Previously I shared a common mistake I see in many homes in Part 1 of this Common Mistake Series. As a Home Stager and Designer I see hundreds of homes.
Don't beat yourself up if you are doing any of these mistakes. That is the reason I call them "common" mistakes.
The second most common mistake I see in homes is:
Not enough lamps
Ceiling lights do not replace the need for lamps. If you are selling your home lamps are needed to bring more light into a room, light up a dark corner and make a room cozier. Lighting from the lamps will also make a room look larger.
If you are not selling your home you need lamps to warm up a room, disperse the lighting throughout the room and create more ambiance for entertaining.
As a general rule a living room or family room should have three lamps; placed in as close to a triangular position as possible. What a difference this will make!
As a side note, make at least two of the lamps 'table' lamps if possible. Floor lamps are great and are necessary in tight spaces but three floor lamps in one room is not the best.
If you tuned in to Part 1 I talked about a common mistake in furniture placement. How does the arrangement in the two pictures above avoid that mistake?? Yes….this is a quiz. LOL
Table lamps on each side of a bed is the best way to make an impact and frame out the bed. Don't have these lamps be too small. A secondary mistake, let's call it #2B, is dinky little lamps by the bed. The more massive the bed the taller and beefier your lamps need to be.
I am a Designer and Home Stager and I see things in homes that are sometimes difficult for others to see. I can't fix my leaky faucet so I hire a plumber; I can't write a computer program so I hired an expert to put together my website. We are all good at different things so if you need to, hire a professional.
I hope this helped you in seeing your home in a new light. (pun intended). 🙂
Shar Sitter, DCC, CHSE – Rooms with Style, Home Staging & Redesign; APSD Home Stager Pro Trainer.
I couldn’t agree with you more. Whether for staging or living, I can’t think of anything more unwelcoming than a room with only an overhead light!
hi Sharlene, i think your idea of putting lamps to make the room more cozier and brighter is great.
But would it make the same effect if I instead use only two lamps and reflect the light to the other side of the room with a large mirror?
Two lights are always better than none and a mirror is a great way to bring in and reflect more light. However, they don’t necessarily replace lights. I even love putting a lamp with soft wattage on a console table with a mirror hung behind. Beautiful reflection around the room. Great question!
The higher the lamp is, the lighter the room will be. Your design is fabulous! Great design for not putting the furniture leaned on the wall.
Batangas City R/E: You are correct about the height of the lamps. Tiny lamps by chairs and bedside never provide enough light as the light is shining below the area that needs to be lighted (where you are sitting or laying). Great point!