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It’s been said a lot recently, but it’s true that we’re all spending much more time at home than ever before. What better time to step back and take an objective look at your space? Being at home day after day at all hours and seeing how the sun comes through the windows during the day, which lights we use and when, we’re in a position to evaluate the effectiveness of our lighting in ways we perhaps never could have before.

According to many interior designers, the main source of their pet peeves is lighting, specifically insufficient lighting. Having so much more time at home is certainly driving home that point for many Americans.

As we’ve discussed in previous articles, layered lighting is key to a warm, welcoming space. Relying on just one kind of light (or worse yet, on just one fixture) can make your room feel flat and uninviting. Using only one overhead light to illuminate a room can produce lots of harsh, unattractive shadows and dark corners. In addition to looking bad, poor or insufficient lighting can also put additional strain on your eyes. While poor lighting won’t permanently affect your eyesight, according to Harvard Medical School, it will tire your eyes more quickly, making it less likely you’ll enjoy spending time in those poorly lit spaces. That may not be the worst thing if we’re talking about your bedroom where you’re primarily sleeping anyway. But living spaces are a different story. We’ll say it again: layered lighting is key!

Ideally every room will incorporate some component of each of the layers of lighting: ambient, task, decorative, and accent. That could be a combination of recessed cans, track lights, chandeliers, pendants, lamps, sconces, architectural lighting, and other accent pieces. The most important thing to remember is to never rely solely on overhead lighting.

There’s a bit of a balance to be struck, of course. Insufficient lighting can be combated with the addition of floor and table lamps in living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms; with under cabinet lighting in kitchens; or with sconces, vanity lights, or recessed lighting in bathrooms. On the other hand, overlighting can be mitigated by additional lighting controls: fewer lights on more switches ensures you can control your lighting more precisely. Dimmer switches are also imperative. Being able to adjust your lighting brightness for different tasks or times of day can bring new life to your space.

No matter how big or small your space, SunLake Lighting has the bulbs and integrated LEDs you need to ensure your space feels bright, welcoming, and comfortable throughout the day. Whether you’re looking for the best in LED bulbs for lamps, pendants, or chandeliers, or integrated fixtures like can retrofits, disk downlights, or shop lights for your garage or workshop, you can find everything you need in SunLake’s extensive LED catalog. Below are some of our best selling bulbs and fixtures to make sure your space is well and properly lit.