I never thought much about lighting before. As long as I could see, I was fine. A bulb was a bulb, right? But that summer, stuck in a sweltering living room with the sun baking through the windows, I started noticing something strange. Whenever I turned on the lights, the room felt even hotter.
I had those old incandescent bulbs. You know the kind, they glow warm, almost orange, and get super hot when left on too long. I’d sit under one, trying to cool down, and wonder why the fan wasn’t helping. Then it hit me: maybe the bulbs were fighting against everything I was doing to stay cool.
So I started making changes. Slowly. I didn’t go on a lighting shopping spree. I just picked one spot to start.
The kitchen. I swapped out the old ceiling bulb for a soft white LED light. I wasn’t expecting anything major, but the difference was real. It felt cooler—literally. No more little pocket of heat hovering above the stove every time I made tea. That one small change made me curious. I moved on to the hallway, then the bedroom.
The living room was trickier. I had a large chandelier—not a fancy one, just a big fixture with multiple bulbs. I replaced all five with LEDs. The brightness stayed the same, but the room didn’t feel like a toaster anymore. In the evenings, I added a small portable light near the sofa and kept the main light off. It gave the space a warm, cozy feel—like summer, but in a good way.
Then came the outdoor lighting. I used to have a blinding porch light that made the backyard look like a stadium. I never liked it, but it was there, so I kept using it. That summer, I tried something new. I picked up a few soft, low-energy outdoor bulbs and added light tubes along the garden path. Suddenly, the backyard wasn’t just lit—it had a vibe. I could sit outside after sunset without squinting or sweating under a floodlight.
One night, a friend came over. She stepped into the living room, looked around, and said, “Wow, your place feels so calm. And cool.”
Cool. That word stuck with me. Not just temperature-wise, but the mood too. My home didn’t just look better. It felt better. All from making a few small changes with indoor lighting and being thoughtful about where and how I used it.
If you’re like me and don’t know much about light types or fixtures, here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:
Do use LED bulbs. They stay cool, last longer, and save on your electricity bill.
Do not mix warm and cool light in the same room—it gets weird and uncomfortable fast.
Do use multiple light sources in a room. A ceiling light, a floor lamp, maybe a reading lamp. It gives you options.
Don’t ignore those hot bulbs that make you sweat—they’re doing more harm than you think.
Do check out simple lighting accessories, like dimmer switches or timers. They’re small upgrades that change everything. I found them at https://50bulbs.com/
Now when summer rolls around, I’m ready. The air conditioner doesn’t work as hard. The house stays cooler. And thanks to the switch in lighting, the space feels less like a sauna and more like a calm retreat.
It’s funny, when I first started changing my lighting, I didn’t even know what terms like bulbs & tubes meant. But once you try it, once you see how a soft bulb in the right place can change your mood, you start to pay attention.
So, if you’re roasting this summer and your fan just isn’t cutting it, maybe take a look up. The right light might make all the difference.
