Home Lighting for Less - Part 2

Make the Most of Your Decor

A light paint color on your walls instantly brightens a room. Choose an eggshell or satin finish, which will reflect light off the surface and bounce it through the space better than a flat or matte paint. Add a mirror to diffuse light even more—you may find you don't need to turn on a lamp at all when the curtains are open during the day. Finally, keep your fixtures shining their brightest: Dust bulbs and other glass parts every few months to keep them glowing.

Go Hands-Free

If you (or your family) tend to forget to turn off lights, install occupancy-sensor switches to automatically shut them off a few minutes after you've left the room. A switch costs about $16 and is simple to install. They are especially useful in closets or laundry rooms, since you often leave these areas with your hands full.

Layer Lighting

When there are many different sources of light in a room—ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, table lamps—you can control the exact amount of energy you need at any given time. Using a single-bulb lamp to read instead of a four-bulb overhead fixture, for example, uses 75% less energy. Make sure you have at least three sources of light in spaces like the living room, where you do a variety of activities.

Cut Outdoor Energy Use
Install motion-sensing fixtures around your home's exterior. They're great for added security and you don't have to worry about turning them off (or on) before bed. They come in a variety of styles and prices, and start as low as $13 for a basic security light. When it comes to landscape and path lighting, opt for low-voltage LED fixtures. Come the holiday season, consider what you use to decorate your home and trees: Stick to Energy Star—rated light strings (and put them on a timer) and you'll use 65% less energy than comparable incandescent lights.

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