There’s a reason people don’t like hospitals. Okay, that seems rather obvious. People don’t like hospitals because of pain, death, and everything in between. But there’s one aesthetic reason that causes people to really dislike hospitals: fluorescent lighting. Besides being unflattering (have you ever looked at your pores in a mirror accented by fluorescent lighting? Yikes!), fluorescent lighting makes everything around it look flat, dull, and uninteresting. Even the most brilliant Van Gogh would look like IKEA art in the hallways of County General.

Take this concept and apply it to your home. While you might not be using fluorescent bulbs as your primary overhead illumination, here are just a few ways to turn your home lighting from hospital bleak to city chic:

Hang “light” art. If you’re looking to brighten your space, find prints that “pop” right off the wall. Prints that include light blues, yellows, and tangerines work well to lighten up an otherwise dark space.

Use task lights. Overstuffed chairs, small work-spaces, and chaise lounges all look fantastic when accompanied by you, a book, and a well-appointed task light. Make sure the light reflects your personality and has a story you can share. For example, my aunt has a gorgeous Tiffany lamp that she bought in New York that required three taxi trips, a plane flight, and a train ride home before it found it’s place on her writer’s desk.

Learn the language of accents. Accent lighting is the number one way to add a bit of drama to a dull room. Accent lights also play the secondary role of adding pockets of warmth to a room without flooding the entire space.

Unscrew the overheads. By adding task lights, accent lamps, and strategically-chosen art, you almost eliminate the need for any basic overhead lighting. If you’re still using the lighting that was initially installed in your apartment or home, consider unscrewing the bulbs and letting your personal artistry speak for itself. If you can’t imagine a world without overhead light, replace any outdated, standard coverings with fun, alternative options, like the Hot Air Balloon Chandelier that I saw while shopping in Sonoma, California this past weekend.

How have you used light to create warmth and enjoyment in your own home? Have you ever gotten nasty letters from your landlord when he found out that you removed all the light covers and replaced them with open umbrellas? (Okay, maybe that’s just me…)