You probably know your home well enough to walk through it without giving much thought to the route. That familiarity can make lighting problems easy to overlook until a burned-out bulb, deep shadow, or hard-to-see step causes trouble. As vision changes, rooms that once seemed adequately lit may need brighter or better-positioned light. A home lighting review can reveal where added illumination, reduced glare, or automatic controls could improve both safety and everyday comfort.
To identify lighting trouble spots, you can do a simple two-step audit of your living spaces.
First, since dark or dim spaces can happen even in daylight hours, turn off all lights and inspect each room and hallway. Make sure you close any drapes or shades that you might use during the day. Second, repeat the assessment after dusk.
For each step you need to determine whether you can travel from space to space with easy access to sufficient lighting. Ask these questions:
Also, check for areas of glare. Harsh lighting and sunlight can create glare which becomes increasingly uncomfortable with age due to increased light sensitivity. Glare can also be dangerous as it can hide objects that may cause falls or tripping.
After the two-step audit, list all the problems and make a plan for lighting modifications.
Don’t forget outdoor spaces. Adequate lighting around your house and the rest of your property can not only help prevent tripping and falls but also provide an essential measure of home security.
Finally, changes around the home, like flooring alterations (e.g., new carpet and accompanying floor-level transitions between rooms) and furniture rearrangements, may require reevaluating lighting needs in those spaces.
Some areas of the home deserve special attention because these pose extra risk. Stairways are an obvious example, but entrances, bathrooms, garages, basement steps, uneven walkways, and places where flooring changes from one level to another can also present hazards.
Stairway lighting should illuminate the entire staircase so you can easily judge the depth or edge of each step. If an overhead fixture doesn't provide enough light, consider adding wall-mounted fixtures or low-level lights along the staircase. Motion-activated lighting can add extra protection by turning on automatically as you approach, especially when your hands are full or you get up during the night.
If you use manual switches, make sure there are switches at both the top and bottom so you can turn on the lights going up or down.
Pay particular attention to changes in floor level. A single step between rooms, a raised threshold, or the transition from a hallway to a sunken living room can be surprisingly easy to miss in poor lighting.
Other high-risk locations deserve similar attention. Bathrooms should have adequate lighting around the toilet, tub, and shower, while entrances should clearly illuminate steps, thresholds, locks, and walking surfaces. Garages and basements may need additional fixtures to eliminate dark corners and shadows. Outdoor lighting should illuminate steps, walkways, and changes in pavement level from the house to the driveway, sidewalk, or garage.
When evaluating these areas, don't simply ask whether there is a light. Stand where you normally approach the stairs, doorway, or other potential hazard and ask yourself: Can I clearly see where I'm putting my next foot? If the answer is no, you may need additional or better-positioned lighting.
Too much light can be a problem, too. Glare from sun streaming through windows or from unshaded lighting fixtures can create safety hazards. Ways to minimize the intensity include lampshades, diffusers, blinds, and positioning lamps so bulbs aren't directly visible. Also, walls covered with glossy paint or shiny wallpaper, or floors with smooth surfaces, can cause unwanted light reflection. Resurfacing these trouble spots with finishes that break up the glare can help.
Shades or drapes can also help cut down on glare originating from outside. But eliminating too much light can be a hazard, too. For instance, room-darkening shades are popular, not only to cut glare but also to keep a room cooler on a hot day, prevent furnishings from fading, or provide a dark napping environment. However, these window coverings can make some spaces so dark they become unsafe even in the daytime. In these cases, provide adequate electrical lighting for times when you’re moving about in a darkened room at any time of the day.
The best part is that most nightlights are easy to install and can be placed anywhere there is an electrical outlet, so they typically don't require extra wiring. Some activate when the space gets dark enough, and others are motion-activated. They can be used in many areas, such as:
Sometimes dark spaces like storage areas lack electrical outlets. In these cases, battery-powered night lights can provide illumination. Consider units with motion-sensing capabilities that turn on when you enter the space and off after you leave. This will extend battery life.
Another solution for lighting dark spaces is a home automation system that can turn lights on and off automatically based on time of day, available light, or on demand via motion, voice command, or a smartphone app. Motion-activated lights in halls or stairways can be notably helpful. Home automation can be particularly effective for people with impaired mobility or vision sometime find it difficult to turn lights on and off.
Another way to manage varying lighting needs throughout the day is to install adjustable dimmer switches. Sometimes, you may need to increase light levels, such as when you are reading. Conversely, dimming lights can help with a gentle transition in your bedroom as you prepare for sleep. In this case, it's most convenient to install a dimmer switch you can control by voice command or from your smartphone, so you don't have to leave your bed to adjust the lights.
If you like to read, cook, work at a desk, or do crafts, don’t forget task lighting. General overhead lighting may provide enough illumination to move safely around a room, but it may not provide enough light for activities that require you to see small details clearly. Task lighting directs additional light exactly where it is needed. This can also help with managing medications, since reading small print on prescription bottles and distinguishing among pills is critical.
When positioning task lighting, more brightness isn't necessarily better. Place lamps and fixtures so the light falls on the work surface without shining directly into your eyes or creating distracting reflections and shadows. Adjustable lamps can be especially useful because you can reposition the light for different activities.
One of the great innovations of the past few decades has been LED lighting. LED bulbs provide long life and therefore, less maintenance and are available in a range of brightness levels and color temperatures. When replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with LEDs, check the package to see how lumens (the amount of light an LED bulb produces) translate to watts of old-style bulbs so you can maintain your preferred brightness.
Good lighting should help you see where you are going before you take the next step. Walk through your home during the day and again after dark, paying attention to any place where the path ahead becomes unclear. Address the areas that affect your daily routine first. The result can be a home that feels easier to use without changing the way you live in it.
Bring better lighting within reach. LED bulbs, smart controls, and new fixtures can improve lighting throughout your home. The Visa Signature Credit Card offers purchasing flexibility and rewards on eligible home-improvement expenses.