You can buy the perfect sofa, freshly paint the walls and display stunning artwork, but your space will still look outdated if your lighting is off.
Sovereign Interiors interior design stylist Cayley Scooby shares that using a single overhead light source to illuminate a room is one of the most common mistakes they see, and possibly one of the most quietly damaging.
Lighting is no longer just functional. It’s mood, atmosphere and a key styling tool, one that can either showcase your interiors or undermine them entirely.
When lighting isn’t layered, adjustable or supportive of how the space is used, it not only makes the room feel cold and one-dimensional and visually ages it.
Overhead lighting is the design shortcut sabotaging interior design
Most homes still rely on a single overhead ceiling light, a design shortcut that was never meant to carry the whole room.
These ceiling-mounted lights cast harsh, direct beams downward, exaggerating textures, flattening colour palettes, plunging corners and architectural details into shadow. The result? Even the most carefully chosen furniture and finishes look stark, cold and quite frankly, outdated.
Overhead lighting is rarely flattering. It’s like the unforgiving fluorescent light of a dressing room, it highlights every imperfection and strips a room of its softness, intimacy and personality. This flat, one-dimensional illumination makes interiors feel frozen in time, stuck in a dated aesthetic that’s hard to overcome.
Beyond aesthetics, it simply doesn’t suit how we live today. Our rooms need to shift seamlessly from work to dining to relaxation throughout the day, but one harsh, all-encompassing light source can’t adapt to those different moods or needs. Holding onto outdated lighting habits limits how fresh and modern your space can feel.
Three key adjustments to instantly modernise any room with lighting alone
Layered lighting is the key
Layering is key when it comes to lighting a room. Use a mix of ambient overhead lighting, task lighting like table or floor lamps and accent lights such as wall sconces or picture lights. This combination creates softness and balance, allowing your space to shift effortlessly from practical to intimate.
Choosing the right bulb temperature matters
Warm white bulbs, around 2700K, feel softer, cosier and more flattering. Avoid cool white or daylight bulbs in living areas and bedrooms, they can feel harsh and clinical, washing out the ambiance.
It’s about highlighting, not simply illuminating
Lighting should guide the eye to textures, architectural details, artwork or specific mood zones. Think beyond basic illumination. Uplights, directional sconces and backlighting add subtle visual interest that instantly updates a space and brings it to life.
Why getting your lighting right matters more than ever
As our homes evolve to become multi-functional, restorative and expressive spaces, lighting takes on a more important role than ever.
Well-designed lighting doesn’t just elevate style. It supports mental wellbeing, reduces visual fatigue and creates homes that genuinely feel good to be in.
Lighting that adapts to how we live day-to-day helps transform our spaces into havens of comfort and functionality, making thoughtful illumination a key ingredient in modern home design.
