Lighting

The color of a lightbulb or a light fixture or shade significantly affects the mood of a room. Lighting that is slightly red or yellow is considered warm, while blue-tinged light is cool. Incandescent bulbs produce warm light; many fluorescents are cool - if not cold. Choose the color of your home's lighting according to the color of your furnishings. If you have pure white walls or cabinetry, warm lighting will make them beige. Cool light directed at brownish natural wood may give it a green tinge.

Whether you have a fluorescent or an incandescent fixture, you can switch from cool to warm light, or vice versa, by changing the bulbs or tubes. Fluorescent lighting is economical but often harsh and cold. For a slightly higher cost, you can buy tubes that deliver light similar to that of the afternoon sun. The lower the Kelvin temperature of a tube, the warmer its light will be. A tube designed for the kitchen or bath, for example, delivers a warm 3000K color, while a 5000K tube will make a room look cool.