That’s when the idea hit me, maybe it wasn’t the space, the food, or the clutter. Maybe it was the lighting. Maybe summer was the perfect time to rethink the way our home looked and felt.

Summer Light Isn’t Just Sunlight

During the day, it’s easy to rely on windows and sunshine. But in the evening, when the heat lingers and the sun dips lower, indoor lighting steps in. The problem? Most of us are using the same bulbs and fixtures all year long — even though summer has a different vibe entirely.

So we started changing things. Not huge renovations, but little tweaks. A lamp here. A new bulb there. One small switch at a time. And in the process, we started transforming the mood and design of our home.

It Began in the Living Room

We swapped our overhead bulb for a soft-toned LED from 50bulbs. It took five minutes. Suddenly, the space looked warmer: not hotter, just more inviting. The rug popped. The walls felt softer. We added a floor lamp in the corner by the bookshelf, and in the evenings, that became our cozy reading spot.

That small change made the space feel different. More comfortable. More ours.

The Kitchen Got a Glow-Up

Next was the kitchen. We took out the harsh light tubes and replaced them with under-cabinet lighting. It changed everything. The counters looked sleeker. The backsplash we never really noticed started to shine. It wasn’t about brightness, it was about balance.

With summer’s extra daylight, we didn’t need to flood the room with light. Just enough to make it feel clean, fresh, and pleasant. We kept one small portable light on the shelf, so the kids could grab water at night without waking the whole house.

How Light Shapes a Room

You don’t need to know lighting design terms to notice the difference. Some lights make a room feel warm. Others feel sterile. We didn’t want our house to look like an office ,we wanted it to feel like a place to rest and laugh and unwind after a long, hot day.

We discovered that the type of bulb matters. LEDs weren’t just about saving energy. They stayed cool — a big deal during summer. Even the chandelier in the hallway got updated with softer, low-heat bulbs.

We found most of what we needed through 50bulbs, especially when we looked at their Bulbs & Tubes section. It wasn’t overwhelming. Everything felt easy to pick out. We weren’t shopping for luxury: we were just trying to make our space work better.

Outdoor Nights Felt Different Too

We used to have one giant outdoor light on the porch that buzzed and glared. In summer, we love sitting outside after dinner, but that light ruined the vibe. We replaced it with soft Outdoor Lighting, simple sconces that gave off a gentle glow instead of a floodlight.

Now the kids play catch while we sip something cold on the steps. We can see each other, but we don’t feel like we’re on a stage.

Kids’ Rooms Were the Final Frontier

Their rooms had those basic ceiling fixturesz: bright, flat, and boring. One afternoon, we let each of them pick a small Portable Lighting option. One chose a lamp shaped like a star, the other went for something sleek and modern. We added dimmable LED bulbs, and now their rooms feel more like their own worlds.

Funny thing, they started reading more at night. Maybe it was the better light. Or maybe they felt a little more comfortable. Either way, it worked.

Aesthetic, But Also Practical

The biggest surprise? We didn’t just improve how our home looked. We made it feel better. Cooler. Quieter. More lived-in. Our utility bill even dipped slightly, probably thanks to replacing those old heat-radiating bulbs.

We read this blog post  "Simple Fixes for Summer Lighting"  from 50bulbs and it matched what we were experiencing. You don’t need a new home to refresh your design. Sometimes, all it takes is adjusting the light.

The Do's and Don'ts We Discovered

• Do pick warm-toned LED lights to soften rooms and reduce heat.

• Don’t use full brightness if you don’t need it — dimmable options give you flexibility.

• Do match your lighting style to the room — chandeliers for drama, floor lamps for comfort.

• Don’t ignore corners. A single floor lamp can transform an empty space.

• Do think about summer-specific needs — cooler bulbs, outdoor ambiance, quiet lighting for bedtime.

And The Lesson?

You don’t need a full redesign to change your home’s look. Lighting is the quiet background that shapes how everything feels. It can make hot days bearable. It can turn busy rooms into peaceful ones.

Start in one space. Switch out one bulb. Add a lamp. Step back and see what happens. You might find that your home design was waiting for a little light all along. You can read more about in this blog.