Regardless if you are working with synthetic or natural light, it has the ability to energize not just your home but the people in it as well. Brilliant touches of radiance can invigorate your home instead of letting dark spaces create a dismal mood. These easy tips will bring light to your space to add cheer to your day.

• Welcome the Sun – Sheer window treatments, like sheer Levolor Blinds, provide brighter color by allowing natural light to fill the room. Thoughtfully placing mirrors where the light will be reflected will add a bright, positive energy to your space.

• Avoid Clutter – Ottomans and storage benches are ideal for hiding blankets, magazines, etc., when not in use. Also, avoid adding too much furniture or art to a room. Too many objects in a room can cause it to appear smaller and darker.

• Make Use of White – While white may not be the color you immediately think of when you picture contemporary design, small hints of it can certainly go a long way in brightening up your space. Fluorescent bulbs used in white accent lamps will offer you a more natural feel with your lighting while white moldings, shelves and picture frames can add just a hint of contrast in a darker room.

Light plays a key role in your mood and overall appearance of a room and should be treated as a primary decorating element, not an afterthought!

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At first glance, the Puff Light pictured above probably looks a little like something you would have hanging in the shower, right? Well, this is not a loofah! Created by Josh Urso Design, this sculptural pendant lamp is made from resin-impregnated fabric that is strategically arranged into a spherical burst.

The Puff Light is available in 24 different colors and patterns, all offering a nice rich texture. So, whether you are looking for a yellow light to go with your country cottage theme, a moss green color to compliment your spa decor or a black and white print to become a focal point in a contemporary room, there is a fabric available for you in a Puff Light!

These fresh and fun lights are environmentally-friendly, come with CFL bulbs and all the hardware that you need for hanging. Don’t let the flirtation of this piece fool you into thinking that it won’t dent your pocket book though, the Puff Light is anything from cheap! They range from $770 for a 10-inch light up to $5,280 for one that is 4-feet. Can you imagine one of these whimsical lights hanging from your ceiling that is that big? Your neighbors would have a hard time topping this one! View all of the available colors of the Puff Light and Plush Pod.

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A wall sconce is the perfect solution to any indoor or outdoor lighting problem that you may have. They’re stylish, come in a large variety of styles and they don’t require too much room. They are perfect for a short wall, rooms or basements with low ceilings of for your front porch or back patio area.

Lantern Sconce

These are the most popular varieties found on exteriors of homes. They are traditionally black and although many years ago you would think that there was only one style available (judging by identical lighting seen throughout neighborhoods), today they are available in many unique designs. This is the perfect way to blend traditional lighting with a more modern appearance.

Hand-blown Art Sconce

Becoming extremely popular are these hand-blown pieces that serve a dual purpose as a light and a piece of art. These sconces are typically pretty expensive but what an impact they make on a room!

Contemporary Sconce

A polished steel wall sconce will compliment any contemporary decor. Their polished look offers light without becoming a distraction. Of course, steel isn’t your only option when looking for a contemporary sconce, they’re also available in many complimentary colors such as black, white, gray and red.

Motion Detector Sconce

Any type of outdoor lighting that features a motion detector has become a preferred choice. They provide light, enhance security, deter theft and you never have to worry about wasting electricity. This type of wall sconce only comes on when it detects movement so not only is it stylish and convenient, it can help you lower your carbon footprint as well!

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• Pendants – Hanging multiple pendants together over an island or kitchen table certainly adds a lot of original and interest to your room.

• Strands – Think string lighting with big round bulbs! These can be hung in an endless number of configurations. You can create a waterfall with several strands or even use them to divide off a room.

• Chandelier – While you may not associate chandeliers with modern design, you will be surprised at the styles that are available today. Chandeliers simply have a way of demanding attention and becoming a focal point in any room.

• Waterfall – Table top lamps that feature strands of reflected glass or metallic beads will add sparkle to your space. Set them near a mirror for a real treat!

The stunning Mercury Ceiling Suspension by Artemide that is featured in the picture can be found at Lumens.

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Of course, the name gives it away, but so many people get caught up in adding an extension to their home that they forget the purpose of the room in question. A sunroom is designed to give you that experience of being outdoors, bathed in sunlight, without having to leave your home.

So how do you achieve this sunny bliss? First of all, positioning: the room should be positioned to get the most sun possible. You know your property best, so find the sunniest spot year-round and try to maneuverer your sunroom there.

You also want to include plenty of windows to let that sunlight in. A good rule of thumb is including windows on three sides of the room, but you can choose two if that works for you. And it’s not necessary to have a glass ceiling in your sunroom to get great sun exposure, but of course it can’t hurt!

And finally, a big warning: no curtains! If you don’t install them, you won’t be tempted to pull them, and isn’t letting the sun in what a sunroom is all about? So just ditch the curtains and keep your sunroom simply sunny!

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Live in color. The Philips LivingColors LED lamp and mini-lamp are indispensable lighting pieces for any modern home. If you’re looking for a flexible, ultra-sleek, versatile and modern lamp, there really is no other. With over 16 million color choices suited to your mood, activity, time of day and so many other factors, you can use this lamp for everything from entertaining guests to reading before bed. And the best part – its compact, rounded shape allows it to go wherever you need it, and the cute modular remote means you can adjust the color on the fly, from anywhere in the room.

We here at Padstyle got to try a full sized LivingColors lamp out, and it is now a permanent fixture in our office. We use the color wheel on the remote control to adjust the lamp to our needs: a deep yellow tone when we want to get down to business, a rich magenta for lunch, and a soothing blue when it’s time to pack up and go home. You can customize this lamp to flood the walls with bright, neon green, or bring down the tone to a more mellow tea green with just a hint of yellow. The possibilities are as endless as the color spectrum.

You can set this lamp up on the floor in the corner of your room to fill it with subtle color, or you can set it on a mantle or table facing the wall for a more direct beam. A date night might require a dazzling crimson to evoke passion and excitement, while a lazy Sunday spent catching up on your reading could be spend awash in a pale goldenrod. However you live, you can create your own ambiance.

The regular size LivingColors lamp allows for the full 16 million color choices, and its body is made of transparent clear plastic. The mini-lamp comes in your choice of glossy white or black, and can emit 256 colors. Both are great for setting the mood, and you can even set up several regular sized lamps to run on the same remote if you really want to flood your home with color.

If you only buy one lamp this year, this is the lamp to get.

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Every good conversation piece deserves an interesting story. The Toto Cube Lamp is not only a minimalist piece of modern art, but it is a uniquely created lamp with origins in the oddest of places. It is manufactured by a wine crate maker in its off-season, in the mold of the many crates that are made to carry bottles of wine. It offers three levels of functionality in addition to its statement as a piece of art: it can be used as a coffee table, a seat or a lamp (or all three). Perfect for a loft, modern dining room, living room or commercial setting, your guests will love to hear about the unique creation process of your Toto Cube Lamp over a nice glass of wine. The Toto Cube Lamp is available at DWR.com for $275.00.

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Your guests will be howling at the moon when you incorporate this O-Moon Lamp into your next gathering. Whether you’re having a quiet night of cocktails and finger-foods or a care-free party on the patio, you’ll find that this lamp gives off a flattering glow that illuminates just enough – but not too much. It is designed to look like the Australian moon, and its natural inspiration can be seen in its simplicity and its versatile outdoor/indoor placement options. The sturdy stainless steel base allows this lamp to be picked up and moved wherever the party roams, so you and your guests don’t have to be without a little luminescence. You’ll find the O-Moon Lamp at DWR.com for $880.00.

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Dazzle guests with mystical light. Whether you own a commercial establishment or just want to add some sophistication to your home, the Luxor Chandelier will shine. Offering a fairy-like glow that appears to emanate from dozens of tiny lights, this is a great central piece to highlight posh decor. Its pyramid form and square base are geometrically intriguing, and the hushed glow will induce a relaxing atmosphere in you bar, dining room or hallway. This would look stunning when matched with graceful modern decor that plays with form, figure and texture. The Luxor Chandelier can be found at TheFurnitureLoft.com for $799.00.

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Light up your room from below. Try experimenting with conventional notions of what is a lamp and what is a seat by incorporating this Pablo Light Bench into your home. It rests on the floor and can be used as some light seating, but it also illuminates from the ground-up with an ambient light that fills its form and spills outward. You will be able to enjoy the soft glow of this light whether you use it as a bench, as an accent light, as a coffee table, or whether you purchase several and line them up as runway lights. You can add the Pablo Light Bench to your home for $760.00 by visiting GoContempo.com.

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