Updated 2024

Are you looking for subtle ways to add beauty and value to your home without spending a fortune? Whether you want to sell or make improvements for your own enjoyment, there are few better ways to do it than by upgrading your lighting.

A few stylish fixtures in each room can go a long way. Now, the key with most home improvement projects is affordability. Many homeowners wish to avoid making significant time and financial commitments to items such as lights and art. With evolving styles and constant trend changes in mind, here are some fun ways to add some extra flair to your home. 

Enhance What You Already Have

Toronto is full of heritage homes that are known for their timeless character and charm. However, time is not always kind to all style choices. And as beautiful as older architecture may be, they can also be a little on the darker side. Fortunately, there are simple ways to give your lighting a boost even if your windows are smaller (or fewer) than you would like. 

For starters, realize that there are layers to your lighting. It isn’t always about adding more lamps and torchlights in every room. A good mix of soft and bright lighting will create a warm and welcoming glow throughout your home. A few inexpensive and subtle updates will help you create the backdrop for your lighting project.

• Say goodbye to any blackout curtains or opaque drapes. Replacing these with translucent sheers provides privacy and reduces glare while allowing far more light to shine into your home.
• If your rooms are on the smaller side, a coat of light or neutral-coloured paint alone will brighten them up substantially. 
• Motion-censored puck lights are not just fun and stylish, but also make it safer when getting up in the middle of the night for a glass of water. 

Looking for even more ways to transform your home? The posts below will get you off to a great start:

• 5 Toronto Furniture Stores To Give Your Home A Makeover
• A Complete Guide to Home Renovations in Toronto
• 5 Bathroom Upgrades With High ROI

Lighting Fixtures From A to Z

A trip to a local lighting store will reveal more incredible lighting fixtures than you ever knew existed. Changing out old fixtures and chandeliers with modern rope or pot lights can be more energy efficient while providing better illumination.

When replacing an existing fixture, you can typically handle the installation yourself to instantly rejuvenate and stylize your home. When adding new fixtures where extra wiring is needed, you might want to consult an electrician to ensure everything is safe and up to code. 

• Chandeliers: When in doubt, stick with the classics! A new chandelier is an excellent way to add a touch of elegance to the room.
• Pendant lighting: A single bulb surrounded in a shade to reduce glare suspended in air creates a modern and stylish aesthetic. The trick to space them efficiently. Accenting them with additional fixtures can enhance the effect.
• Flushed-mount ceiling light: Overhead ceiling lights can add an incredible amount of illumination to the room, and there are countless styles available. They’re a great addition to kitchens or work-from-home spaces where sufficient lighting is essential. 
• Wall sconces: If there is a bit of room in your budget, wall sconces can add a flood of light and character to your home without taking up floor or table space. Instead, they are either plugged into an outlet or hardwired into the wall.
• Projector lighting: Portable projector lights allow you to get creative on a budget and without the need for an electrician. Simply plug in and flip the switch to bathe any room in starlight or other intriguing design. 

Make Your Own Fixtures

Shopping for pre-existing fixtures is likely the fastest way to revamp the lighting in your home. However, at $50 to $150 per item, it can get expensive fairly quickly. If you’re looking for something truly unique and you love to get creative, there’s nothing stopping you from creating your own lights! 

DIY fixtures are lots of fun and can bring a nice warm twist into a place. Best of all, you will have something no one else will have. Ideas range from creating a feature light grouping or a small accent here and there to display alongside a mirror in a bathroom or hang on either side of the bed. 

Start by deciding what style of light and cage you would like. A quick Google search will turn up endless ideas! I found many great sources by just googling “Edison Light” or “Cage Lighting.” You can find Youtube videos with step-by-step instructions for creating light boxes, string lights, decorative lamps, and more. Once you have a style in mind, figure out how many lights you will require. 

The lights will arrive in pieces and it takes no more than 15 minutes to have them assembled and ready for installation. The electrician can then place the cloth wire over top and connect them to the switches, and there you have it– fabulous and creative lighting on a budget! 

Are you looking for a fun way to get out and explore Toronto? Here are some ideas to ensure there’s never a dull moment:

• Cycling in the Summer: Toronto’s Hottest Bike Trails
• Let the Music Play: A Guide to Toronto’s Incredible Venues
• Top Family-Friendly Activities in Toronto for All Seasons

Don’t Forget the Outside

Updating the lighting in your home doesn’t have to stop with the interior. Outdoor lights add atmosphere and character to your exterior, all while making it safer and easier to get around at night. You can find countless solar lights in numerous styles for a few dollars each. However, your options are nearly endless:

• Outdoor wall sconces: These look fantastic on either side of the front door. They’re warm and inviting, and finding your keys in the dark is no problem at all. You can even find dusk-to-dawn solar-powered options which mean no added charges on your hydro bill. 
• String lights: Whether you hang them in clusters or individually, there are few easier or less expensive ways to add beauty and character to your home than strategically placed string lights.
• Fairy lights: If you’re looking for a softer, gentler way to decorate your home at night, fairy lights provide a warm glow that almost feels like magic. You can add them to the top of your pergola or gazebo or place them between flowers to draw attention to your garden.
• Floodlights: Outdoor floodlights are inexpensive and versatile, whether you want to illuminate your walkways or shine a spotlight on your gorgeous landscaping.

Are you looking for more ways to transform your home decor before putting your house on the market? We are happy to share our ideas with you. Reach out to Erica@EricaReddy.com or call 416.443.0300 with any questions.

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