How to dial up the cosy factor using artificial lighting
1. The Problem
Does the artificial lighting in your room help you use the space effectively, and maximise your enjoyment of the space in the evenings?
Spaces can be made to feel relaxing, cosy and inspiring with proper use of lighting. A room that works well will have main overhead lighting as well as floor lamps and / or table lamps that create separate pools of light in certain areas. These lights may have a practical use ie a reading lamp, or they may light up a piece of artwork, or simply add ambience to the space. Candles are another form of lighting that add yet another dimension to the space creating a moody, cosy and inspiring space to relax and spend time in.
Personally I much prefer to spend time in a space that is lit by several lamps and hardly every use the overhead lighting unless I have something I’m working on where I need a lot of light.
The tone of the lighting is a very important consideration. A space that is predominantly lit with cool light will feel cold and uninviting. Warm lighting has a much cosier quality and is therefore much more suitable when lighting lounge areas, dining areas and bedrooms. Rooms that are task based such as kitchens and bathrooms call for cool lighting (otherwise known as task lighting) since cool or daylight bulbs give the most accurate colour rendering.
Warm lighting (with a yellow tone) affect the colours within your room, which mean the colours you see at night are not the same as what you see during the day, but it does make for a much cosier space.
2. The Consequence
A room that has ineffective use of lighting will likely feel:
cold and uninviting if there is too much cool light
dim if insufficiently lit, or
lacking interest, if there is only one light source
3. The Solution
Use lighting to create pools of light - perhaps a floor standing lamp in a corner (placed next to a chair for reading), and a table lamp on a shelf that can add another area of soft light and light up a group of displayed objects that you would otherwise not be able to appreciate fully in the evenings. You could also direct light towards art work, and don’t forget the candles!
Lighting that is used for emphasising art work could be a cooler light since this gives a more accurate representation of the colours in the artwork. Mixing cooler and warmer light sources within a space is totally fine - but see if you can make the warmer lighting most dominant.
It’s not just the light itself that adds to the interest of the space, but the light source - By mixing up a variety of different lamp types, you will create an interesting interior (even during the day). An angle-poise lamp, a large statement table lamp, and a floor lamp with an interesting shade will create a cosy AND visually interesting space.
It’s important that the lighting of the space not only looks and feels cosy, but that it is also practical. You don’t want to be sitting in the dark, unable to read easily. Use a variety of light sources - some softer lighting simply for ambiance and visual interest, and other stronger light sources for practical purposes (reading or accurate rendering of colour in art work).
4. Example
Lighting comes in all forms - so choose things that work well with your personal style aesthetic. I love displaying clusters of candles on a tray as it looks really effective in the evenings, more so than individual candles. Have a play around at your place using lighting sources that you already have.
When considering new lighting, opt for things that look great during the day - and add a whole new dimension to your space at night! Have some fun with it.
Nicci x
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