Clever tips on how to light your home this winter
During the colder months, your bedroom is, without a doubt, a sanctuary. And as such, it deserves every design consideration as you prepare to maximise on comfort. The usual suspects aside (textiles, insulation, and other heating solutions), it is in fact lighting that can make the most impact in creating the illusion of a warm, cosy space. Relatively cheap to execute, and with an opportunity to add a dash of your own design aesthetic, lighting can be the star player in your home this winter.
It’s all about warmth
Cold lighting is a mortal design sin for winter. So, forget fluorescent lights with blue undertones, and LEDs with harsh white glares. Rather, opt for warm light bulbs. These are easy to spot in your local hardware store (and even supermarket) as they’re labelled in Kelvins (or rather, K). Simply put, Kelvin refers to the colour temperature of the light bulb, more than the temperature it gives off. A warm bulb is one that is marked as 3000K, or under. Below this K point, you can expect warm, glowing bulbs that radiate comfort instead of utility, and luxury instead of mere practicality.
Power up when the power’s down
Is there anything as charming as oil lamps? These hardworking sources of light have come a long way. With modern interpretations and clever design, they’re gone from antique to chic. Plus, for those of us living at the mercy of load shedding, these handy lamps can make every moment of a power outage into a design-forward, cosy occasion. Of course, these days, we’re also spoiled for choice when it comes to rechargeable and solar-powered lights. The options are, quite literally, endless.
When in doubt, layer
It’s not always easy, or even practical, to redo your entire lighting setup. Budget aside, it can be a painstaking process to add new light sources to walls and ceilings where there were none before. In cases like this, dear homemaker, do not fret. Layering light is your friend. This technique is highly effective and very simple to execute. To layer, you might consider ambient, accent, and task lighting – or rather, a considered combination of these.
To layer lighting in your home, first, consider your existing main lights (also known as ambient lights). From there, you can add either accent or task lighting. Accent lighting is the decorative touch, so think of standing or floor lamps that can be placed in dark corners, on desks, or side tables. Task lighting, as the name suggests, is lighting that brings life to areas where certain tasks or activities are being performed, in other words, along countertops or dining tables. Together, ambient, accent, and task lighting create a space that is at once warm and luxurious.
Pro tip
For the more industrious DIYers among us, this might be a great opportunity to dig deep into your toolboxes for a lighting overhaul. Of course, we’re talking about architectural lighting. This form of lighting works with the structure of your home to highlight certain architectural features. Is there a particular arch or doorway you swoon over? Or perhaps a corridor that brings you joy? Architectural lighting is the answer. It adds depth, interest, and of course, a certain touch of warmth that will be most enjoyed during winter.
Looking for more ways to turn your home into the perfect winter sanctuary? We have you covered with more tips you can discover here.