Lighting in your tourist accommodation: how to light well, spend little, and boost your reviews

Lighting is one of the details that most impacts photos, reviews, and electricity bills, but almost no one pays attention to it. I tell you what bulbs to use, where to place light points, what color temperature to choose depending on the room, and how much you can save annually by changing four things. Spoiler: good lighting costs less than 200 euros and can increase your bookings more than changing the sofa.

Why lighting matters more than you think

A poorly lit tourist rental has three problems at once:

1. Photos look bad. A room with cold light and a single ceiling fixture looks like an operating room. And photos are the first thing guests see before booking.
2. Reviews drop. "Too dark," "the living room light wasn't enough to read," "the bathroom looked like a basement." These comments appear more often than you think.
3. The bill increases. If you have old halogens or incandescent bulbs, you're wasting money. A 70 m² apartment with poor lighting can spend between 150 and 250 euros more per year just on electricity.

And the good news: fixing it is cheap and quick.

Types of lighting you need in each room

In interior design, there are three layers of light. You don't need to be a decorator, but it's good to know:

• General (ambient) light: illuminates the entire room. Ceiling fixture, pendant lamp.
• Functional (task) light: for reading, cooking, makeup. Flexo lamps, wall sconces, under-furniture spotlights.
• Decorative (ambient) light: creates atmosphere. Table lamps, LED strips, wall sconces.

The golden rule: at least two layers of light per room. If you only have the ceiling fixture, you're doing it wrong.

Living Room

It is the most photographed and most used room. It needs all three layers:

• Ceiling fixture or pendant lamp with warm light (2700-3000K).
• A floor lamp next to the sofa (perfect for reading).
• A table lamp on the sideboard or TV unit to create ambiance at night.

Avoid the single cold ceiling fixture. It’s the most glaring in photos.

Bedroom

Warmth and control are key here:

• Soft central ceiling light (2700K).
• Table lamps on both sides of the bed. This is not optional. If the bed is double and only one side has a light, reviews will complain.
• Dimmable bulbs if possible. Or at least, with an accessible switch from the bed.

Kitchen

The kitchen definitely needs functional lighting:

• General ceiling light (4000K, neutral).
• LED spotlights under upper cabinets illuminating the countertop. This completely changes the kitchen and costs 30-50 euros.
• If you have a range hood, ensure its light works (sounds obvious, but half are burnt out).

Bathroom

Poor lighting ruins the mirror and photos:

• General ceiling light (4000K).
• Sconce or LED strip above the mirror. For makeup, shaving, contact lenses. Essential.
• If the bathroom has no window, a soft extra light that can stay on at night (courtesy light) adds a lot.

Hallway and Entrance

You don't need much, but you do need something:

• Warm light that turns on when entering.
• If the hallway is long, consider a motion sensor. For guests arriving at night with luggage, it's gold.

Color temperature: the most common mistake

Color temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). The lower, the warmer (yellowish). The higher, the cooler (bluish).

Temperature	Type of light	Where to use
2700K	Very warm	Bedrooms, living room, ambiance
3000K	Warm	Living room, dining, hallways
4000K	Neutral	Kitchen, bathroom, work areas
5000-6500K	Cool	Garages, storage rooms (not in tourist apartments)

The typical mistake: putting 6500K bulbs (cool white light) in the living room because "they illuminate more". Yes, they illuminate more, but create an office-like atmosphere. And this is very noticeable in photos.

Practical rule: in living and sleeping areas, 2700-3000K. In kitchen and bathroom, 4000K. Done.

LED, halogens, and bulbs: what to install now

If your apartment still has incandescent or halogen bulbs, change them today. Not tomorrow. Today.

A quick comparison for a 70 m² apartment with about 15 bulbs:

Type	Average consumption	Annual cost (electricity)	Lifespan
Incandescent	60W	280 euros	1000 hours
Halogen	42W	200 euros	2000 hours
LED	9W	45 euros	25,000 hours

Replacing 15 bulbs with LED costs about 60-90 euros and pays off in less than 6 months. And they last for years.

More on this topic at electricity consumption in tourist housing.

Smart lighting: is it worth it?

You can do two things:

Basic option (recommended for almost everyone)

Normal, good quality LED bulbs, and that's it. 2-3 euros each at any hardware store. No need for more.

Advanced option (for premium apartments)

Smart bulbs like Philips Hue, Ikea Tradfri, or similar. They allow:

• Changing brightness and color from your phone.
• Programming scenes ("movie", "dinner", "wake-up").
• Turning everything off at checkout.

Actual costs: a smart bulb costs 10-25 euros. For an apartment with 15 bulbs, the investment is 150-350 euros. Is it worth it? If your apartment is mid-range or lower, no. If it’s premium and you charge over 150 euros per night, yes, because it differentiates your listing.

Common mistakes I see all the time

1. Only one ceiling fixture in the living room. It ruins photos. Add a floor and table lamp.
2. Different color temperatures in the same room. Warm and cold bulbs together look bad. Make it uniform.
3. Bathrooms without light over the mirror. Unforgivable in 2026.
4. Nightstands without lamps or only on one side. If the bed is double, two lamps. No exceptions.
5. Burnt-out bulbs for months. Check each turnover. Always carry 4-5 spares in the kit. I talk about this in the emergency kit.
6. Hidden switches. If turning on the living room light requires walking around two walls, include it in the welcome manual.
7. Gamer-style colored LED strips. They look tacky in an Airbnb listing. Save them for very specific scenarios.

How much it costs to properly light a 70 m² apartment

Realistic budget to upgrade the lighting:

Concept	Cost
15 quality LED bulbs	60-90 euros
Living room floor lamp	40-80 euros
Two table lamps	50-100 euros
Two nightstand lamps	40-80 euros
Bathroom mirror sconce	30-60 euros
LED under-cabinet kitchen lights	30-50 euros
Total	250-460 euros

Less than 500 euros to transform photos, reviews, and reduce the bill. One of the best investments you'll make.

Lighting and photos: what’s at stake

The difference between a listing with warm, multiple points of light, and uniform temperature, versus one with a single cold ceiling fixture, is huge. The first looks like a cozy home. The second, like a 90s student rental.

If you’re hiring professional photography, fix the lighting beforehand. The photographer won’t work miracles with bad bulbs.

How Autoregistro fits in

Lighting your apartment well is important. Complying with the traveler registration is also mandatory, and there’s no room for error. Every guest over 14 must be registered in SES Hospedajes within 24 hours of check-in.

Autoregistro makes it easy: the guest receives a link, fills out their details from their phone, and the data automatically goes to SES Hospedajes. You do nothing. Costs 1 euro per month per property, less than a coffee. If you have multiple properties, it’s also suitable (in fact, it’s designed for that, see how to manage multiple properties).

Frequently Asked Questions

What color temperature is best for the living room of a tourist rental?

Between 2700K and 3000K. Warm, cozy light that looks good in photos. Cold lights (5000K or more) create an office atmosphere and reduce perceived quality.

How many LED bulbs do I need for a 70 m² apartment?

On average about 15-20, depending on rooms and design. Switching all to LED costs between 60 and 100 euros and pays off in less than a year in electricity savings.

Are smart bulbs worth it in tourist rentals?

For mid-range apartments, no. Use good quality normal LEDs. In premium apartments, they can differentiate your listing, but beware: many guests don’t know how to use them and end up complaining. If you install them, leave clear instructions.

Should I install night or courtesy lights?

Not mandatory, but it adds points. A soft light in the hallway or bathroom to prevent accidents at night is appreciated. They cost 5-10 euros with motion sensors.

How often should I check the bulbs?

At each turnover. The cleaning person should have a checklist that includes "check that all lights work". Having a burnt-out bulb when the guest arrives is the first bad impression you avoid with 2 minutes of checking.