outside, take a look at the first parts of what houseguests see, which is the entryway or the dining room in modern dwellings.
“Changing the dining room chandelier and/or the foyer light will make major strides in improving the look and, in some cases, the efficiency of your home,” Gilbertson said.
“Fixtures in the entryway should set the style for the rest of the house,” Berman added. “Even a small, flush-mount fixture can add style to an otherwise lackluster entry.”
Next, install dimmers throughout the house, even in rooms where you might not normally think of using them, like the kitchen and bath, suggested Joe Rey-Barreau, an education consultant for ALA and an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design.
Installing a dimmer is an upgrade that’s well within the skills of most do-it-yourselfers, and it can completely change the character and quality of a space. For example, a dimmer in a bathroom enable you to use the facilities in the middle of the night without the jarring impact of turning on bright, overhead lighting. In a master bedroom, they can create a soothing or romantic mood.
In other rooms, take a look at your table lamps, said Jeff Dross, senior product manager for Kichler Lighting in Cleveland.
“One way to make an impact on a small budget is by changing outdated lampshades with newer, trend-forward versions that incorporate fashion-friendly colors, fabrics or patterns,” he said.Consider how you use table lamps as well, Rey-Barreau said.
“How many do you use in a room? What types? Table lamps can create a more diverse quality of light, and adding a few accent lamps in a room can really change the quality of a space,” he said.
Simple upgrades in kitchens and baths can also deliver big impact and enhance your home’s value on a shoestring budget, the experts agree.
Modern kitchens often hide lighting under cabinets or in the ceiling through recessed lighting. “Adding fixtures that can be shown off and enjoyed can make a big impact,” Dross said. “Adding mini pendants is a good place to start. They add aesthetic appeal and build an interesting focal point at a fair price.”
Gilbertson suggested upgrading from a single bulb fixture in the kitchen to a multi-bulb unit with a dimmer.
In baths and kitchens, consider replacing fixtures with dated finishes with more contemporary choices. Many manufacturers now make light fixtures with finishes that complement some of the more popular choices for plumbing fixtures, Rey-Barreau said.
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