Sustainable Lighting Solutions for Your Home

When we think about how we can incorporate the eco-friendly lifestyle in our homes, one of the first things which cross our mind is lighting solutions. Maximizing natural light by adding windows and doors is one way to light up the room. Using mirrors and specific window treatments, installing energy-saving lights together with choosing the right wall colour are all means of using sustainable lighting solutions.

Sustainable Lighting Solutions

In this article we are going to talk you through 6 sustainable lighting solutions for you home. These are all easy thing you can implement that will save you on your household energy bills, and reduce your impact on the environment.

Add more windows and/or doors

Sustainable lighting solutions, use larger windows

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Adding windows to your rooms is a simple way to maximise natural light in your home. The rooms which may need more light are definitely a kitchen and a living room. Landings for stairs are also dark spots in a house.

If you have a garden, add a large bay window overlooking it. Installing a seating area next to the bay window will brighten up your room when it comes to design, as well. You can also opt for roof windows and skylights. For a garden room, install a French door. Glass doors are also an option. If you think privacy will be a problem, etched or reeded glass is what you need.

Make Use of Mirrors

The benefits of lighting up your home by hanging mirrors are twofold. What is great about mirrors is that they do not only reflect light, but they can be a part of your overall design of the room, as well. For example, antique and vintage mirrors give a rustic touch to the room. You can opt for installing mirrors on a stair wall, too. A living room is the most convenient place to install two mirrors opposite each other. These mirror effects will bright up your room immediately.

 

Image: Amber Interiors

Window treatments

Blackout and Roman shades are not an option for dark rooms. Instead, choose translucent light-filtering shades. You can also opt for Venetian shades so that you can control the amount of light in the room. When it comes to draperies, choose sheer drapes, especially in the summer. For a truly sustainable lighting solution, choose shades made from sustainable materials.

Choose LEDs Over Incandescent Light Bulbs

With the advance of technology, LED lighting solutions have become a prerequisite for an eco-friendly home. Light-emitting diodes (LED) shine in only one direction in contrast to incandescent light bulbs which produce light flow in all directions around the room. This is the reason why LED lights last 20 times longer than conventional light bulbs. Additionally, LED lights consume less energy and produce less heat than incandescent lighting systems. For all those environmentally conscious consumers, LEDs are the best option to save energy and protect the environment.

If you’re worried that LEDs might not be dimmable, I have good news for you… There are some great dimmable LEDs avilable now! You can actually save with dimmable LED bulbs too, they can save you money on your energy bills, as well as reducing your impact on the environment. Win-win!

sustainable lighting solutions dimmable LED light bulbs

Image: Flos

CFLs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can be a great green choice for your room. Their advantage is that you can expect the same amount of light as with incandescent light bulbs, while they spend only a quarter of the energy than their conventional counterparts. On the other hand, CFLs contain mercury, which may be their weakness. However, the amount of mercury in fluorescent bulbs is far less than in incandescent ones. Another advantage of CFLs is that they can be manufactured in various colours.

Image: Plumen UK

Pick the right colour for the walls

If you are struggling with a dimly lit room, painting it with bright colours can illuminate it. White, cream, light mint, pale yellow are all colours you can choose from. If you do not prefer white walls, you can always paint them the colour you want, but leave the ceiling white. Darker colours such as black, purple, blue and red can also be effectively incorporated into a dark room. However, consider painting only one wall in a darker paint colour, while other ones should be painted with a bright one. In addition, you can limit bold colours to trims or stripes on a wall.

Try greenifying your home with the above-mentioned lighting solutions. At least your home can be a brighter place for you and your family!

 

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About the Author

Amy Mia Goldsmith is a literature graduate with a lot of different interests in life. She and her husband love DIY projects and living green. Amy’s daughter Sophie is 5 and her favorite magical character is Hermione. Amy blogs at Smooth Decorator and you can also contact her on her Facebook page.

Emily Brookes
Emily Brookes

Emily Brookes is an Interior Designer based in the UK. Since graduating from the National Design Academy with a Bachelors Degree in Interior Design, Emily started her successful blog, Emily May Designs, which shares ideas and inspiration on how to create a beautiful home.

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