Lighting Your Home: Think About These 3 Things
Have you ever been in a store, or a restaurant that feels off, but you can’t put your finger on why?
It could be as simple as... the lighting.
Sometimes it’s so subtle that you’re not even aware of your unease. I call it ‘the ambience doesn’t match the experience’. What you’re feeling is real, I promise. It's definitely palpable and it's all about tension without balance and it's a whole thing, but here's the deal... it happens at home too- and we can fix it!
Light is directly related to our mood, concentration and energy levels and at home it's a fairly easy way to make a HUGE impact.
Here are 3 things to consider:
Your Lamps
Do you have adequate overhead lighting so you skipped the lamps?? I urge you, try one... or 3! Lamp lighting sets a tone, cozies up a space and makes EVERYONE look good. Truly... it is a very complimentary light source, not to mention you can control it much better. I always aim to have a variety of lamp styles in one room- a floor lamp, a table lamp and maybe a unique orb lamp on a shelf or something similar. I’ll go into more detail on mixing, but it’s always a good idea! I also like to mix up my shades- a slight difference in shape, size or style keeps the space interesting and the eye interested.
Sidenote, your lamps are probably too small. It’s another one of the most common things we see- don’t worry, we all do it. A properly grand lamp can be tricky to find and most often isn’t found in the big box/bargain stores (but there are unicorns to be found!). Try a massive lamp in your space and see what a gorgeous statement is made. (Relatively massive, don’t go crazy. 30”-33” tall is a good rule of thumb)
Hanging Lights
Your overhead, chandelier and pendant lighting are an opportunity to make your statement!
Be sure to keep scale in mind, this is another area where the tendency to go too small is common. There is an easy general rule that’s often used when deciding on the size for your overhead light- the length (12’) + the width (15’) of your room added together gives you the diameter you’re looking for. In this case it would be 27”. While I do use this as a jumping off point, rules are made to be broken ;)
You just want to make sure that anything you’re choosing functions for you, but beyond that there is so much freedom to make a statement.
Like THIS gorgeous chandelier- the open style allows lots of light to be thrown around your room, the roundness balances all the hard edges in your space, and the mix of textures adds interest while keeping it versatile. I see this in a beautiful dining room with a style that leans a little formal, but still approachable… or a great entryway or foyer light for a transitional space with a coastal nod. Or in the kitchen!! A versatile chandelier for sure.
Your Bulbs
Be sure to select the proper bulb. This may feel like a trivial decision, but being how impactful light is… remember we’re basically houseplants in need of light and water, it’s worth some thought.
There’s a huge amount of research behind light temperature and circadian rhythm in how it influences our daily lives. It is VAST. Maybe you don’t have to dive into it, but it's absolutely worth a little consideration when choosing how to light your space. And at very least, please make sure that all of your recessed light bulbs in the kitchen are the same. At least the same temperature (I usually go 3000K in a kitchen, though I always love a dimmer). I can’t tell you how much of a difference we’ve made just by switching all of the bulbs to be uniform. You’d think you got a paint job, completely upgraded lights or your countertops were deep cleaned- the impact is massive.
The cliffs notes are: warm light (yellow glow) is more welcoming and relaxing, while cool light (blue glow) is more stimulating and promotes alertness and productivity. I think about it like this: warm light is more for cozying up with a cup of tea in a beautiful coffee shop somewhere, cool light is for getting a ton of work done- or being in a lab or the hospital.
I hope these give you some ideas of how you can love your space even more! This is a prime example of those Small Wonders I mentioned... a small tweak that has WONDROUS results. With the amount of time that we spend in our homes, why not take every advantage of what we have?
For a list of some current favorites when it comes to lighting, check out THIS current collection.
Chat soon,
:) Kate
