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5 Bright Ideas for Better Home Lighting 

Ever notice how you look completely different in one room than another? The culprit isn't the mirror; it’s the lighting. This principle extends to your home, where lighting plays a vital role in shaping both appearance and atmosphere. 

 

"Lighting can be traced back to your mood," says Aundrea Brown, Vice President of Intermark Design Group. "Having a light, airy room is going to make you feel more refreshed, healthier, and more motivated compared to being in a dark space." Lighting doesn’t just affect mood—it enhances the look and function of every space. Let’s dive into some illuminating ideas to perfect your home’s lighting.

1. Maximize Natural Light 

Natural light is unbeatable for creating a vibrant, open ambiance, and Meritage offers features designed to make the most of it.

 

  • Big Windows for an Airy Feel: Large windows flood rooms with sunlight, making your spaces feel brighter and more connected to nature.
  • UV-Blocking Windows: Meritage’s advanced windows let sunlight in while protecting your belongings from harmful UV rays. They also reduce heat buildup, keeping your living area comfortable year-round.
  • Whole-Home Blinds: All Meritage Homes are Move-In Ready with whole-home blinds already installed in every room. These blinds provide precise control over light and privacy and add a dash of extra style. Adjust them throughout the day to shape the perfect ambiance.

 

Pro Tip: Mirrors bounce natural light and make rooms feel larger and more open. 

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2. Layering Your Lighting Room by Room

The secret to well-designed lighting lies in layering. Combine ambient, task, and accent lighting to achieve depth and functionality:

 

  • Ambient Lighting: Main sources like chandeliers, recessed lighting, or ceiling fixtures set the tone for your space. Consider ceiling height when choosing fixtures—larger, dramatic pieces work best in rooms with high ceilings, while flush-mount options suit cozier spaces.
  • Task Lighting: Practical lights that focus on specific activities, like under-cabinet lighting for food prep or desk lamps for working.
  • Accent Lighting: Decorative lights, such as pendant lights, table lamps, or spotlights, enhance the vibe and highlight decor.

 

Brown recommends, "If you have a ceiling height of 8 feet or lower, you probably don’t need to go super big. But with a 9- or 10-foot ceiling, you have much more room for that bigger fixture." 

3. Create a Mood With Smart Lighting

Take control of your home’s lighting with modern technology that adapts to your needs:

 

  • Smart Home Features: Utilize smart lighting technology to adjust brightness, turn fixtures on or off, or set schedules using your smartphone or voice assistant.
  • Dimmers: These small upgrades let you manually tweak the lighting to match your experience. Use bright settings for cleaning or working, and switch to softer lighting for relaxing or entertaining.

 

Brown recommends, "A dimmer is a great idea for setting the mood in certain rooms and easily adjusting lighting at various times of the day and year." 

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4. Choose the Right Bulbs and Fixtures

Choosing the correct bulbs and fixtures can make a world of difference:

 

  • Lightbulbs: Match the bulb color temperature to your room’s palette—bright whites for cool tones and 2700K warm bulbs for spaces with warm hues. LED bulbs are the best choice for energy efficiency and consistent, flattering light.
  • Fixtures: Use lighting as a design element by mixing metals (gold, silver, matte black) and incorporating natural textures like raffia or wood. For a sleek industrial look, opt for fixtures with exposed Edison bulbs.

 

Pro Tip: Light fixtures don’t have to match.  Experiment with different colors, shapes, heights, and even textures. “Also consider mixing metals,” says Brown. “Use gold, silver, and matte black in one room. And those natural materials could be incorporated with metals” to layer additional design elements.  

5. Use Lighting to Highlight What You Love

Lighting can also be a tool for highlighting your favorite features and decor:

 

  • Use track or ceiling-mounted lights to draw attention to artwork or architectural details.
  • Add picture lights to bookshelves or cabinetry for a subtle glow that enhances your style and disguises less photogenic areas. 

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Light your home beautifully and let your lifestyle shine through.  

The right lighting transforms your space, boosts your mood, and brings out the best in every room. From smart lighting to Meritage’s signature features like UV-blocking windows and Move-In Ready whole-home blinds, you can brighten your home with comfort and style.

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