Apartment Lighting: 28 Ways to Brighten Your Space

Is your apartment feeling dark and unwelcoming? Many rentals lack ceiling fixtures, but with the right solutions you can still create a bright, cozy, and stylish home without the high utility bills. From floor lamps to smart bulbs, there are renter-friendly options for every budget and space. This guide offers 28 innovative apartment lighting ideas that are perfect for transforming even the gloomiest of spaces into a bright well-lit space.

The table below compares the most popular choices, what they cost, and where they work best so you can find the right fit for your apartment.

1. Harness Natural Light

Natural light is the most cost-effective and efficient way to brighten a room. Swap heavy drapes for sheer curtains and keep windows clean to let sunshine pour in. Mirrors placed across from windows can double the effect.

Try this: Stockholm 2025 curtains ($59.99, IKEA)

2. Drape String Lights

Affordable, versatile, and renter-friendly, string lights add both illumination and ambiance while keeping your apartment budget in check. Hang them around doorframes, across a bedroom wall, or above a couch for a cozy, decorative glow.

Try this: Govee color-changing string lights ($55.99m Amazon)

3. Install Plug-in Wall Sconces

Plug-in wall sconces recreate the look of wired fixtures without electrical work. They’re renter-friendly, stylish, and easy to install or move when you leave. Place them beside your bed or in entryways for a polished upgrade. Choose from sleek, modern to ornate, vintage styles, depending on your signature style.

Try this: Hampton Bay plug-in wall sconces ($30–$60, Home Depot).

4. Position Floor Lamps

Floor lamps provide instant room lighting and serve as a statement piece of decor. Arc lamps work beautifully in living rooms, while smaller tripod or column lamps fit neatly into corners. For extra charm, place an arc floor lamp over an accent chair to create a cozy, sophisticated reading nook.

Try this: allen + roth 73-in Brushed Steel Arc Floor Lamp with Fabric Shade ($119, Lowe’s)

5. Strategically Place Mirrors

Mirrors amplify both natural and artificial light by bouncing brightness into darker corners. Position one across from a window to mimic daylight, or angle a floor lamp toward a mirror for more glow. Mix ornate, vintage, or modern frames to turn your home into a dazzling dance of natural light

Try this: HOVET full-length mirror ($149.99, IKEA)

6. Set Up Table Lamps

Table lamps create focused pools of light on desks, nightstands, or side tables, providing a warm glow. Use multiple lamps to achieve layered brightness throughout a room; add lamps to your end tables. If you don’t have convenient outlets, choose battery-powered options.

Try this: Philips Hue Go portable lamp ($175.99, Philips)

7. Hang Plug-in Pendant Lights

Plug-in pendants replicate ceiling fixtures without rewiring. Secure them with ceiling hooks – check if this is allowed in your lease – and run the cord to a wall outlet for a stylish overhead light. Select a chandelier to add a romantic touch and create a bright, trendy look for your living room.

Try this: Plug in Rattan Pendant Light ($88.99, Wayfair)

8. Display Flameless Candles

Flameless candles add mood lighting without fire hazards. Scatter them across mantels, shelves, or coffee tables for a soft, cozy glow once the sun sets.

Try this: Rechargeable Seaglass Fog Pillar ($64.99, Luminara)

9. Switch to Smart Bulbs

Smart bulbs let renters control brightness and color from an app or voice assistant, letting renters create a desired aesthetic: from an oceanfront sunset to a dazzling city vibe. Add smart LED strips to create an illuminated border around your desk or TV stand.

Try this: Philips Hue Smart LED Bulb ($54.99, Target)

10. Mount Ceiling Fixtures

Some landlords permit removable ceiling fixtures. Flush mounts or pendants can instantly brighten a room: a standard ceiling fixture for immediate overhead light, or add flair with fixtures that resemble modern art. Just make sure that the change won’t violate your lease agreement.

Try this: LED Flush Mount ($65.60, Home Depot)

11. Choose Lampshades Wisely

Lampshades affect brightness as much as bulbs. Light-colored or translucent shades spread more light, while dark shades absorb it. Make sure to periodically dust and clean your lampshades to keep them looking fresh and your apartment as bright as possible.

Try this: Gallery Linen Straight Line Drum Shade ($49.50, Pottery Barn)

12. Opt for Incandescent Light

Use incandescent bulbs to make your apartment as bright as possible. Incandescent bulbs provide warm light, but LEDs with higher lumens offer strong brightness with reduced energy consumption. Use 100W equivalent LEDs for larger rooms.

Try this: 100W LED Bulbs (from $4.99, Home Depot)

13. Prioritize Task Lighting

Task lights focus on specific areas, such as desks, kitchens, or bathrooms. Use clip-on lamps or under-cabinet LEDs to provide clear, localized brightness, or get creative and add it to your bathroom for when you do your hair or to your bed frame for reading

Try this: COV Strip Light Pro ($109.99, Govee)

14. Utilize Wall Space Effectively

For small spaces, wall-mounted lights free up floor and table space. Choose plug-in sconces, swing-arm lamps, or adhesive-mounted LEDs. If you have bookshelves, you can also add solar-powered lamps to the shelves, which is an option that will allow you to save limited outlets for other devices.

Try this: Leap Scone ($99, Article)

15. Install Dimmers

Dimmers let you adjust brightness throughout the day, from energizing daylight levels to a softer evening glow. Plug-in dimmers are renter-friendly, easy to set up, and compatible with most lamps, making it simple to create the right mood without rewiring.

Try this: Lutron plug-in lamp dimmer ($49.95, Amazon)

16. Discover Flush Mounts

Flush mounts provide sleek overhead lighting that seamlessly integrates with the ceiling. Unlike hanging fixtures, they don't have a visible stem and sit flat against the surface. They come in a variety of styles, from minimalist to decorative. Many LED options are energy-efficient and easy to install.

Try this: Integrated LED Flush Mount Light ($22.99, Lowe’s)

17. Balance Decor for Daytime and Nighttime

Light-colored decor reflects light, while dark tones absorb it and can make rooms feel heavy at night. Use pale rugs, curtains, and throws to brighten spaces, and consider accent lighting to highlight darker pieces.

Tip: Pair dark furniture with bright lampshades or feature lighting for a striking contrast.

18. Combine Multiple Light Sources

Layering different types of light creates balance and eliminates shadows. Combine floor lamps, sconces, and task lights with natural daylight to achieve a uniform glow. Using at least three light sources per room is a good rule of thumb to achieve the brightness you’re looking for in your apartment.

Pro tip: Add lightweight window treatments to maximize natural light.

19. Experiment With Focal Lighting

Focal lighting draws attention to specific areas and adds dimension. Museums use it to highlight art, and renters can achieve a similar effect with bookshelves, gallery walls, or accent furniture to give their room focus and direction.

Try this: Wall Mount Picture Light ($199, CB2)

20. Dangle Low Pendants in Bathrooms

Bathrooms are often the dimmest rooms in an apartment. Instead of replacing your bulbs with something brighter, consider hanging a low plug-in pendant with a ceiling hook to create overhead brightness without the need for wiring. Choose styles that complement your bathroom decor.

Try this: Contemporary Vanity Light ($69.98, Lowe’s)

21. Mount Picture Lights

Picture lights highlight artwork but also work well above beds, desks, or reading nooks. They provide soft, directional light that doubles as decor. Try adding them above your bed or favorite chair for an evening reading light.

Try this: Classic Traditional Picture Light ($176, House of Troy)

22. Showcase a Lamp on a Bookcase

Bookcases can double as lighting platforms. Add illuminated artwork, small lamps, LED strips, puck lights, or flameless candles to shelves for a layered glow that brightens the room and enhances the decor simultaneously.

Try this: LED Battery Operated Puck Light ($19.98, Home Depot)

23. Illuminate With Globe Lights

Globe lights diffuse brightness evenly. They’re often seen in restaurants but work equally well in apartments as pendants or freestanding lamps. Pair globe lights with a globe-shaped hanging pendant to add a modern touch to your kitchen.

Try this: FADO globe lamp ($29.99, IKEA)

24. Infuse Different Lighting Styles

Combining different lighting styles – floor lamps with sconces, pendants with LED strips – adds personality to your space. Combine specific lighting with decorative fixtures to create an apartment that feels brighter and more stylish.

Tip: Pair modern fixtures with warm accent lights for balance.

25. Contrast Hues on Bathroom Walls

Using contrasting paint or wallpaper in bathrooms makes small, dim spaces feel brighter. Choose a light hue for a wall that receives less light and a slightly darker shade around a window to create the illusion of increased light.

Tip: Use removable peel-and-stick wallpaper if painting isn’t allowed.

26. Harmonize With Blended Colors

Use paint colors and blend your way to a brighter room by creating the perception of more brightness. Cool shades paired with warm accents enhance vibrancy, even in dimly lit rooms. Of course, you’ll need to make sure that painting in color is OK with your landlord or property ​​manager.

Tip: Removable wallpapers are a renter-friendly way to update a room.

27. Think Outside the Box

Lighting doesn’t have to mean lamps alone. Lava lamps, LED neon signs, faux fireplaces, and even crystals can be used creatively to scatter or emit light, making rooms feel more inviting.

Try this: Neon Wrapped Canvas ($30.99, Wayfair)

28. Find Multifunctional Pieces

Multifunctional furniture with built-in lighting saves space and adds a different flair to an apartment. Options include LED coffee tables, lamp-speaker combos, and illuminated ottomans. These pieces provide both style and function.

Try this: Sonos speaker lamp ($279.99, IKEA).

How Can Renters Install Lighting Without Risking Their Security Deposit?

These renter-friendly tips make it easy to add light safely, legally, and in ways you can undo when it’s time to move:

• Use adhesive hooks and strips: 3M command hooks or Velcro strips can hold pendant cords, fairy lights, or lightweight sconces without damaging walls.
• Choose plug-in fixtures: Sconces and pendants are great options for overhead-style lighting which can be removed easily.
• Opt for plug-in or battery-powered fixtures: Skip hardwiring and choose plug-in sconces, pendant lights, or portable lamps you can take when you move.
• Add LED strip or puck lights: These usually come with easy to remove peel-and-stick backing and are great for lighting cabinets, shelves, or walls.
• Try tension rods: Hang string lights or lightweight pendants from a tension rod placed between two walls to avoid any messy drilling.
• Ask before drilling: Some landlords allow small holes for hooks or anchors as long as you patch them on move-out.
• Pick fixtures with easy removal: Look for lighting options that can be installed and uninstalled without tools, so you can reconfigure your lighting whenever you want.

How to Maximize An Apartment’s Natural and Artificial Light?

Brightening a rental apartment is as much about design choices as it is about the type of lighting chosen. Here’s how to maximize every lumen.

• Place mirrors strategically: Position mirrors across from or beside windows to reflect daylight and create the illusion of extra windows.
• Keep window treatments sheer: Use light-colored or linen curtains instead of blackout drapes. Roller shades are another renter-friendly option that lets in more sun.
• Layer your lighting: Combine floor lamps for general lighting, table lamps for warmth, sconces for accents, and smart bulbs to customize the ambiance.
• Choose higher lumen bulbs: A 60-watt LED (800 lumens) is great for general use, but 100-watt LEDs (1,600 lumens) can mimic ceiling fixtures in larger rooms.
• Stick to reflective surfaces: Pale walls, glossy tiles, metallic accents, and glass-topped tables all help to bounce light around the room.
• Accent dark corners: Add upward lighting behind couches, LED strips under cabinets, or position a lamp in a hallway corner to eliminate shadows.
• Choose the right color temperature: Warm white (2700–3000K) creates a cozy ambiance, while daylight bulbs (5000K) are ideal for kitchens or home offices.
• Use multi-purpose decor: Light-colored rugs, throws and textiles brighten spaces while making them feel cozy.
• Balance dark furniture: Deep tones absorb light, so offset them with bright lampshades, accent lighting, or reflective decor.

Embrace Comfort: Find Your Dream Apartment With Apartment List

There’s always a way to enhance your apartment lighting without having to invest huge amounts of time and resources. Pick and choose your favorite methods, and don’t be afraid to get creative and mix things up! You’ll end up with an illuminated apartment that suits your lifestyle, whether you’re throwing a dinner party or curling up with a good book.