9 ways to find your best light, no matter where you are

Thanks to social media posts and selfies, stepping into our best light has become something of a national pastime. Lucky for us, this quest for very good lighting, achieved at all times, has converged with some pretty cool tech. With smart light bulbs and light strips that can be tuned to any of 16 million shades; soft, earthy glow of salt lamps; curtains of fairy LEDs, and more, we can move from the porch to the hallway to the kitchen to the bedroom without running risk of stumbling into bad lighting as Clueless’ Cher once worried. The result: the most flattering incandescent glows and brightest party lights all at our fingertips, for whatever our illuminated mood. See our best picks, ahead.

For IRL fairy dens

For a room befitting Tinkerbell or your resident Euphoria lover, try a curtain of warm LED lights that stretches over 6 feet. This illuminated sheath, equipped with more than 150 long-lasting (and power-conserving) LED lights, can be set against a backdrop of sheer curtains or draped in a canopy over the bed for a romantic feel.

SHOP: Kikkerland® 150-Light LED Curtain String Lights in Warm White, $19.99, available at Bed, Bath & Beyond

For bohemian digs

Moroccan tiles. Gauzy fabrics. Some markers of boho style will never expire. Among them, the classic Himalayan salt lamp, which is said to emit negative ions for positive energy. Whether you subscribe to the salt lamp’s energetic effects, one thing can’t be denied: The cozy, warm glow that this Himalayas-sourced salt lamp casts serves up some of the most flattering light around.

SHOP: Aloha Bay Crystal Salt Lamp 4 Inch USB Pink, $10.59, available at Vitacost.com

For darkened doorways

Sick of fumbling around for your phone’s flashlight feature when looking to unlock your front door after dusk? Install a porch light — but not just any porch light, a porch light with style. This spherical steel sconce may seem basic in daytime hours, but once flipped on, it throws a far-reaching surface area of light in a unique, sundial-like pattern.

SHOP: Vibia Meridiano Outdoor LED Wall Sconce, $666, available at Lumens

For illuminated backyards

We’ve seen light strips made to pulse with the audio from televisions and others designed to line bed frames as no-fuss night lights. But this smart light strip is encased in weather-resistant silicone, which means it can be used to illuminate a pathway to the porch, the perimeter of a pond, or railings of a deck. With a lifespan of 25,000 hours, programmable timers, and app-controls to configure the strip in some 16 million colors, your outdoor space is about to match whatever #mood you’re feeling.

SHOP: Philips Hue Outdoor Lightstrip 80 Inch, $89.99, available at Philips Hue

For the not-too-girly glam room

Looking to add a statement-making element of glam without a cluster of crystals or pastel baubles? Try this chandelier, constructed of steel wires rendered to resemble a delicate, inverted mesh. Whether idle or illuminated, it delivers an understated air of platinum bling — without a single gemstone in sight. Not to mention, from now until the end of the year (12/31/21), get 5% off purchases $400 or more with code HONEY5. 

SHOP: Moooi Meshmatics Chandelier, $2224, available at YLighting

For the creative’s bedside

Because we love a Honey coupon, we’re shopping this delightfully modern monkey lamp, also from YLighting. This optimistic, sculptured animal — available in white and black — delivers love and light without taking up a ton of space.

SHOP: Seletti Monkey LED Standing Lamp, $453-$514, available at YLighting 

For eclectic spaces

From Memphis Milano to terrazzo, '80s-inspired motifs continue to have their moment. This lamp, designed for CB2 by Kara Mann, nods to the era while bringing something new to the table. Covered in graphic, black-and-white fabric, this piece is just the thing to add unexpected texture to an entryway console — or any room.

SHOP: Scrunch Table Lamp, $149, available at CB2

For cramped co-eds

Real estate is particularly precious for co-eds confined to single-room living. Enter: this over-the-door mirror equipped with a bevy of LED bulbs to light its exterior. Use it to do full glam without waking your roommate or flip it on to create a little Netflix and Chill mood lighting. Bonus: It has plenty of storage space for jewels and baubles.

SHOP: Costway Door Wall Mount Touch Screen LED Light Mirrored Jewelry Cabinet Storage Black, Was $269.99, Now $169.99, available at Walmart

For fun that travels

Can’t resist Baby Yoda? How about Baby Yoda as a portable, battery powered light that can be used as a nightlight, a lantern for backyard camping, and to illuminate the bathroom counter — all for less than the price of a family pack of toilet paper? Yah, us neither.

SHOP: Star Wars The Mandalorian The Child in Pram Mood Light, $15.92, available at BoxLunch

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