8 Lighting Hacks That Take 15 Minutes or Less

Illustration: Julia Abbonizio/Getty Images

Bad lighting? There are few decor faux pas more immediately noticeable than the unfriendly glow of a poorly placed lamp or harsh white bulb. Tough both on the space and those who inhabit it, bad lighting is one decorating obstacle that is (thankfully) easy to rectify with a range of lighting hacks, even for those of us with little money or time to spend on updating our space. From new shades to better bulbs, here are eight quick lighting hacks for taking your space from stark to stunning (or simply cozy).

Scrap the drab shades

Perhaps the easiest change—no electricity required—is trading out plain lampshades for more elevated or unique bulb covers. New York–based designer Loren Daye, known for her studio Love is Enough with clients like Wythe Hotel and Chandelier Creative, recommends Noguchi-style paper shades as a quick fix for flush mounted ceiling lights.

Last year, TikTok creators Josh Jessup and Matt Moss traded their old pendant shade for an easy-yet-beautiful upgrade. “We kept the original fixture and simply used rattan lampshades from IKEA and some bonsai wire to tie it all together,” they explain in an email. “It took us about 10 minutes, and it’s such a beautiful transformation.”

Not necessarily ready to commit to buying a brand-new shade? Consider updating your old one with fringes or beads like decorator and TikTok decor creator Dani Klarić.

Set the mood (with less)

While it may be the default, on or off aren’t the only setting options you’re stuck with for lighting your space. Use dimmers to create adjustable lighting schemes that fit any mood or time of day. Daye strongly suggests installing dimmers on everything. “After 6 p.m., I turn the light level down in our house to allow for a more regulated circadian effect,” she says. The designer also recommends IKEA’s Trådfri bulbs, which come with a remote control and “are great for retrofitting existing lights and allow you to choose a range of white tones of light with the remote dimmer.”

Upgraded and out-of-sight

For spaces that require brand-new lighting on a budget, skip the more expensive and time-consuming lighting wired into the walls and ceiling and use adjacent mirrors or framed wall art to cover your cords, like interior decor creator and DIY aficionado Everything Eryn. No coverage available? Eryn recommends wireless LED bulbs, a slightly more expensive but equally renter-friendly option. For those who want to hold on to their older fixtures, add wireless switches for an easy cordless update.

Get attached (to the wall)

For a small space upgrade that can make a huge difference, trade your table or floor lamp for a sconce, preferably one with an adjustable position. “Drill into that wall and install that sconce you’ve been wanting—you can always patch up the holes later,” says Thana Pramadono, a New York–based designer known for her work with Lichen. “A sconce is always great for tight spaces—a pivoting one especially, serving dual purposes: ambient or desk.”

Little Wing Lee, founder of Studio & Projects and Black Folks in Design, also notes that “plug-in sconces are an easy way to dress up a space without paying for an electrician.” She recently collaborated on a collection of sconces with RBW.

Be more (in)direct

What’s better than lighting? A lack of it, or rather facing your lighting away from the room and toward a wall or corner where it can cast an indirect glow for a more ambient and diffused look. Genki Matsumura of the Mexico City–based design duo Parafernalia, recommends thinking more about where your light doesn’t face: “I find that trying to keep a balance between direct and indirect lighting inside the home can really be helpful for transitioning through needs and moments throughout the day,” he explains. Pointing a lamp to a corner can reveal less perceived dimensions of the space.”

Go hard on hardware

It’s easy to get caught up thinking about the bulb or shade when thinking about updating your lighting, but one big underappreciated upgrade is changing out your light switch or outlet covers, both of which add an elevated touch to your lighting systems and help a space feel more refined. “If you have a very low budget, porcelain sockets that you get at the hardware store are great,” adds Daye.

Get low with your lighting

The hazard of a direct overhead light is something we can all agree on, but many are still relying on default eye-level or tabletop lighting when positioning their lamps and more. Want to give your space an instant facelift and cozier mood? Bring your lighting closer to the ground with low-slung lamps or floor lights that ground the space.

“We often have a preconceived notion that a lighting device should be placed on a table top, eye level, [or] above our heads,” says Pramadono. “However, a low placement provides a warm glow from the bottom up, kind of reminiscent of a cozy fireplace.”

“Rather than using one single big light to light an entire room, instead opt for several smaller light sources scattered around the room in key areas you need it, such as the corners of your room or beside your favorite chair,” Jessup and Moss explain in an email. “Not only does this create a more dynamic lighting environment, it also helps create a calming atmosphere.”

Say bye to bad bulbs

The most tried-and-true (and one of the easiest) upgrades you can make to instantly improve the lighting in your space is to switch to a warmer or more eye-catching lightbulb. Often a pain point for even the most elegant of fixtures, finding the perfect bulb can make or break the mood of your space.

First things first: Identify which bulbs are casting too-white light, which can make the space appear stark and lifeless, and trade them for bulbs in warmer tones—Daye highly recommends 2700 kelvin, a sentiment echoed by others. “For years, I’ve been saying I want to make a T-shirt that just reads ‘2700K’,” says Lee. “Color temperature and intensity of light are key factors to consider.”

For those who want the option to adjust the warmth of the lighting itself, Jessup and Moss suggest “a dimmable bulb that can also change between warm and cool lighting. That way you can create lighting scenes depending on what you’re doing. Cool lighting can help you study and concentrate more while warm lighting allows you to relax and unwind.”

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest