When it comes to deciding how to light the art in your home, it's worth noting that there is a range of bulb options to choose from, such as LED picture lights or low energy picture lights. These are good options as they last a long time and are affordable.
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According to Architectural Digest, LEDS are an especially good option as they don't emit any UV or hardly any heat, preventing long-term damage to precious artworks.
Which type you choose may be down to personal preference, as well as the style and type of artwork you have. For example, modern acrylics tend to need brighter lights than watercolours. However, avoid using highly fluorescent lights on expensive pieces of artwork, as this could encourage the colours to fade.
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Whichever style you opt for, aim to illuminate the picture so that it's around three times brighter than the remaining room. However, experts suggest it's best to avoid leaving the light on all the time.
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If glare becomes a problem, change the angle of the lighting or use a bulb with a lower wattage. Alternatively, consider switching the picture glass to one that is non-reflective.

Before opting for the picture lights to light the artwork in your home, it is important to consider which picture(s) you want to illuminate. A lot of people pick a single piece of artwork that has either personal or monetary value to them, while others may want to group some smaller pictures together, such as family photos. The kind of pictures you want to illuminate will influence the style of picture lights you choose, such as whether you opt for traditional picture lights or modern picture lights.
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As well as choosing a picture light to suit the style of the picture, take into consideration other aspects in a room, such as the furniture, furnishings and decor, so that the light complements them. For instance, if you have a very contemporary room and modern piece of artwork, choose a picture light that also reflects this style.
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The picture's size will also dictate what kind of picture light you should purchase. If your picture is portrait-oriented, pick a light that is around half the width of the picture. Landscape pictures are better suited to picture lights about a third to a half the width of the picture.

One of the big mistakes people make when hanging a picture light is that they don't install the light in proportion with the height of the picture. If it's too high, it won't properly illuminate the artwork, but if it's too near the picture, it might create a hotspot in one area. You should aim for an even spread of light across the picture, rather than focusing on one part.
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If you're unsure about where to hang pictures below picture lights for maximum impact, then why not consider getting a frame mounted picture light to eliminate any uncertainty?

If you're wondering how to install picture lights, the good news is that you don't necessarily need to call in the experts, as this is a task that you can do yourself with some basic DIY know-how.
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Measure two inches above the picture, making a pencil mark above the top corner of the frame. Locate the centre of the artwork along this point. Place the picture light so that the bulb is set on the two-inch mark above the picture in the centre.
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Locate the screw holes on the mounting bracket and mark these with a pencil onto the wall. Drill pilot holes into the pencil marks, according to the instructions. Using screws, usually provided with the light, screw the mounting bracket to the wall.