Don’t worry, you’re not stuck with the dim recessed lighting that your apartment came with. Using unique lighting fixtures is one of the easiest ways to add a definite décor edge to your space — while brightening up (literally) your entire apartment! Here are four types of lighting styles that are perfect for apartment dwellers:
1. Sconces: This type of lighting is often overlooked, but if you’re handy with tools, it’s easy to install. There was a pair of really dated (read: shades made of floral chintz) sconces on one of the walls in my apartment when I moved in. I swapped them out for these modern industrial sconces and used an Edison-style light bulb for a vintage touch. If you don’t want to deal with installing a sconce (or your apartment manager won’t let you), there are plenty of sconces out there that are of the plug-in variety, so all you have to do is screw them to the wall and plug them into an outlet. Sconces look great framing beds or desks, and they’re perfect for apartments where space is at a premium because they don’t take up any floor space at all.
2. Paper Lantern Shades: Paper lantern lampshades are perfect for apartment dwellers. For one, they’re easy to hang — all you need is a hook to screw into the ceiling and an outlet nearby. For another, they’re really cheap, which means you could easily swap out the shades in different colors to change up your apartment’s look. Plus, if you move often, you can just toss the paper shade (but keep the cord) and buy a new one when you move into your new place — paper lampshades are obviously easy to tear during a move.
3. Painted Lampshades: Don’t throw out your mismatched lampshades just yet! For an easy upgrade to your existing lighting, simply paint lampshades the same color to give your rental a more unified look. That’s what I did for the pair of lamps that flank my bed, which helps keep my bed space from looking too busy. For the full tutorial on how to repaint old lampshades, check out the step-by-step post on ForRent.com.
4. Chandelier Shades: If you live in an older apartment building, you may find that your apartment comes decorated with a rather old-fashioned electric chandelier, like the bronze one above in my own rental. When I moved in, the bulbs were naked — which created a harsh light and none-too-pleasing ambiance. A quick search on Amazon led me to a wide selection of clip-on chandelier shades, the perfect solution! The shades add charm to the chandelier and diffuse the light. For a more modern look, go for drum shades that are the same diameter across the top and bottom of the shade.
[tweetthis]For a more modern look, go for drum shades: same diameter across the top and bottom of the shade.[/tweetthis]
What kinds of lighting have you used to jazz up your apartment décor? Share your ideas with us in the comments below!