lighting Archives - Jayne Thomas https://jaynethomas.com/tag/lighting/ Home Decor On A Budget Wed, 20 Aug 2025 20:35:49 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://jaynethomas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cropped-Jayne-Thomas-Logo-32x32.png lighting Archives - Jayne Thomas https://jaynethomas.com/tag/lighting/ 32 32 Lighting Ideas, A Quick Guide To Make A Small Room Look Bigger https://jaynethomas.com/lighting-ideas-small-room-bigger/ https://jaynethomas.com/lighting-ideas-small-room-bigger/#respond Fri, 08 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://jaynethomas.com/?p=9980 These lighting ideas combine to best lighting technique with functional lighting layouts to make any small room feel and look bigger. Whether you own or rent, these tricks are perfect for every budget and aesthetic. Small rooms don’t have to...

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]]> These lighting ideas combine to best lighting technique with functional lighting layouts to make any small room feel and look bigger. Whether you own or rent, these tricks are perfect for every budget and aesthetic.

Small rooms don’t have to feel as small as they are. With a few well placed floor lamps or the gorgeous table lamp you saw in the boutique, you can visually open up the space.

It’s about finding the best use of the light and keeping shadows to a minimum. The best thing about using lighting tricks to make a small room feel bigger is that it is the ultimate renter-friendly solution. 

This quick guide is here to provide you with some great home styling tricks to brighten up any space in your home. It’s designed with straightforward information that fits any budget or aesthetic. To give you easy, actionable ideas and steps to brighten and enlarge even the smallest apartment, all with lighting. 

Best Lighting Tricks & Ideas To Make A Small Room Bigger

1. Layout Lighting in Layers

Think of your light fixtures and lamps as layers. To make your space look bigger, add more layers to the light, essentially pushing shadows away while adding depth. 

Ceiling lights are your ambient lighting. Floor lamps or table lamps are generally placed as task lighting. Then LED strips or sconces are used as accent lighting to eliminate shadow and add depth.

2. Take advantage of Natural Light

Light doesn’t always have to come from lamps or ceiling lights. Natural light is the best light source for making a small room bigger.

The easiest way is to swap heavy curtains for sheer lightweight curtains. Plus, adding mirrors to the wall opposite windows.

It’s a great hack for apartment lighting. As it reflects even the tiniest bit of light around the room, it tricks the eye into seeing more space.

3. Direct Light to Bounce off Walls and Ceilings

“Lift” the ceiling by using what is called up lighting. It’s basically floor lamps that point up or wall sconces that give the ceiling more light. Making it appear higher.

For a small studio apartment, LED strips behind furniture make the walls seem farther away. This style of lighting layout is very effective in making the space feel bigger. 

4. Focus on the Dark Corners

Dark corners shrink the room.  Floor lamps or even a small table lamp as accent lighting in a corner “pushes out” the walls, helping the space feel bigger.

5. Use Clear or Slim Lighting for a Tiny Room

To avoid visual clutter in a tiny room, opt for glass pendant lights, Edison bulbs, or recessed fixtures. 

6. Make Use of Reflective Surfaces

Mirrors aren’t the only option for reflecting light around a small room. Metallic finishes like chrome, brass or glass help scatter light. A cool trick is to use a disco ball as a cool statement piece. It works wonders in a tiny bedroom, too.

7. Stick to Light or Neutral Tones

White or pale walls and furnishings amplify light perfectly. Especially when used with both warm and cool lighting to create a balance between coziness and openness.

8. LED Lighting is your Best Friend

LED strip lighting placed under beds or shelves gives a floating effect, making the floor space seem larger. This is a favourite on Pinterest as a small space lighting hack.

9. Use Vertical Light to Face Tall Ceilings

Tall floor lamps or vertically mounted LED strips will draw the eye upwards to exaggerate the height of your ceilings. The perfect lighting idea for low-ceiling apartments.

10. Adjust Light Temperature and Brightness

Cool white light gives an open and airy feel to a room, while warm light has a cozy feel. Use smart bulbs to easily switch between moods. This is a great renter-friendly and affordable way to up your apartment lighting layout. 

Combine these lighting tricks with 15 Living Room Ceiling Colors That Add Depth, the perfect pairing to make low ceilings disappear visually!

Lighting Ideas: Warm Vs Cool For Small Rooms

warm lighting in living room

Using warm lighting gives a cozy, inviting feel to any room; it has a yellow or amber hue that gives any room a comfortable and relaxing feel. Warm lighting in a small room is usually reserved for bedrooms and living rooms.

Even though it is a warmer tone and not as bright as cool lighting, warm light also if placed strategically (like the 10 hacks at the start of this post), will make small rooms feel bigger. 

lighting ideas for office niche with cool toned lights

Cool lighting in small rooms is usually reserved for task lighting. For example, an office nook in a living room might have cool, bright light that gives a feeling of working in a bigger space. It’s also often found in kitchens and bathrooms for this reason. 

In small apartments or homes, combining the two is the best way to get the best lighting throughout your space. Keep accent and overhead light in warm tones and cool tones for task lighting. This gives you the best lighting layout for both visually expanding your space and coziness. 

Where To Place Lights In A Small Room To Avoid Shadows

table lamp in the corner of living room to avoid shadows

A small room can feel impossible to add extra things without it feeling smaller. However, placing a light source like a table lamp in the darkest corner will instantly illuminate shadows. Make the room feel bigger.

glass table lamp
ideas like strategic lighting placement helps to avoid shadows in small room

When thinking about where to place lights to avoid shadows, start by finding where the shadows are in the space. Turn the overhead light on and take note of the darkest corners or areas that make the space feel closed in. Then place lighting in those areas. IT can be as simple as rechargeable candles on shelves or a floor lamp placed in a corner or behind the couch. 

pendant floor lamp
rechargeable curtains

Best Lighting Ideas for Small Living Rooms

Light blue ceiling colors in a cozy living room with a sloped ceiling

This stunning small living room uses a floor lamp as not only task lighting but also accent lighting. 

gold floor lamp
layered lighting in a busy living room

A maximalist living room is great for layering lighting. Here, the mirror, the table lamp and the retractable sconce work together to give this busy space an open feel.

retractable wall sconce

Best Lighting for Small Living Rooms to Appear Larger

bright lighting layout in a small room using floor lamps

Here is a great example of the best lighting layout for a small room. The minimal floor lamp and the use of lots of vertical light with the corner glass floor lamp and the sconces all work together to help this small room feel bigger and airier. 

glass shade floor lamp
floor lamps and mirror to make small room bigger

A great example of how much mirror surfaces and directed light can open up a small room. The surfaces amplify the light during the day, making it a light filled open space. While at night, the mirror and coffee table disperse the light from the wall light and lamp evenly for a warm glow.

glass coffee table
mid century modern wall lights

Want to enhance your lighting even more? Pair these tricks with the Perfect Living Room Paint Colors to maximize brightness and mood, science-backed shades that make small spaces feel larger!

Rental-Friendly Lighting Ideas

rental friendly curtains is a budget lighting idea

Sheer curtains are the best rental-friendly idea for any budget or room size. When open, light floods to space and when closed for privacy, they still allow soft light to filter throughout the room. Opening up the space and making a small room instantly bigger. 

linen curtains
rechargeable table lamps to brighten shelves in small room

To keep up with changing styles or moods, place small rechargeable lamps on shelves and surfaces. They are easy to move around as the sun changes patterns and intensity over the year to ensure that any dark areas are quickly banished. 

rechargeable lamp for shelving

Rental-Friendly Lighting Tricks For Small Spaces

rechargeable scones are one of the best ideas for apartment lighting

Just because you are renting doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of these lighting hacks for small spaces.  Rechargeable scones are one of the best ideas for apartment lighting. The simple attaches to the wall with 3M command strips or screws.

idea to scatter light with disco ball

Honestly, one of the best ways to spread light around a small room is with a disco ball. It’s fun, unique, and not only affordable but incredibly renter-friendly. Hang it from the ceiling (like here) to scatter the light from windows or overhead lighting or place it simply on a shelf or under a coffee table.

disco ball

While these lighting hacks transform your space, don’t forget about noise control! Pair them with Renter-Friendly Soundproofing Hacks That Actually Work for the ultimate comfortable apartment.

Small Studio Apartment Lighting Layout Ideas

lighting layout to spread light throughout studio apartment.

Take this studio as a sign to transform string lights into an indoor feature; weaving them around the ceiling really adds dimensions. The sheer curtains add privacy without sacrificing light. This light layout is perfect as it beautifully combines floor lamps as accent lighting and table lamps for ambiance. This studio really shows that even small space lighting can be both functional and stylish. 

string lights
studio apartment lighting layout that uses lighting to define each area.

Create a studio apartment lighting layout that uses lighting to define each area. Like in this studio, a pendant light hangs over the dining area while wall scones illuminate the kitchen space and an adjustable bedside lamp is great as both task and ambient lighting. By giving each zone its style of lighting design, the space feels organized and open. 

Love how lighting defines zones in this studio? Pair these tricks with 22 Stylish Small Apartment Layout Ideas to maximize every square foot, no construction needed!

How to use floor lamps to make a narrow room look wide

tall floor lamps for effective apartment lighting

Use tall floor lamps that mirror the style of the room, place them in the corner to light, get rid of shadows, and emphasize vertical space. Make sure they are next to something smaller to really get the full effect. It is a crucial small space lighting trick for narrow rooms, giving them a wider feel with taller ceilings. This idea is great for apartment lighting as it helps tunnel-like spaces feel more airy.

Tripod Floor Lamp
modern multidirectional floor lamp between the bed and the window

This small space lighting solution uses a modern multidirectional floor lamp between the bed and the window to counteract the cramped feel from a narrow room.  The adjustable light allows you to cast light vertically to draw the eye to the ceiling and horizontally to illuminate all the walls and corners with indirect light.

floor lamp with movable lights

Apartment Lighting Hacks To Make Ceilings Look Higher

apartment lighting for hallway with bright bulbs in statement light fixture

For apartment lighting, sometimes floor lamps or sconces just won’t fit. Like in a hallway or a tiny room. So, going for a bright statement light fixture has the added bonus of making the ceiling look higher and giving the space a bright daylight feel. 

lush Mount Ceiling Light Mid Century Modern Overhead Ceiling Light 6-Lights
lighting ideas for small rooms with low ceilings is to add sconces to walls

One of the best apartment lighting hacks is to use sconces. They take up no floor space and direct the light straight at the ceiling, making it look higher than it actually is. Great for bathrooms and any room that doesn’t get a lot of light. 

wall sconces

Smart Lighting Ideas: Best LED Strip Placement For Small Spaces

LED stips under shelves for soft ambiant lighting

Adding LED strips under shelving serves two purposes: it gives you soft ambient lighting and gives the wall the illusion of being further away than it is.

lighting shelves with warm toned LED strip lights.
LED strip lights in small room to heighten ceiling

The best strip lighting placement to give light to the whole space is on the ceiling. In small spaces, this works particularly well as it bathes the whole space in light with any visual clutter. 

How To Light A Tiny Bedroom To Feel Spacious

LED lights in lofted bedroom to reduce shadows

The key to making a tiny bedroom feel spacious is to add as much light as possible without obvious light fixtures. Like here, the LED strips on the highest point of the ceiling spread light throughout the room evenly. While the bedside lamps cast light on the low parts of the ceiling and the wall behind the bed, essentially “pushing “ them out. 

cool toned LED stips lights
lighting ideas for sconces in bedroom to make room feel bigger

The best lighting for a tiny bedroom is fixtures with glass or acrylic shades. This gives you the light to avoid shadows while not interrupting the line of sight. They also have the added bonus of being reflective, so they reflect not only their own light through the room but light from other sources as well. 

acrylic or glass scone a greate lighting idea.

Transform Your Space With These Genius Lighting Ideas

Now that you’ve explored these genius lighting ideas, you are now armed with the best lighting tricks to transform any small space. Whether it’ floor lamps to cast vertical illusions or a layered lighting layout that removes shadows. These apartment lighting solutions show that small rooms can easily feel bigger and stylish with a couple of lights. 

Start with one change, maybe a disco ball in your living room or LED strips on the shelves? Either one of these lighting ideas will instantly make the biggest difference in your small room.

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]]> https://jaynethomas.com/lighting-ideas-small-room-bigger/feed/ 0 No Natural Light: The Top Hallway Lighting Ideas https://jaynethomas.com/no-natural-light-top-hallway-lighting-ideas/ https://jaynethomas.com/no-natural-light-top-hallway-lighting-ideas/#respond Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:49:31 +0000 https://jaynethomas.com/?p=4392 This post has inspiration for Hallways With No Natural Light Using Some Of The Top Hallway Lighting Ideas. You spend more time walking through a hallway than relaxing in it. However, hallways provide the best opportunity to let your creative side out.

Paint the walls, create a gallery wall, and experiment with wallpaper and molding. A large part of this is lighting, without good lighting, your work can go underappreciated.

With the right lighting, you can change a dark hallway with no natural light into a bright and open path through your home.

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pin image

Hallways can sometimes feel like a forgotten space.

You spend more time walking through a hallway than relaxing in it. However, hallways provide the best opportunity to let your creative side out.

Paint the walls, create a gallery wall, and experiment with wallpaper and molding. A large part of this is lighting, without good lighting, your work can go underappreciated.

With the right lighting, you can change a dark hallway with no natural light into a bright and open path through your home.

A space, perfect for creating a cohesive line between rooms in your home. You can blend a rustic county-style kitchen into a modern living room with modern rustic light fixtures.

Discover Hallway Lighting Inspiration and Tips to Bring Your Space to Life.

Explore a variety of options, from budget-friendly selections to captivating decorative wall lights designed to capture your attention

How to lighten a dark hallway with no natural light

A hallway with no natural light creates a boxed-in gloomy feeling in the space.

Introducing natural light to a space or a sense of natural light can bring brightness and the illusion of more space. Changing a dark narrow hallway into a bright light light-filled hall.

Add A Skylight For Spaces With No Natural Light

If you are in a position to renovate and a skylight is a possibility, then do it. Not only is a skylight one of the top hallway lighting ideas for creating a bright and open hallway that improves the ambiance of your home and allows sunlight to flood the space.

They reduced the need for lights in a dark hallway during the day and created warmth from the sun shining into the space.

No Natural Light skylight
Victorian Style Skylight ( Photo Source: Victoria Balva Glass Studio)

This skylight has light and charm in this old home’s hallway. Created in a style that reflects the aesthetic of the home.

skyligh for hallway
A Sun Tunnels / Tubular Skylight ( Photo By Belle Skylights)

A less expensive option is Sun Tunnels or Tubular Skylights. They are metal tubes installed on the roof that reflect the sun down into your home. Many come with solar lights that automatically give out soft lighting once the sun goes down.

LED Ceiling Lights

LED ceiling lights for your hallway are a great energy-efficient lighting choice. They also provide terrific mood lighting and can easily be adjusted to how bright you like your hallway.

led Hallway Lighting Ideas No Natural Light
Classic LED Light Fixture (Photo Source: lights.co.uk )

These LED light fixtures give a bright and warm glow to this hallway. The simplicity and classic lines of this style of lighting fit in with most aesthetics. While it suits this contemporary home wonderfully, this fixture would look at home in a Boho, Scandinavian, or Farmhouse Rustic space.

flush light fixture
hallway led strip lighting
LED Strip Lighting ( Photo Source: Wired & Wonderful UK)

Install LED strips on your molding close to your ceiling for an all-over glow to your hallway with no natural light.

LED strip lighting installed on ceiling molding in a hallway with no natural light.

Layered Lighting

Give your hallway an all-around warm and comforting feel by layering your lighting. The Idea of layered lighting is to give lights more dimension. Instead of standard overhead lights, add wall sconces or picture lights to add a layer of light in your hallway.

No Natural Light wall sconces in hallway
Hallway With Layered Lighting (Photo Source: Digs Digs )

This hallway is a great example of using top hallway lighting. The wall scones anchor the doors and the picture light draws your eyes towards the end of the hallway, elongating the space. Create different dimensions of light with lamps and mirrors.

hallway lighting layered lamps
Layering Lighting with Lamps and Mirrors (Photo credit: Future PLC/James French)
table lamp

Floor Lighting

Using floor lighting to add dimension and ambiance to your hallway is a great idea. Perfect for a hallway with no natural light, floor lighting creates a sense of height by illuminating hallways from floor to ceiling.

Top Hallway Lighting Ideas No Natural Light floor lights
Photo source: Top Shopping

Floor lighting allows you the option to have ambient lighting through your hallway without using harsh lighting. 

Top Hallway Lighting Ideas led floor lights
 Photo source: Light 11

Smart lights are a great idea as they give you the ability to have a windowless hallway illuminated constantly. So, you can have the warmth and strength of the light change to reflect the time of day.

No Natural Light – Types Of Lights Perfect For Long Hallways

Pendant Lighting

Hallway Lighting Ideas No Natural Light pendant light fixtures
Photo Source: Digs Digs

Pendant lights are perfect for long hallways as they help create interest throughout the hallway. They also help bring the eye upwards to create a more open feeling. By doing this they can reduce the feeling of confinement that can sometimes come with long narrow hallways.

Pendant lighting in a long hallway with no natural light adds height and visual interest.

Recessed lighting is Perfect For Hallways With No Natural Light

Hallway Lighting Ideas Recessed lighting
Photo Credit: INTERIORSWAG

Recessed lighting is a great option as well, as they don’t take up a lot of visual space. However, they allow a narrow hallway to be evenly lit.

LED ceiling lights brighten a hallway with no natural light and create a warm, modern feel.

Wall sconces 

Hallway Lighting Ideas No Natural Light picture lights
Photo Credit: APIECEOFMYHAVEN

For a narrow hallway, wall scones allow the hallway to be well-lit while keeping the ceiling clear, a great option for low ceilings. To highlight artwork or doors, opt for picture lighting to add visual interest to the hallway while keeping a well-lit space.

For renters, wall sconces are a great option to add additional light as there are many battery-operated lights and lightbulbs available.

battery powered picture light
picture lighting

No Natural Light: Perfect Lighting For Short Hallways

For a short hallway, some of the top lighting ideas are recessed or down lighting. The aim is to take up as little space as possible while still having sufficient lighting. The use of layered lighting can also achieve a well-lit but not crowded hallway.

No Natural Light: Styles of Lighting to Match Your Aesthetic

Modern

Hallway Lighting Ideas modern
Photo Credit: Sonya Winner Rug Studio

This modern hallway uses track lighting on the ceiling. This creates a well-lit but minimal hallway. The black metal style of the lights complements both the planter and the frames with the rug as the main feature.

track lighting

Rustic 

Hallway Lighting Ideas No Natural Light rustic and farmhouse styles
Photo Credit: Kasha Paris/Idha Lindhag

This Rustic meets Farmhouse with a touch of a modern aesthetic uses industrial/vintage style pendant lights to bring all the elements in the hallway together.

A rustic hallway with no natural light styled using industrial-style light fixtures.

Farmhouse

Hallway Lighting Ideas mirror
Photo Credit: Polly Wreford / Claudia Bryant

This hallway embodies the farmhouse style not only with the decor but with the integration of layer lighting. The lamp will cast a warm glow throughout the space.

lamps

Boho

Hallway Lighting Ideas No Natural Light boho
Photo Credit: Old And New

This is a great example of complementing a bohemian style without being overwhelming. The semi-flush lighting fixture with gold accents works well to balance out the vibrant rug while continuing the boho style throughout the hallway.

semi pendant light

Scandi

Hallway Lighting Ideas scandinavian style
Photo Source: Edward George London

The hallmarks of Scandinavian design are clutter-free areas with generally a neutral palette, with a warmth and comforting vibe. Clean lines like these pendant lights with a warm bulb are perfect for a Scandi aesthetic. In combination with the hanging Edison bulbs at the end of the hallway, it offers a warm and well-lit hallway.

glove light fixture
edison bulb
rope light kit

Brighten Up Hallways With No Natural Light

A hallway with no natural light doesn’t have to feel dull or forgotten.

With thoughtful lighting choice. Like recessed lights, floor-level LEDs, or decorative wall sconces, you can completely transform the space.

The right lighting adds warmth, dimension, and personality, making even the darkest hallway feel inviting and connected to the rest of your home.

From farmhouse to modern styles, there’s a lighting solution to suit every aesthetic.

Let these hallway lighting ideas inspire your next refresh and turn your hallway with no natural light into one of your favorite areas to style and showcase.

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