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    16 Things You Can Buy To Upgrade Your Flat's Lighting Situation

    *Rihanna voice* Shine bright like a diamond.

    Lana Huh
    by Lana Huh

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Unless you're a vampire or a cave troll (hey, no judgement) you probably don't want your room or flat to be dark all the time. Thankfully, these products offer handy solutions for homes that just doesn't get enough light.

    1. Make the most of your ceiling lights with a high-gloss pendant shade.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Adding a new shade to your existing pendant lights is an easy way to make your place look nicer in general, and this wide, glossy design is particularly good for spreading and diffusing your overhead lights. Available in a range of colours, these metal shades look way more expensive than they are. Reviewers love the retro style and the easy installation.

    Price: £14.99.

    2. A metallic statement frame won't mute your bulbs' shine.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Another alternative that will draw attention to the bright spots overhead are these modern, stylish, cage-design frames.

    Price: £9.99 - £12.99, depending on colour.

    3. An illuminated vanity mirror is a game-changer, especially in low-light conditions.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    This makeup mirror is touch-controlled, dimmable, and offers three LED light settings: warm, neutral, and daylight. It can be adjusted to any angle and has 180° swivel for both vertical and horizontal orientation, and it comes with a smaller, detachable mirror with 15x magnification. The base has a small storage compartment for a few makeup products or small accessories. The mirror can be powered by the included USB cable or with four AA batteries for cordless use.

    Price: £26.99.

    4. These zebra roller blinds let in light while maintaining your privacy.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    The "slats" on these blinds keep a hazy layer between your windows and the outside world without compromising on the amount of light let in. The blinds can be installed with or without screws, and can be adjusted to fully block out light.

    Price: £15.98 - £42.99, depending on colour and size.

    5. Wall-hanging mirrors reflect light and add dimension to any room.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    This set of three diamond-shaped mirrors, suspended from decorative chains, have a sleek art deco vibe that serves the practical purpose of making a room feel lighter and more open than it actually is.

    Price: £34.98 - £40.62, depending on colour.

    6. This hexagon-shaped mirror is another great light-enhancing decor option.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    This simple, elegant glass mirror with brass detailing has a five-star rating and would complement any room.

    Price: £17.99.

    7. A mirrored side table provides yet another light-reflective surface.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Just like having a combination of downlighting and uplighting can brighten a space, having both horizontal and vertical mirrored surfaces can really make the most of the light in a room. This round side table has a mirrored top and steel legs with a copper finish. Customers say it's beautiful, sturdy, and good value for money.

    Price: £52.65.

    8. Or make your own glossy, white marbled surfaces with this self-adhesive vinyl contact paper.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Give any table, cabinet, or other flat surface the shiny, faux marble effect with this waterproof, self-adhesive contact paper. Reviewers note that it's easy to apply, high quality, and makes even cheap furniture look instantly more expensive.

    Price: £7.47 - £20.99, depending on size of roll.

    9. This best-selling uplighter lamp gives you options for ambience.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    This IKEA lamp is proof that it's okay to be a little bit basic sometimes. It's easy to put together, with a sturdy base and a frosted shade that's made of lightweight plastic but still looks nice. Strategically placing lamps in the corners of the room and directing light up towards the ceiling are both techniques that can dramatically brighten up a room.

    Price: £12.90.

    10. While you're at it, upgrade to some frosted LED bulbs.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    These high quality, no-flicker, energy-saving LED bulbs provide a warm white light in the 2700 Kelvin range, which creates a bright but cosy atmosphere, perfect for bedrooms and living rooms.

    Price: £15.49 for a pack of six.

    11. A good desk lamp is key for preventing eye strain.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Once you've sorted the ambient lighting in the room, you should consider dedicated lighting for tasks like studying, reading, drafting, or crafting. This dimmable LED desk lamp has five colour modes from warm white (2700 Kelvin) to cool white (6000 Kelvin) light, as well as seven different brightness levels. It even has a USB port in the base, so you can charge your phone while you take care of business.

    Price: £29.99.

    12. This light therapy lamp can make a real difference for Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferers.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    A SAD lamp can't bring summer back but it can make the colder months a little less dark. This LED lamp mimics natural sunlight and features touch-controlled stepless dimming and three light temperatures. It comes with a clip-on stand that can be used to hold the tablet-style lamp vertically or horizontally. Customers say the lamp is very bright, compact and portable.

    Price: £29.99.

    13. Get some under-cabinet light strips to illuminate your kitchen.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    These cool white LED strip lights will make it so much easier to see your worktop. Each set of four 30cm strips includes a plug-in transformer, a junction box, and cables to connect between strips, making it easy to install them under your kitchen (or bathroom) cabinets.

    Price: £19.99.

    14. This alarm clock will make you feel like you're waking up to the sunrise, no matter what time it is.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    Whether your bedroom is dark year-round or you find yourself waking up before the sun once the days get shorter, it's extra hard to get up in the morning when it's pitch black. This sunrise/sunset alarm clock helps promote better sleep patterns by encouraging you to wake up and fall asleep more gradually. The clock is battery-operated, which means it's cordless and it'll keep running even if the power goes out. It also functions as a bedside lamp and an FM radio, and includes six nature sound options and six light colours – she's a well-rounded queen!

    Price: £24.99.

    15. Get crafty with these versatile fairy lights to bring a personal touch to your room lighting.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    This 10m string of waterproof fairy lights can be used indoors or outdoors in a variety of ways. It features 100 LED bulbs and a battery box that takes three AA batteries.

    Price: £8.99.

    16. A stick-on motion sensor light is handy for the inside of your wardrobe or for night-time trips to the loo.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    This USB-rechargeable LED motion sensor light is easily stuck on with either magnets or adhesive strips, both included. It stays off in daylight and only turns on in the dark, with a motion detection range of 10ft within a 120° radius. In manual mode, it can be switched on and off as a nightlight.

    Price: £7.99.