If there is one thing I learned about interior design it’s that lighting brings everything together. It adds the finishing touches to the perfect decor, giving it a distinct pop. It sets the mood, whether you’re going for romantic, tranquility, or just want to liven up the mood for a party. Ambient lighting is the perfect way to give your home a little extra flair.

Here are some ways you can use lighting to take your decor to the next level.

Fireplace

We’re not talking about the old-fashioned wood-burning fireplaces here (though, they work well if your house already has one). What I’m talking about is those new-age fireplaces with a more contemporary design. There’s plenty of options you can choose from, and they all look spectacular, but there’s two that I love most.

Electric

These are easy to install, provide a good amount of heat, and you can even change what color you want the flames to be. The flickering flames, add a cozy and romantic feel when you’re wooing that special somebody.

Ethanol

These have a beautiful blue flame that looks downright amazing when the light beams off of the shiny surfaces of the glass rocks in the pit, creating a magnificent view.

Tip: You can purchase different color fire rocks, glass or beads for the fireplace to add a little extra flair. Mix and match your favorite colors and watch them sparkle as the light from the flames bounce off of them.

RGB LED

Today’s technology allows you to do so much more than you could have ever imagined with in-home lighting, and RGB (red, green, blue) led lights are the reason why. These thin lighting strips allow you to transform your apartment completely.

Say goodbye to dull old white lighting. RGB lighting allows you to control the color of your lights, the tint, adjust brightness, and you can even make the lights “dance” to the music you’re playing. And it’s relatively inexpensive to set up.

The best thing about RGB lighting is how creative you can get with them. Outline the mirrors you have in the living room, run them under countertops to add a beautiful hue. Your imagine is the only limitation.

Signs

We’ve all known them to be a great way to advertise, but now they’re making a name for themselves online as one of the newest and most exciting ways to make a statement. One of the most popular trends on Instagram and Pinterest these days is the use of neon signs for interior decoration.

Use neon signs at your home bar to let everybody know it’s open for business. Or you can be a little more subtle and use them as a great way to add some color to your room. It doesn’t matter how you use it, the soft glow, and an additional splash of color they provide work flawlessly for any home.

String Lights

What was once just something we used to decorate Christmas trees, has quickly become a go-to for everyday interior decoration. String lights offer an excellent way to add a soft glow in your home while doubling as a magnificent decorative piece.

Use them for massive walls that would otherwise have nothing on them, put them up in the sunroom to provide you with extra light when it’s not-so-sunny out. Or display them on the wall to write out a message.

String lights aren’t just Christmas decorations anymore, so you no longer have to feel guilty for leaving them up after New Years. See if you can think of some new and creative ways to use string lights.

There are tons of ways to add to the ambiance of your home, and additional lighting is one of my absolute favorites. What are some other ways you use lighting to set your home apart from the rest?

Lara Douglas is a young woman who loves interior designing and home decor. She is passionate about new trends and fashion forward home décor ideas. She regularly posts at Neon Signs Depot.