When it comes to a cozy home, lighting is the unsung hero of ambiance. Unfortunately, apartments are not often known for great lighting. So when demolition is out of the question and floor space is limited, what is a renter to do?

Fortunately, you don’t need to demolish any walls to breathe life into your home.

Use our expert tips below to transform a home into a well-lit retreat.

Go big with low-lighting

Adding low lights in the kitchen can make a big statement. Not only does it make a great night-light, but can also help with cooking or entertaining.

Potential kitchen solutions:

• Traditional or plug-in cabinet lighting can be added with removable adhesive, perfect for a temporary space.
• LED tape is extremely low-profile, dimmable, energy-saving and come in a variety of color temperatures. Some are even dimmable to provide just the right look and feel you desire.
• Puck lights are affordable, quick and easy to add to any dark spot be it under or inside a cabinet.

Aim high with bold ceiling fixtures

Employing eye-catching ceiling lights directs attention upward, opening up your space. This can trick the eye into thinking the room is much larger than it is while also bring in some illuminating drama.

Ikea, Lamp Plus and other retailers even offer several swag lamps which hang from the ceiling but plug into an outlet. This can make adding light to the ceiling a breeze.

That said, ceiling lights work best in tandem with other light sources.

For a room already lacking in natural light, it’s important to utilize pendents with other sources.

Need inspiration? Apartment Therapy Choices

Accent with gusto for dimension

A ceiling light may do it’s job by illuminating a room, but as mentioned a single light source will make your room appear flat and cold. Take a queue from Hollywood and fill in the scene to add dimension.

Having three or more lighting sources gives a room’s illumination flexibility and dimension.

The key is also to balance both ambient light (for mood) and task lighting (for function).

Ambient light is a soft glow that fills space just enough to function without causing a harsh glare. In photography, ambient light is considered the “natural light” within a room. In interior design, is very similar.

Whether it’s a string of LED lights under the cabinet, a backlit panel or a lamp in a dark corner, ambient light can make all the difference on whether the room looks cold or warm and inviting.

While ambient light is meant to get you safely from point A-to-B, it is not ideal for working closely with things or to highlight things around your space.

Instead, supplement with task and accent lighting. Fill in other floor, desk and table space with lamps. Go the extra mile with swing arm lamps, which adjust lighting to a specific area or task.

Putting it all together

Home lighting choices can affect the mood of a room, so it’s important to pick your sources deliberately and wisely.

Employ a variety of the options above to pull it all together without going overboard.

Bonus tip one: utilize mirrors! Double brightness in your room by allowing natural and artificial lighting to bounce off reflective surfaces. By hanging a large mirror directly across from a large window or arranging an array of smaller mirrors you can bring light to ordinarily dark corners, staircases and walls.

Bonus tip two: make your lighting shine by utilizing fixtures in metalics and golds. It brings in bling and shine whether on or off.