Just as the right choice of wallpapers, fabrics and curtains can help make a house a home, so too can the smart use of lighting add that little bit extra comfort and personality to a property, no matter how big or small.
Coming as millions of Britons get set to make themselves comfy for a long winter with most evenings spent lazing indoors, interior designers the world over are queuing up to give their advice on how to make your home that extra bit special.
And, not surprisingly given the extent it can influence a property's look and feel, many are keen to stress that just as much attention should be paid to ceiling lights and bedside lamps as to any other feature.
For instance, the director of Indian interiors firm LSI, Akash Kakkar, recommends taking the time and effort to match specialist lighting with individual rooms.
That is, while decorative lights such as lamps and spotlights might look good in the bedroom, in a cluttered living room, you should go for simple ceiling lights and not much else – save for a single piece of elegance such as a chandelier.
Likewise, while aesthetics should most certainly be a priority when it comes to picking the right lights for a living room or a dining room, elsewhere in the home, you may want to have other priorities.
"Since hygiene is the most important aspect of a bathroom, light levels are vital," the expert says.
"Install lights in the correct locations to give light coverage from all angles possible," he adds, with this meaning that, not only will a room look bigger, it will also be easier to clean.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, the San Francisco Chronicle is also advising homeowners to take more notice of their ceiling lights if they want to make their properties more homely this winter.
Marking its 30th anniversary, the city's Golden Lighting company has used the paper to advise that, far from having to splash out on a fancy crystal chandelier, you can revamp your home's lighting on a budget – with a little expert help, of course.
