Design Lesson
5 Ways To Improve Your Indoor Lighting In Winter
Photography by Phil Crozier | Design by Stephanie Martin | Styling by Flora Interior Styling
Design Lesson
5 Ways To Improve Your Indoor Lighting In Winter
In the winter, we rely on indoor lighting to keep us up once the sun goes down at 5 p.m. With a few tricks, you can create a home that doesn't miss the daylight.
Nothing will ever make up for summer sunshine and beautiful 8 p.m. sunsets, but there are a few ways you can help winter feel less dark and drab.
From changing your bulbs to new fixtures to revelling in the hygge of it all, you can make this season more cozy and comforting than ever before.
How To Optimize Your Indoor Lighting For Winter
1. Change out your bulbs
The easiest thing you can do to help boost the mood and feeling of warmth in your home is to replace bulbs with warm white and daylight ones for a bright, natural vibe or pick a blue spectrum for areas where you need mental focus and alertness (like your office). They'll create a shift in the feel of the room when you walk in.
Amazon Basics 60W Daylight Dimmable Light Bulb, $30 (6-pack)
2. Add dimmer switches
Although we're trying to prolong bright light as long as we can, dimmers help us transition from day to night while creating a cozy atmosphere. Instead of choosing between intense light or none at all, you can make a space with a custom palette—there are switches that you can connect and control with your Alexa and Google Home too. It'll help ease the sudden darkness that happens in the early evening.
Kasa Wi-Fi Dimmer Switch, Amazon, $20
3. Invest in accent lighting and floor lamps
An easy way to brighten up your space without making a huge investment is by adding small table lamps where you sit the most and floor lamps to dark corners of your room. Look for fun, trendy pieces that will give you an extra reason to smile.
Speckled Ceramic Table Lamp, Bouclair, $100
4. Add reflective and light-coloured decor
Mirror, mirror on the wall...help us brighten this room up! Reflective surfaces will keep light moving throughout your room and make it feel bigger and brighter. Try hanging one over your couch on in the corner of a darker reading nook. Using white, off-white, or beige decor also helps to reflect light rather than absorb it like dark blankets and pillows might. Look for stainless steel, chrome or glass pieces and fuzzy white throws and pillows. Bonus: Reflective surfaces are trending in interior design right now!
Golden Abstract Silhouette Mirror, Simons, $228
Cougar Faux Fur Throw, Bouclair, $60
5. Get cozy
Once you've switched out your bulbs, added a floor lamp or two, and found a new favourite faux-fur blanket, it's time to sit down and take it all in. Whether you cozy up with a book, put on a fire (or the fireplace on Netflix), or turn the dimmer down low for a romantic dinner, finding ways to accept winter weather will make your overall experience with the season better.
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