Museums and galleries have used this trick since the late 19th century, when light bulbs were first introduced. Today, their walls are rigged with carefully aimed track lighting, transforming even a seemingly unremarkable piece into a captivating focal point. You can replicate this effect at home simply by being deliberate about where you hang things.

How To Light Cheap Art So It Looks Expensive

Most people choose art placement based on empty wall space, but designers tend to work the other way around, considering how a piece will be seen throughout the day and after sundown. When art hangs in a poorly lit corner, colors look duller, details disappear, and the piece recedes into the background.

Move it into the path of an existing light source — a table lamp, sconce, or floor lamp — and the opposite happens. The frame catches the light, colors appear richer, and even a $20 print can feel like it was hung by a gallery curator.

How To Find Your Best Hanging Spots

Start by turning on every lamp and overhead light in the room, then switch them off one at a time while watching the walls. Notice which lights cast a warm pool of light and where. Those are your prime hanging spots. A lamp on a console or side table makes the wall directly above it a natural place for art. A sconce creates a ready-made frame. A floor lamp angled toward a corner can turn that space into a focal point.

One more thing worth testing is how the room looks after dark. A picture that appears perfectly positioned at noon may feel camouflaged after dark, so if you spend most of your time in a room during the evening, conduct your placement test at night. Once you’ve found your spot, hang the artwork so its center sits at eye level — generally 57 to 60 inches from the floor — within the light’s range.

Blackout Curtains Block More Than Light

Blackout curtains are made with a tightly woven, opaque fabric — often with a foam or thermal lining — designed to block sunlight from passing through. Sunlight streaming through a window doesn’t just brighten a room; it also transfers heat indoors. This is called solar heat gain, and on a hot, sunny day it can raise the temperature of a room significantly, upwards of 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Blackout curtains act as a barrier, reflecting or absorbing that radiant heat before it has a chance to warm your interior. Those with light-colored backings or thermal linings will reflect radiant heat, making them the best option for keeping rooms cool.

How Much of a Difference Do They Make?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, medium-colored blackout curtains with white plastic backings can reduce solar heat gain through windows by as much as 33%. In rooms with south- or west-facing windows, which catch the most intense afternoon sun, the effect is especially noticeable. Close the curtains before direct sunlight hits the windows — or, more broadly, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. —  and you’ll benefit from cooler indoor temperatures.

They Support Your Air Conditioner, But Don’t Replace It

Think of blackout curtains as a helper for your cooling system. By limiting the amount of heat entering your home, they reduce the workload on your air conditioner. That means your AC won’t have to run as long or as often to maintain your ideal temperature, which can help lower energy costs throughout the summer.

What To Shop For

Not all blackout curtains are created equal. Shop for options with a white or light-colored backing, which reflects sunlight more effectively than a dark backing. A snug fit matters too. Curtains that hang close to the wall and extend past the edges of the window frame will block more light and heat than those with gaps around the sides. Opting for a French return curtain rod can also help block more light, as they curve backward to touch the wall.

Bundle Excess Cord With a Zip Tie

Neatly wrap any extra cord length and secure the bundle with a zip tie or a Velcro cable tie, leaving just enough slack to reach the outlet. Tuck the excess behind a furniture leg, and suddenly you’ve gone from a sprawling cord to a short, tidy drop. You can also use small adhesive cable clips to guide the remaining length along the back of the leg so it hugs the furniture rather than drifting into view. Simple? Yes. The foundation of a clean cord setup? Also yes.

More Designer-Approved Tips for Managing Cords

Start by editing: Take inventory of your cords first. “Most rooms have cords running to things no one actually uses, so I unplug and clear those out before anything else,” says Laura Williams of Living Oak Interior Design.

Match clips to your furniture finish: Brittny Button of Button Atelier recommends using cable clips in a color that matches your furniture so they disappear completely against the piece.

Swap in a stylish extension cord: Alicia Roche of Alicia Roche Interiors utilizes a single sleek extension cord near the outlet. “Since only one well-designed cord runs to the wall, the setup feels intentional and tidy rather than cluttered,” Roche says.

Use a fabric cord sleeve on exposed wall runs: Georgia Deane of Georgia Deane Design suggests choosing a sleeve that matches your wall color. “The goal is never to draw the eye,” she says. “It’s to let the cord quietly vanish into its surroundings.” Online marketplaces like Etsy offer a wide range of fabric options to match almost any paint shade.

Hide cords in a basket: Conceal a power strip and its inevitable nest of cables through smart styling — a woven basket, lidded box, or covered tray all work well. “It’s important to choose something that earns its place in the room independently, rather than being an obvious concealment for cords,” Deane says. “Otherwise you’re just changing the problem rather than fixing it.”

Try an in-drawer charging station: This setup corrals devices so countertops and nightstands stay clutter-free. “It keeps everything powered up but out of sight, creating a calmer end to the day and reducing the visual reminders of work and constant connectivity,” Roche says.