Yes, there is that depressing ceiling light hanging above you like in a jail cell. It’s time to move on from the college dorm room look and create atmosphere. You’ve got the budget, you just lack the technique. The point here is not in buying expensive furniture. The point here is in experimenting with lighting to make this furniture look twice as expensive.
The first and foremost mistake you’ve made here is leaving that single ceiling light. It creates shadows everywhere and makes everything look unattractive and depressing. What you need to do is to get rid of that light right away. What you should do instead is to scatter various sources of light in the room at different heights.
Imagine your room as a scene in the theater play. Light doesn’t shine on all the actors at the same time. You need to create layers of light and show where you want people to look. At first, you should create ambient light that will serve as the base. Ambient light usually comes from floor lamps and dimmable fixtures.
Secondly, you need some kind of task lighting to perform some actions, such as working on your laptop. You will definitely need a bright lamp both on your desk and in your reading chair. The third type of light is accent light that will draw attention to some details, such as your TV screen or your houseplant.
Color temperature is something people often ignore. Mixing cool and warm light bulbs in one room is a bad idea as it creates confusion and looks quite overwhelming for the eye. Use only warm white bulbs, 2700K in your living space and bedroom since warm light will improve skin tone and help you feel relaxed.
Dimmer switches are a mandatory attribute of a luxurious room. The ability to adjust light instantly changes the atmosphere of your room. In case you rent and cannot install those switches, you can always buy smart bulbs. They allow controlling your lights remotely from your smartphone and setting up their schedule. Quite futuristic and impressive on the date night, isn’t it?
Texture of objects is the third important factor that influences the way light reflects on them. Glass table will reflect light and create bright spot in the room, while velvet sofa will absorb light creating cozy place to sit in. Don’t forget about lampshades either. Linen will soften the light and metal will direct it.
Don’t forget about the view of your room during the nighttime hours. In case you have big windows in your room, they will be turned into black mirrors at night. This will make your room look smaller and disconnected from the outside world. Use sheer curtains to soften the reflection and keep the connection with the exterior alive.
It’s not rocket science, really. All you need is just a bit of intention and several trips to West Elm. Once you learn how to create layers of light, you will never go back to the old technique. Your living room will stop looking like a room to sleep in and start looking like a room to relax in. Now turn off that ceiling fan light and turn your room into your home.