How Better Lighting Can Help Sell Your Property

Grey, cloudy days and darker nights don't show your property to its best advantage. So, here are a few simple lighting tips that will help turn your home from dull to brilliant. They're ideal when you're doing winter viewings.

Make Your House Shine Out

Garden lighting will boost your property's kerb appeal and showcase what your garden offers even when it's dark. (As well as helping prospective buyers find their way around.)

Invest in a smart new light fitting for the front door. Add some path lighting. Drape a few twinkly lights around the patio or use them to light up trees and shrubs.

Tip: Low-voltage lights are an easy and cheap option. You won't need an electrician to fit them.

Check, Clean and Fix

Check every light fitting in your home. Replace bulbs that have blown. Give them a quick clean (cobwebs and dead flies aren't a great look). Replace any lampshades that are faded or broken.

Tip: Always use LED bulbs. They can help improve the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of your property.

Be Smart with Lighting

Use several different types of lighting in each room – something interior designers call light layering. It can make a room look more welcoming and interesting, and even a little larger.

For example, in a kitchen diner, have task lighting over areas used for cooking and then decorative feature lighting over the dining table. In a living room, have more subdued ambient lighting, task lighting for reading and perhaps some feature lighting to highlight your favourite pictures and ornaments.

Be Clever with Colour

Cool white light bulbs can literally make your home look cold and uninviting – as well as highlighting any shortcomings in your décor. Warm white light bulbs are better in winter. Adding a pop of colour – such as pink or peach – to some rooms can also create a cosier look at this time of year.

Tip: Smart LED bulbs, where you can select the perfect colour using a remote control or phone app, make this very easy to do.

And Finally…

Before a viewing, turn on the lights in every room to ensure buyers get a warm welcome on arrival.

We'll leave you with this nugget of wisdom from flamboyant, flowing-haired interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen:

'Before designing a room, you need to consider two types of lighting: natural and electric. Make the right choice and you can turn a dull, soulless room into a vibrant space.'

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can outdoor lighting improve my property's appeal?

Outdoor lighting enhances kerb appeal, highlights garden features, and makes it easier for buyers to navigate the property during darker hours.

2. Why is LED lighting a good option for selling a property?

LED bulbs are energy-efficient and can improve your property's EPC rating, making it more attractive to eco-conscious buyers.

3. What is light layering, and why is it important?

Light layering involves using different types of lighting (ambient, task, and feature) to create a welcoming and visually interesting space.

4. How do warm and cool light bulbs affect a room's atmosphere?

Warm white bulbs create a cosy and inviting atmosphere, while cool white bulbs can make a room look cold and highlight imperfections.

5. Should I turn on all the lights during a property viewing?

Yes, turning on lights in every room ensures a warm and inviting atmosphere, particularly during darker months.