Embrace the winter chill by using lighting to create a cosy interior space. These are our top tips:
Use your lamps
While floor and table lamps should form part of every interior lighting setup, these fixtures come into their own in winter. In the summer months, they play more of a decorative role, but as the temperature drops and the daylight hours get shorter, lamps help transform a space. When selecting lamps, consider your interior style and the desired effect you want to achieve. Translucent fabric shades will create a brighter light, making the room feel larger, while opaque shades offer a dimmer, softer glow. Fixtures in warm autumnal colours and metals make a space feel cosier, even when the light is switched off.
Switch out your light bulbs
To really tailor your lighting to the season, swap out your bulbs. Use energy-efficient high-wattage LEDs for overhead lights and lower-wattage LEDs for lamps to create a cosy ambience. Also, consider the kelvin value of your bulbs. Kelvins are the colour temperature of a bulb. The higher the kelvin, the cooler the light. With this in mind, opt for bulbs that have a lower kelvin value. Be sure to keep the kelvin value consistent throughout a room, in order to create a cohesive look.
Invest in faux candles
The flickering of a flame immediately sets the mood for a cosy night. But having an open flame in the house can be dangerous and messy. To create a warmly lit room, invest in LED candles. These faux candles have a realistic dripping wax appearance, complete with a LED flame that can be turned on and off with the switch of a button.
Employ clever techniques
While tall ceilings that create an open, airy feel are great for summer, they can often make a room feel cavernous and cold in the winter months. To create a warmer, more intimate look, employ some simple lighting techniques. You ideally want to keep light away from the ceiling so that the eye is not drawn upward. You can do this by positioning wall lights and pendant fixtures fairly low, ensuring they have closed tops that won’t direct lighting back up to the ceiling. Draw attention to low-level items such as photo frames, artwork, books and other trinkets by using lamps and strip lights.