10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Home’s Lighting

12 May 2022

Not all spaces are the same. Some have a soft, relaxing glow – perfect for an evening of unwinding with friends or family. Others are vibrant, full of energy and warmth – perfect to call a house a home. Lighting inside your home not only serves a functional purpose, but also sets the mood of the space within the four walls. With the right lighting, your home can look larger, warmer, and more welcoming. While planning your home decor design, pay close attention to the lighting you will use.

If you struggle with high electricity bills, that could partly be due to the lights in your home. In addition to lending a specific mood, the lights used within a home can increase your power consumption, especially if you have not changed them in a while. Investing in good home decor lights will give your interiors a makeover, and also make your home more energy-efficient.

Understanding the Basics

Before you set out to change the entire set of lights at home, understand the three basic types of lighting that are used within indoor spaces. These are ambient, accent, and task lighting. While designing lighting for home, a decorator will use a combination of these to create specific looks.

Ambient lighting is the most basic kind of lighting, which illuminates the entire space. Essentially, it is the lighting that will help you see your surroundings. It is the soft glow enveloping the overall space, without being too harsh on the eye. Wall lights, rope lights, and recess lights are some home decor lights used to create ambient lighting.

With thrice the brightness of ambient lights, accent lighting is used to highlight specific features within a home. It could be used to draw attention to a piece of furniture, artwork, or another object you wish to bring into focus. A wall-mounted picture light is an example of accent light.

Task lighting is used when you need to focus on specific tasks and need a clearer view. This is the kind of lighting used in a kitchen, over a reading or writing desk, and in spaces dedicated to grooming or personal hygiene. You can use a bedside swing-arm lamp to read at night, an example of a task lighting fixture.

10 Home Decor Lighting Ideas

The space around you is a reflection of who you are. That should be kept in mind while choosing home decor lights. All the three forms of lighting will combine to form the right look for your home. You can find a huge variety of options at Pepperfry for innovative home decor lighting ideas. Whether it is a traditional or contemporary atmosphere that you wish to create, these ten home decor ideas will help you nail the look.

1. Create layers of lighting

Ambient lighting is the first layer of lighting for your home. Each space will make use of this kind of lighting. Bedroom and living room decor should make use of other sources of light, in addition to the soft glow of ambient light. A good idea to accentuate your home decor design is to use at least three sources of light in each of the spaces within. Strike a balance between these sources of light. This way, you can change the mood of the space at different times of the day by adjusting the level of brightness. Creating layers also helps highlight the details you wish to keep in focus. A valued art piece, a craft heirloom passed down the generations, or a custom-made piece of furniture – the kind of stuff you surely would want your visitors to see. Accent lights like this spotlight bar highlight such features. For smaller spaces, make use of lower wattage lights, and smaller-sized fixtures.

2. Add a lighting focal point

When using multiple fixtures while deciding upon the lighting for your home, it is important to pick a lighting focal point. If all your lighting fixtures – chandeliers, lamps, and accent lights – are of the same size, it will make the space look cluttered without any element of visual clarity. A chandelier with an antique look will make for a wonderful focal point in a huge living room. Accentuate your space with these metal chandeliers to bring the old-world charm into your home. Smaller spaces can use distinctive floor lamps that match the decor of the given space. Lamps with utility shelves are all the rage in home decor design, adding the desired focal point and also coming in handy for smaller spaces.

3. Install dimmer switches

Modern homes, equipped with smart devices, offer more of a choice in the atmosphere within, and the amount of power consumed. Install dimmer switches for light fixtures throughout your home. Dimmers are a great way to control the lighting in your home, especially when you are struggling to balance natural light with artificial lights. A smart dimmer switch can dim or turn a light on and off by up to 80 watts. It can create a soft, welcoming glow in your home as you return from a long day at work. Installation of dimmer switches to complement your stylish home decor lights can also cut electricity costs by eliminating the use of extra power when it is not needed. Install these in as many rooms as possible, to have better control over the overall lighting in your interior space.

4. Make maximum use of natural light

It is best to make maximum use of natural light throughout the day. Natural light affects your circadian clock, which is why it is advisable to stay in a darker environment before going to bed. Natural light is also a power saver! Eliminating the need to turn on those lights during the day can greatly reduce your electricity bills. This should be kept in mind while choosing the lighting in your home. How much natural light you can use would also depend on the amount of light your home receives. A south-facing home will have an abundance of natural light. Clean windows and light-filtering curtains that are available in a variety of fabrics can help with the inflow of natural light. For not-so-bright homes, you can find newer ways to attract more natural light inside the home. A chandelier that reflects sunlight can brighten up the space without even being switched on.

5. Swap old, often-used lights for LEDs

Irrespective of the duration of your lighting use, it is a good idea to swap your regular light bulbs for energy-efficient lights like LEDs. These are available in cool daylight and warm glow variants, which can complement the look of your home. If you are feeling festive, you can invest in these LED rice lights instead of the power-gulping colourful versions to keep your electricity bills in check. Make note of the bulbs you use the most. These have to be replaced. Table lamps with LED lights serve the purpose of task lighting and make it efficient too, especially if you read or write for long periods.

6. Smart homes, smart lights

What would you say to someone who suggests investing in smart lights as part of modern decoration ideas for the home? You would probably picture basic white lights like bulbs, or at most track lights that can illuminate a certain area. But smart lighting, which can be controlled from a mobile phone via an app, has come a long way. From chandeliers to track lights, you can install many designer versions of smart lights at home. You will find a range of designer smart light options on Pepperfry. You can turn these off remotely, just in case you forgot to switch off the lights while you stepped out. More style, lower energy bills!

7. Be unpredictable with lights

Lights serve more than just the basic purpose of illuminating a space. These complement your home decor design, set the mood, and also reflect your personality. Tastefully-done interiors seem quite incomplete with just a basic set of light fixtures. There are thousands of home decor lighting ideas that you can choose from to lend a quirky look to your home. Move over portable lamps and basic overhead fixtures, and express your creativity with lights. Light up your favourite corner, or put the spotlight on a bookshelf. This table spotlight, for example, serves the dual purpose of a task and an accent light. Add an unusual touch to your living room with this giraffe floor lamp or one of these rope lights.

8. Living spaces with television/screens

Steer clear of accent lighting in spaces with large televisions or display screens. Instead, you can make good use of a mix of tasks and ambient lighting. In your living spaces with media devices, use fewer overhead lights to avoid the reflective glare on screens. The warm glow of ambient lights makes it perfect for relaxed television viewing. Task lights such as lamps and hanging lights are quite useful for such living room spaces, where you could also read newspapers and books. Control natural light for these spaces and make use of window treatments to make them softer if the natural source is letting in harsh lights, which will cause a glare on-screen. Use blackout curtains to control the flow of light.

9. Bring in the new

Changing old fixtures in your home can upgrade your home decor design to a more contemporary look. You don’t have to love a light fixture because the previous generation did. Besides, it will also cut down your power bills. The newer ones are not only easier to replace, but also last longer. Pick the ones with a higher energy rating to save more electricity. Older designs often end up overpowering an interior space. You can opt for sleeker ones that combine modern and traditional design, and also complement your indoor space better. While giving your home decor lights a makeover, consider adding layers. Add accent lights to highlight the best features of your home, or to bring the focus upon a newly-bought artwork. Changing the key fixtures in your home not only makes the space more welcoming but also makes your home look way younger. While you’re looking at new lighting for your home, also replace the switches to keep them in sync with the newer lights for more efficiency.

10. View lamps in a new light

Just as lights can make or break the look of any home, old lampshades can dampen the appeal too. Take a fresh approach to lampshades in your home. Investing in good, modern-day lights demands paying attention to lampshades as well. While it may not be evident, a lampshade can change the ambience of a room. A lighter-coloured lampshade diffuses light, while a darker one focuses it on a specific area. You can also use a new lampshade to add a pop of colour to a room. It will add interest to the space without being too overpowering. A bright lampshade in royal blue or rust orange will immediately catch attention in a close space. Use richer hues to add a luxurious touch, and neutral shades to make any space look larger and more open.

A printed lampshade like this multicolour rose floral lampshade can instantly lift the mood of a room in your home. Image source: Pepperfry

When you do take up the task of redoing the lighting throughout your home, stick to one design scheme as you would with furniture. Lampshades and chandeliers should match your home decor design. Consistency is the key. Remember that less is more when it comes to home decor ideas. Go minimalistic and avoid cluttering your space with too many or varying design elements. Otherwise, the look can be overbearing to the onlooker, and the space too chaotic for you to feel at home. If you are starting from scratch, begin by making a lighting plan and decide which areas would be used for specific activities. Depending on the intended use of the space and the natural light available, you can invest in good light fixtures that can convert the space within the walls into your aesthetically done home.

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Bonhomie

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Cabinet Design Ideas and Closet Organization Tips

Collectors (not to be confused with hoarders) have a predicament in life. One of showcasing their wares, artfully. After all, what’s the point of collecting if you don’t display it, right? A lot of time, money and effort goes into curating treasures. Remember those trips to the Chor Bazaar and endless haggling, training the eye at flea markets abroad and fretting over excess baggage? We know the pain. So we put together a few nifty ways to show off your collections.

Hang it

If you have collectibles that can be put into frames or boxed in shadow cases, there’s nothing like it. Not only does it make your collection look well put together, you also save it from dust. If your collection is not frame friendly, you could hang it on hooks. Say you have a set of masks painstakingly collected from all over the worlds, create a mask gallery and hang it all up on a statement wall.

Stack it

If you have collections that are of the stackable variety, say a set of hard covers or first editions of your favourite childhood books, stack it! Do it either vertically or horizontally, pepper it with trinkets and make your stack a talking point. If you have a large enough collection you could also stack it in a colour-coded fashion. Makes for great shelfies!

Cluster it

Another décor trend that’s been very popular of late is clustering. Earmark sections of your home to display your collections and mix it up. Team up a coffee table book with a vintage tin, add a unique shell, a scented candle and bring it all together by displaying it on a platter or a decorative tray. If you’re displaying tiny curios, you could round it up by adding a cloche to it.

Sprinkle it

Have collectibles that are too tiny to create an impact on their own? Use these as finishing touches to your décor. Maybe on your coffee table, end tables, console tables by the entryway or even as books ends?

Build a story around it

If you have numerous collections of different shares and sizes, channel your inner decorator and narrate a beautiful vignette with your treasures. Start by using your biggest (also best) collectible as a centrepiece, and layer smaller but similar items around it. So for example, if you have a vintage globe as your centrepiece, add travel souvenirs around it to group it together and narrate a personal travelogue to your guests.

Inspired, much? We have some products to help you be the proud collector as well.

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Secrets to a Perfect Hotel Bed: Make Your Bed Feel Luxurious

By Guest Blogger Maria Well

Do you ever wonder why no matter how hard you try, your bed is never as perfectly welcoming as the beds you return to in hotel rooms? There is just something about those crisp, wrinkle free sheets and perfectly tucked duvet covers that beckons you to snuggle in.

Simply follow these steps to create your own sleep utopia.

Underneath It All – Five star hotels don’t begin the bed-making process with the fitted sheet. Placed atop the firm mattress are usually a mattress protector, a boxed feather bed, and then a felt sheet protector. So if you are looking to improve comfort, consider adding some of these layers beneath your sheets.

You will need a light blanket when creating your dream bed.

The Fitted Sheet – With sheets, the higher the thread-count, the more softness you will experience. Hotels usually use 300-400 thread count sheets in order for the sheets to last through many guest stays. At home you may even want to increase to a 600 thread count. Egyptian cotton is said to be the best material for sheets, but it is really a matter of preference. Some people like the feel of sateen, while others are partial to micro cotton. Choose what feels best to you while paying attention to quality. Once you have your comfortable sheets, you are going to want to wash and starch them. Then, iron them to make them flat and wrinkle free.

The Flat Sheet – Place the flat sheet upside down on top of the bed. Again, pull it tight and tuck it under the mattress. Why upside down? When you fold it over later, it will display better.

The Light Blanket – Place a thin blanket on top of the flat sheet. Tuck this in at the bottom of the bed. Now, fold it over at the head of the bed about twelve inches. Fold your top sheet over twelve inches as well on top of the blanket (yes, you will have to untuck a little of your top sheet). Now go around the perimeter of the bed and tuck your thin blanket in tight so there are no visible wrinkles.

A great looking duvet is a must if you wish to create the perfect hotel like look for your bed.

The Comforter/ Duvet – With your comforter or duvet, you have two choices. The first choice is to lay the duvet over your bed so that is hangs over equally on both sides. Pull it up over your pillows that are piled evenly and lying flat on your bed (be sure to fluff first) and tuck it under by pushing your hand under the pillows, making a perfect crease. Your other option is to again lay the duvet or comforter on the bed with it hanging equally over both sides. Then, fold it down about halfway so that you can proudly display your perfect top sheet-blanket fold. This creates a more layered look for your bed.

Pillows – If you chose to pull your duvet or comforter over your pillows, you can skip this step. However, if you folded your comforter down, you will want to fluff the pillows and then smooth the cases with your hand to ensure they are wrinkle free. Again, it is a good idea to iron these for optimal crispness. You will want to place larger pillows in the back against the headboard.

Optional – For an added touch, spray on some rose water, lavender or mint for a natural, herbal scent that welcomes you home. Add a colored throw or bed scarf to the foot of the bed to dress up a neutral ensemble.

Following these steps will help ensure that you retire at the day’s end to a relaxing retreat. The added comfort will increase the quality of your sleep, making you feel rested and energized in the morning. You’ll wonder how you ever slept before learning these tried and true secrets of the perfect bed.

Maria Well is the content writer for housekeeping.org. She loves writing articles on home decoration.

09 Mar 2026

Bonhomie

Indoor Office Plants & Creative Office Plant Decor Ideas

A visitor who walks in will notice the lovely plants and feel more welcome.

It’s easy for an office environment to be very uninviting. The necessary equipment in the space including computers, fax machines, copiers, rolling chairs and other items don’t really contribute to the warm tone of an office. That’s why many office owners and managers make the effort to incorporate plants into the décor of their offices. With the addition of a few plants, an office environment takes on a more pleasant atmosphere.

Here are some other reasons why many office owners are choosing to bring some plants into their office space.

Plants bring a dash of colour into the atmosphere of an office. Most pieces of office equipment are a neutral colour and in many cases so are the items of office furniture. Neutral colours are seen as more professional than pastels and bright shades of colour. A gathering of dark green plants positioned throughout an office area gives the décor a little variety. In addition, with all of the copy machines and computers in operation throughout an office, plants bring a lively presence to the space.

Many office owners appreciate plants because they are easy to move to various places around an office. Moving a sofa or a desk can be a complicated affair, but moving a simple potted plant is relatively easy. Perhaps a particular floor plant has stood for a few weeks next to the water cooler in an office. An office owner can easily change its location to refresh the décor. In this way, potted plants are versatile pieces of office décor.

If an office owner gets tired of having a particular type of plant on all the desks of the employees, he or she can change the variety. There are so many beautiful plants that are suitable for an office environment that an office could change plant varieties on a regular basis. The refreshed atmosphere of the office would contribute to the mood as well as the productivity of office workers.

Finally, plants flourish and grow in an office. Office workers and visitors alike appreciate seeing a plant growing taller and sprouting new leaves as the weeks go by. Office owners and managers interested in arranging for some plants for their office may want to take a look at gaddysplanthire.com.au for some ideas. Plants will add a little personality to the décor of the space!

Dan Young is a proficient author writing quality articles on Home Decor and other related themes.

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Indoor Plant Identification & Money Plant Placement Ideas

Many people are passionate about gardening and they go to extreme lengths to maintain a horde of both outdoor and indoor plants. However, you do not have to be a gardening expert to appreciate the aesthetic value that indoor plants can add to your home decor.

What’s interesting is that indoor plants can not only elevate your interior design but can also elevate your quality of life. How? Let us explore in-depth some of these benefits of integrating indoor plants in your home decor.

Adds To the Aesthetic Value Of Your Home Decor

From YouTube videos to Pinterest blogs, indoor plants in home decor is a popular theme. You can go for hanging fixtures of artificial plants like the one in the picture below because they take up zero floor space and immediately catch the eye when someone enters a room.

You can also use potted plants as part of your interior design by placing them in different corners of your home. For example, they look great on top of shelves and tables as a decorative piece.

Plants Elevate Your Mood And Evoke Positive Emotions

The Journal of Physiological Anthropology conducted a study on the effects of indoor plants in-home or office settings, and it revealed several interesting findings. The study showed that people feel more relaxed, calm, and less stressed in the presence of indoor plants. They provide a natural and soothing feeling to the inhabitants of a home/office. This is a powerful property of plants since it allows people to cope with their stress better and elevates their mood.

Improve Indoor Quality Of Air

So far we have only discussed artificial plants, but if you can maintain real plants indoors, you should get a few. Studies have shown that having real plants indoors can improve the quality of air inside your home, which can boost your physical health.

The home is the one place where you can escape the impure and polluted air outdoors. So why not ensure the air you are breathing at home is pure?

Conclusion

Those are some solid reasons that should convince you of the myriad benefits of having indoor plants as a component of your home decor. Head over to Pepperfry and check out their diverse range of artificial plants for home decor.

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Creative LED Light Decoration & Design Ideas

One of the most impactful ways of updating your home’s look is by adjusting the lighting. New lighting can immediately change a room’s atmosphere: from cozy to cool, from traditional to modern, etc. But changing the lighting in your home can be costly, time-consuming, and disruptive – unless you use flexible LED light strips.

LED light strips are affordable, adaptable, and easy for even a beginning DIYer to install. And they’re flexible in more ways than one: you can bend them to fit any project you’re working on, and there are limitless ways of using them. Making them even cooler, they’re waterproof – so you can use them in your pool. And they come in a red-blue-green (RBG) array that you can control with a remote. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can use them to give your home a low-cost, high-impact update.

Some cools ways to give your home a low-cost, high-impact update through LED Strip Lights

Backlighting

Like watching TV with the lights off but avoid it because it makes your eyes hurt? That’s because, with the lights off, the frame of the TV fades into the wall. It becomes hard to see where one starts and the other stops, which messes up your depth perception and strains your eyes. A quick, effective fix is to put LED strips on the back of your TV. That fixes the problem with depth perception and eases the strain on your eyes. And you can use the same trick for artwork; it’s an amazingly effective way to draw attention to a favorite painting.

Cove lighting

LED light strips are a great way to highlight the decorative ceilings you find in many newer homes. And the color options let you quickly change the feel of a room. If you’re having a party, you can even set up color transitions to make things even more effective.

Under-cabinet lighting

Kitchens just look cozier with a little bit of light. By adding LED strips underneath your cabinets, you can leave the lights on without feeling guilty about wasting energy.

Christmas lighting

With flexible LED strip lights, you can leave your Christmas lights up all year without incurring the wrath of your neighbors – if the lights aren’t turned on, no one sees them. You can also create some pretty impressive color transitions and strobe effects. And, since they’re energy-efficient, you can have the look you want without spending your whole Christmas budget on your electrical bill.

Pool and backyard lighting

Since options like Sylvania LED strips are waterproof and approved for outdoor use, you’re limited only by your imagination. You can add some Las Vegas-style bling to your pool with LED strips and some cool color transitions. LED strips are also an easy way to light a walkway. You can use them to outline your patio to avoid trips and falls. Or make your kids the envy of the neighborhood by glamming up their playhouse.

Are you ready to give your home’s lighting a makeover? Pick a room, and let your imagination run wild. Be as creative or as traditional as you want to be. Before you know it, you’ll be hooked, working on the other rooms in your home and even your backyard.

21 Jan 2026

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Creative Workplace Decor Ideas & Office Decoration Tips

This past year has witnessed most working professionals confined to the four walls of their house, ever since Work From Home (WFH) became the new normal. While many have reported feeling grateful for being able to spend time with their families, the blurring of work life and home life boundaries has been hard on everyone. As people adapt to spending 8-10 hours on average at their makeshift workstation at home, many are hoping to modify their work environment.

Work from Home with a Bad Setup Can Hamper Productivity.

Considering WFH is here to stay, working professionals need to have a comfortable and optimal workstation at home. An ergonomic chair, or a multi-purpose work table are probably things you already have, or know about. In case you are looking for some ideas beyond the usual WFH furniture options to jazz up your workspace, here are some tips and ideas to help you transform your workstation at home:

Light Up Your Workspace With These Cool Lights

If you have ever considered adding some cool string lights over your desk, this is your cue to do it. A quirky lamp, or a hanging light or just some simple rice lights can both illuminate your workspace and elevate its aesthetic. A beautiful workstation is bound to inspire your creativity and lift up your mood.

Personalise Your Corner With Choice Home Decor Elements

Your workdesk should reflect your personality and who you are. Do you like motivational quotes from a favourite author? Put up some posters of these quotes or opt for some quirky wall art.

Do you miss travelling and want to venture out on wild adventures? Collect some postcards of places you want to visit and pin them up on your softboard or hang them from the wires of your overhead lights. Make your corner your own with art, posters, showpieces and cute home decor elements.

Add Select Plants To Your Workstation

Studies have shown that plants play a crucial role in reducing stress when used as part of home decor. Using plants to decorate your workspace can instantly jazz up your workspace, and help bring about a peaceful and serene ambience at your work desk. You ideally need to use some low-maintenance plants such as these:

Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Peace lilies
Jade
Succulents and Cacti
Snake Plant
English Ivy

Transform Your Workspace into a Corner of Bliss

If looking at your workspace doesn’t evoke joy or excitement, then you need to change it up. The WFH ideas we listed for you will help smoothen your transition from office work to WFH and make the process more efficient and exciting for you.

Head on over to Pepperfry and pick your WFH furniture and Home Decor elements today!

21 Jan 2026

Bonhomie