Lighting Can Increase Home Value

Last Updated on April 2, 2020 by The Tutor

Lighting Can Increase Home Value

lighting can increase home value

Lighting is one of the most overlooked areas of improvement in most homes. There is a clear misunderstanding as to what the benefits are of optimizing the lighting in your home.

Can lighting increase home value?

Lighting is a relatively inexpensive way to help increase the value of your home. If you plan your lighting project effectively, you can turn an ordinary home into a beautiful home and increase the value at the same time.

Why is lighting important?

Lighting in the home is important because in addition to adding home value, it also adds an additional element or a look and feel to your home that makes people feel welcomed. Lighting appeals to both the visual sense but also impacts that intangible or sixth sense that is often hard to describe. That feeling of “home” we all have is something that we want our guests or potential home buyers to also feel when they come to your home.  Lighting really is something that turns a house into a home.

Areas of the Home Where Lighting Adds the Most Value

  • Exterior Landscaping
  • Your Entrance
  • The Kitchen
  • The Bathroom
  • Your Family Room

Exterior landscape lighting can increase home value

Landscape lighting will increase your home value by highlighting the amazing landscaping that you have taken the time to improve upon. If guests are arriving at night, it is the first thing they will see and will provide them with that firs impression of your home. Landscape lighting also helps to provide some security for the home if it is strategically placed to provide light to some areas of entry.

The cost to add landscape lighting is something that will vary depending upon the size of your exterior and how much landscaping you want to illuminate. There are some budget options out there but what I have found is the solar landscape lighting options really do not do an adequate job. For the most part, they either do not provide enough light or do not hold a charge throughout the entire night. In winter months it becomes even more challenging. Finally, the batteries often do not last that long.

I recommend that you go with low voltage landscape lighting. Spend a little money to have an outlet installed and put them on a timer so that you don’t need a switch. You can string two sets of low voltage lighting kits together for less than $250. Some of these also already come with a solar timer. The cost spent versus the results gained is minimal. This is why I adding landscape lighting can increase home value.

landscape lighting adds value

Entrance Lighting Can Increase Home Value

Entrance lighting will increase your home value because like landscape lighting, your entrance is also one of the first things that visitors will see when they enter your home. When you combine landscape lighting plus entrance lighting, you can transform the exterior of your home into a show place.

In a recent article, I talked about what is the best lighting for an entrance. There, I discussed the various options and styles to choose from. For as little as $200-$300, you can transform the entrance of your home. When combined with landscape lighting, your home will look absolutely beautiful on the outside. If you are selling your home, I would recommend including exterior evening pictures in your home listing.

entrance lighting adds value

Kitchen Lighting Can Increase Home Value

Kitchen lighting is also often overlooked during a kitchen remodel and we all know that kitchens help to sell homes. I have spoken to so many people who spent a lot of money to either completely remodel their kitchens or gave it a face lift and they did nothing about the lighting. Not only can kitchen lighting increase home value but you may be able to use lighting as the main focus to transform an existing kitchen on a budget.

In an earlier article, I talked about how under cabinet lighting can increase the value of a home. When you combine under cabinet lighting with strategically placed recessed lighting, you are on your way to really making your kitchen look like a show place. Spend time learning about the Kelvin Color Temperature Scale and how your light color choices can impact the way your kitchen will look. Remember not to ignore things like the lighting in your range hood. Those bulbs can be replaced also.

If you have a kitchen island, you will have the ability to add pendants that will provide you with a great look, plus add some focused task lighting above your work surface. For a cost of around $500 – $750, you can upgrade the lighting in your kitchen and increase home value.

kitchen lighting adds value

Bathroom Lighting Can Increase Home Value

Bathroom lighting is unique in the sense that you want to make it look beautiful in your bathroom, but the lighting there also serves a very significant purpose. The lighting over your mirror for example would need to provide the appropriate light to apply makeup.

Improving the lighting in your bathroom may be one of the easier things to do if you are able to use the existing recessed lighting cans. If you have to run some additional wires, then it can still be done but you are adding a little more time and cost. You should absolutely consider doing that if you feel it will make your bathroom look much better.

The cost to improve the lighting in your bathroom can be anywhere from $250 – $500. Your selection of recessed lighting fixtures and vanity lights will determine the majority of your overall cost. Remember to also consider an upgrade to your shower lighting.

bathroom lighting adds value

Family Room Lighting Can Increase Home Value

The family room is where most people spend the majority of their time other than the kitchen. Yes, the bedrooms are where we sleep but for the most part, the lights are off when we are there. The family room is also where guests will often spend most of their time when they visit you. As a result, the lighting here should be upgraded if possible.

A great combination of recessed lighting and effect lighting with lamps can make a huge difference. If your family room does not have recessed lighting now, then consider going through the expense of adding it. You can improve the lighting in  your family room for a cost of around $750 if you are doing the work yourself. This includes a cost of $100 per lamp plus a cost of about $50 for each recessed lighting fixture that you add.

family room lighting adds value

Related Questions

Does recessed lighting add home value?
Recessed lighting can absolutely add home value of you take the time to place them correctly and use the right light temperature for the room. There are also ways to make recessed lighting more energy efficient which is not a bad additional benefit.

How much value will lighting add to my home?
The actual value that your home will increase is difficult to determine. However, home buyers often comment that the lighting is what sold them on the home. The cost of adding effective lighting to your home is minimal compared to what the potential additional value can be.

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