Bright Ideas: the Role of Lighting in Successful Home Staging

Lighting is one of the best ways to add intrigue and drama to a room. The right lighting is magic- it can help make a room appear larger, or taller. It can highlight, accent, define and contribute to the ambiance of a room. When it comes to selling your home, the right kind of lighting can be very helpful in augmenting its attractiveness and appeal.

You may ask yourself, "what sort of light bulbs should I use?" Firstly, it is always recommended that you buy the highest wattage permitted, then control it, by installing a dimmer. This is always a great feature, as you can adjust the light according to the time of day, or the mood you wish to set. Of course, never insert a bulb that exceeds the maximum wattage that the fitting instructions suggest. Below are some different types of lighting and their associated properties:

Incandescents

- Throws a light warm, golden yellow light.

- Are ideal for creating warmth, coziness and intimacy.

The advantages to these lights are the nice light that they throw, alongside the fact that they are inexpensive and easy to find. Some disadvantages are that they can scorch delicate paper shades. They also have a tendency to blow suddenly, and compared with other lighting solutions, incandescent bulbs tend to be energy hogs.

Halogens

- Throw a whiter, more pure and bright light than the incandescent.

- These lights are ideal for up lighters.

Some advantages to halogen lights, are that they are indeed an energy efficient choice. The design of the bulbs can be slim and compact. The mains-voltage types can be used in conventional fittings without a transformer, but ask an electrician first. The main disadvantage, is that they are expensive to replace.

Fluorescents

Typically associated with the harsh buzzing lights in factories, offices and classrooms, these light have much improved in recent years. They are available in many new varieties that are ideal for:

- Mini strip lights in kitchens

- Desk lamps, display lights and under cabinets

To put it simply, you should look for areas where you can use compact fluorescents for energy savings, without hurting the aesthetic aspects of your home. In places where you still need to have a dimming capability or greater lighting control, you may want to incorporate halogen as a part of your total lighting strategy.

LEDs

These lights are typically associated with Christmas lights. Essentially they are just tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. But LEDs can also be used in certain interior and exterior lighting solutions.

- LEDs are cool bright lights and best used as an indirect light source. Have them bounce off your warmer colored surfaces for a soothing, homey effect

- LEDs are ideal for: under cup-boards, under valences, around a bathroom vanity, as night lights, for driveway lighting, and in different mood lighting solutions.

In terms of becoming a light magician there are a couple tricks to keep in your bag. To make a room appear taller, use vertical beams from low hanging pendant lights. Making a room appear larger can be achieved with the use of mirrors skillfully placed where they will serve to open up a room. Accent lighting can also help create the illusion of space and set a unique mood in a room. Be sure to add lighting with up lights, recessed lighting, smaller lamps and artwork spot lighting. If you are wanting a large, high room to feel more cozy, consider setting up several table lamps to create smaller, low pools of light.

Thoughtful lighting choices will serve to maximize your homes attributes and minimize its flaws. So, consider the role of lighting as you go about preparing your home for potential buyers, and dare to stage your home in the most attractive light!