Upgrading your lighting design is an easy way to transform your home. Here’s how to make a big difference within a short timeframe – even on a small budget.

Swap your shades 
Replacing the shade on a table lamp or pendant is easy, and a bold colour or pattern adds instant pzazz. Choose fashionable materials such as rattan or smoked glass, or buy a plain shade with a warm-coloured, reflective metal lining for an appealing glow.

Retrofit a dimmer
Turn your lights down for atmosphere with a dimmer switch (it’s best to use a qualified electrician for this). Choose an LED-appropriate dimmer for LED bulbs or fittings. 

Plug in more lamps
Bring light to dark corners by adding table or floor lamps for an attractive spread of light at different heights. 

Use smart bulbs
‘Smart’ bulbs can be switched on and off, dimmed or colour-changed via remote control, app or voice command. Some can be linked to other household ‘smart’ systems.

Choose the best CRI
A bulb’s colour rendering index (CRI) measures how colours appear under its light compared to natural daylight, with 100 being daylight-equivalent. Above 90 is preferable.

Get the Kelvins right
Light bulb colour temperature is measured in Kelvins. Choose 2,700K for ‘architectural’ lighting and 2,200-2,400K for decorative fittings.

Use cordless lamps
Cordless lamps are rechargeable fittings with an integral battery and can be placed anywhere you like.

Add a light strip
LED light strips are easy to use, slender and customisable and can go almost anywhere. Add them to coving, bookcases or shelves, underneath or inside cabinets, up the stairs, around mirrors and picture frames, and even inside drawers.

Lower the height of pendants
Create ambience by dropping pendants low over a dining area. Consider slightly varying the heights of a row or cluster of three or more, or swapping a plastic flex for an elegant cotton one. 

Embellish with string lights
Fairy lights add sparkle wherever you like. Great for children’s rooms, an empty fireplace, around a headboard, wound up a staircase, and to highlight a picture or mirror.

Choose interesting bulbs
Modern bulbs come in a variety of decorative styles, such as iridescent, oversized and in glorious shapes.

Add a kinetic light switch
A self-powered, wireless, battery-free kinetic switch lets you move a light switch or dimmer without installing wiring (you’ll need a receiver wired into the fitting or existing switch). They can be used in bathrooms or outdoors.