5 Lighting Upgrades Pros Recommend to Instantly Increase Your Home’s Value

When the housing market slows down, it's common to look for anything to make your home outshine the competition.

According to Lutron's 2023 trend report, around three-quarters of U.S. homeowners said they wouldn't purchase a new home if it lacked good natural light even if other boxes on their home search were checked off. This makes lighting an important factor for buyers since it brings value to many homes.

We asked some experts to share their best tips for instantly increasing your home's value and their answers may shock you with how easy it is. Read on how a little glow may bring in some green for you.

Take Control

Automated systems are a huge selling point and something many homebuyers might not even know they want or need until they see one in action. There are several ways you can make it easy for people to take command of the lighting throughout the home. 

One feature eliminates the ritual of walking around the home to see what lights are on. No more following behind the kids, systematically snapping off each switch they forgot to turn off.

Josh Wiener, president of Silver Lining General Contracting + Construction Management, suggests installing an “all off” switch at all exits in your home that allows someone to turn off every light in the house with one click. 

You can also put in a full-control system that allows anyone to control the entire home without a learning curve, says Nathan Orsman, founder of Orsman Design. He says these kinds of systems make it easy for guests and seasonal renters to easily set the home’s lighting just the way they like it.

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Add Light to Kitchen

If there is any room in a house that needs abundant lighting, it is the kitchen. You need to be able to see what you are cooking—and what you are eating. Older homes likely still have dated fluorescent box-type overhead lights, which can cast shadows and scream “1980s” to many buyers.

Although buyers could switch things out later, doing it before they even tour your home will work in your favor.

“People will never complain about having too much light there,” Orsman says. “It’s something we get called in to add or correct. Prospective buyers will appreciate if quality recessed architectural lighting is already in place because the work to add it is invasive.” 

Other kitchen lighting upgrades that will pay off include under-counter and cabinet lighting, in-drawer lighting, and accent or layered lighting, says Wiener. These additions will give the kitchen more depth and visual appeal, he says.

Don’t Forget Bathrooms

The other room where adequate light is a necessity is the bathroom, especially the primary bathroom.

Wiener says top lighting value includes vanity lighting with adjustable color temperatures, compact linear lights for navigating at night, and in-shower lighting above or under shelves. These upgrades can make your bathroom look like a luxurious spa. 

Keep Lighting Even

In many homes, the light fixtures in different rooms have different recommendations on the maximum wattage of bulbs used in them. So you can have a 60-watt in a hallway, move into a 100-watt in the next room, and so on throughout the house. This might seem normal, but Orsman says streamlining will open your eyes. 

“Using consistent color temperature and lamping throughout can also make a surprising difference,” he says. “We find private residences are most comfortable at 2700K, and with the eradication of incandescent lighting, it is important that decorative fixtures are fitted with the correct LED bulbs.”

Orsman recommends testing out one bulb at a time to see how it looks in the house since different manufacturers have varying qualities. He encourages homeowners to aim for softness when it comes to the glow.

Take It Outside

It's essential to not forget about exterior lighting upgrades since a few additions can greatly highlight your outdoor space and emphasize safety. Adding some uplights and downlights will showcase gorgeous trees or a beautiful flower garden which is a growing trend.

Illuminating any tripping hazards will also be appreciated by any potential homebuyer. Add appropriate lighting to pathways and stairs for safety, however, that doesn’t mean you need floodlights for additions to be effective.

“It’s important to use the correct materials,” says Orsman. “Fully shielded fixtures with a deeper form factor and low glare, for example, mitigate visibility of the light source.”

Just as safety is important in your exterior lighting setup, the atmosphere is also key for many buyers. You don’t want to stick lights outside simply to have lights outside. If the home has a backyard patio, consider how it will be used.

“Implementing lighting just in the grill area rather than the full area can create a welcoming ambiance that maintains the feel of the evening,” Wiener says. 

And, as with any interior lighting upgrades, saving prospective buyers some money down the line will put your home in a favored spot.

“The first and most invasive part is ensuring the correct infrastructure is in place,” Orsman says. He explains how once all the planting materials mature and the landscape evolves, it's easier to edit the lighting.

Upgrading and making changes to the lighting scheme both inside and outside your home makes a huge difference in how potential buyers view it and helps them see themselves living there. No matter if it’s a red-hot sales time of year or the off-season, taking steps to make your home stand out will always put it in the best light.