How To's Why You Need to Upgrade Your Builder-Grade Lighting 11/05/2018 Share One of the most overlooked upgrades in a home is lighting. Switching out your current builder-grade lighting with something more unique and efficient can drastically change the appearance of a room and add value to your home. Hold on tight as we explore the benefits of upgrading the current lighting situation in your home! 1. BE UNIQUE First off, what is builder-grade? It means average. Builder-grade lighting is usually mass-produced with inexpensive materials. This doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad lighting, it just means that it is very common and isn’t the best of the best. With that said, we don’t want your lighting to be average. We want to make it shine (pun intended) and make a statement in your home. Source: Sarah Sherman Samuel Contrast Contrast is the key ingredient because without it everything is bland. Imagine if EVERY ceiling light in your home was exactly the same, the exact same size and in the exact same finish and color. Kinda boring, right? Now, imagine if each room had a ceiling light that was different, that complemented the room’s style and was the right size and color for each room. The lighting is now interesting because it creates contrast from room to room. The problem with builder-grade lighting is that it is usually installed during the build and way before the room is decorated so replacing the lighting eventually gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. So, if you are ready to add interest and contrast to your home, it is definitely time to upgrade your builder-grade lighting. $69.99 Pier1 Shop Now $119.99 World Market Shop Now $275.99 Target Shop Now Layers Often, builder-grade homes don’t provide a variety of lighting in a room, but a designer knows the importance of layering lighting in a room. Don’t just focus on the ceiling lights, think about other forms of lighting that could benefit the room. For example: in a living room, you might have a medium-size chandelier as the focal point, wall sconces flanking the fireplace, a floor lamp in the corner, tables lamps on the end tables and picture lights above your wall art. This room layers in a large variety of lighting which creates interest and functionality. GOAL: Try to layer in at least 3 difference sources of lighting in each room. Source: Better Homes and Gardens 2. MORE EFFICIENT Value Upgrading your builder-grade lighting is not only a simple task, it also adds a ton of value to your home. Your home will look more expensive as well. Don’t worry, we aren’t suggesting that the upgraded lighting has to be expensive. Beautiful lighting can be found on any budget these days! The point that we are trying to make is that if you take the time to switch up builder-grade lighting on any budget, your home will reflect that extra effort and look more custom…..and custom translates into expensive…..which equals a bigger value on your home. $99.00 Pier1 Shop Now $135.99 World Market Shop Now $769.99 Target Shop Now New Technology Technology is always changing and lighting has some really cool upgrades that you should consider. Smart LED light bulbs are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to upgrade your lighting. These bulbs look exactly like your traditional bulbs except they can be controlled by your phone, Alexa or Google Home. Want to add dimmer switches to your lights? The smart bulbs can dim without installing a dimmer switch on the wall. Overall, these provide a big upgrade on a small budget. Source: Magnolia We encourage you to think more about your lighting if you are looking to give your home a makeover. Lighting plays a huge role in the function and look of your home so go beyond the average builder-grade lighting and be unique and more efficient. Are you ready to give your lighting an upgrade but need help? Our designers would love to help! Start a project today and receive a clickable shopping list in your budget in 3-5 business days. HAPPY DECORATING! This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. All opinions and recommendations are our own.