Daylight savings time has come and gone, and we're officially in the darkest season of the year. 

Don't get us wrong. Our real estate agents love winter in Chicagoland, but we could all use a little more illumination this time of year. These tips for improving your home's lighting will help you live in a brighter, cheerier space just in time for the holidays. 

Let In More Natural Light

Natural light is more important than ever during the season when there isn't as much of it to go around. Depending on your home's layout, you could take advantage of sunlight from every angle, but the south-facing portions of your home tend to get the most light. Use lighter curtains for privacy, but keep thick drapes open as much as possible during daylight hours. You could also use mirrors opposite from windows to amplify and redirect the natural light. 

Layer Lighting

Multiple light sources create layered lighting, brightening rooms more completely and enhancing the light's ability to create dimension and texture. To create a layered lighting effect, there should be at least three light sources in a room:

• Ambient light creates illumination throughout an entire room. Examples include natural light from a window or an overhead light fixture on a low setting.
  
  
• Task light emphasizes a certain area. Desk lamps, floor lamps and table lamps are commonly used to produce task light to help part of a room stand out. 
  
  
• Accent lighting helps tie the other types of lighting together. Options include wall sconces, track lighting or LED tape, and can be used to emphasize specific pieces of art or decor.

Make a Lighting Fixture the Focal Point

Lighting fixtures don't have to recede into the background. Choosing a bold, unique fixture will help tie together other elements in the room while ensuring a bright, cheerful space. Dining rooms and living rooms are great spaces to try out an eye-catching chandelier or ceiling fixture, and artistic lamps can have a similar effect in smaller rooms. 

Use Dimmers

Adding dimmers to your lights gives you total control over the atmosphere in any given room. You can quickly and easily transition from moody and romantic to bright and lively or choose a middle ground anywhere in between. Dimmer switches are also fairly easy to install, but consider hiring a pro if you're not comfortable doing it yourself. 

Choose a Better Light Bulb

The type, brightness and color of a light bulb can have a tremendous impact on the space it's in, and switching light bulbs in winter can elevate your home's ambiance. These are a few of the best light bulbs to consider for improving the lighting in winter:

• Full spectrum bulbs use filters to closely replicate all the colors of light from the sun. They're about the closest a light bulb can come to mimicking the "full spectrum" of natural sunlight. 
  
  
• Daylight bulbs tend to fall on the cooler side of the light spectrum. They are commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices and to brighten windowless spaces like basements. 
  
  
• Soft white light bulbs are somewhat warmer than daylight bulbs. They create what could be described as a cozier light and are popular in bedrooms, living rooms, and dens. 

Contact us today for more home improvement ideas. We're committed to helping you live your best life in Chicagoland, including finding your dream home in any of Chicago's many unique neighborhoods.