Designers Share Key Lighting Strategies as Days Grow Darker

As Daylight Saving Time ends, many households are preparing for longer evenings and shorter days. This seasonal shift often brings a sense of gloom as natural light fades, prompting a need for warmth and comfort in homes. Designers are now sharing practical lighting strategies to enhance ambience and brighten interiors during the darker months.

Layering low-level lighting is essential to creating a cozy atmosphere as the days shorten. Caroline Milns, head of interior design at Zulufish, emphasizes the importance of a well-planned lighting scheme that incorporates various sources of illumination. “The key to a well-considered lighting scheme that supports you throughout the year lies in layered illumination,” Milns states. She suggests that a combination of table lamps, wall lights, and picture lights can help cultivate a warm environment that overhead lighting alone cannot achieve.

Designer Lauren Gilberthorpe concurs, noting that as evenings draw in, introducing more low-level lighting can enhance the comfort of any space. “Table and wall lamps create a cocooning atmosphere,” she explains. Christina Cruz of Christina Cruz Interiors adds that switching to more substantial lamps can also make a significant difference. “I swap my lightweight task lamps for more substantial bases and larger, patterned lampshades for fall,” she explains. This shift not only enhances the aesthetic but also provides a more intimate glow.

Warming up bulb temperatures is another simple yet effective strategy that designers recommend. As the daylight diminishes, Kailee Blalock from House of Hive Design Co. advocates for the use of warmer bulbs. “I lean into lamp light, using bulbs closer to 2700K,” she states. This shift turns tables and floor lamps into inviting focal points, creating a warm atmosphere as temperatures drop.

Lucy Harris, founder of Lucy Harris Studio, sets her lamps to come on automatically around sunset. “In the fall, I set my floor lamps and table lamps to come on about half an hour before sunset,” she says. This proactive approach ensures that homes feel inviting as darkness sets in. Michelle Murphy of DEMI RYAN echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of mood lighting and the comfort offered by multiple lamps in a room.

Incorporating mirrors into lighting plans is another technique many designers use to maximize light. Allison Lind of Allison Lind Interiors suggests that mirrors can enhance both natural and artificial light. “Mirrors bounce light, adding to the effect of the natural light entering the room or reflecting the glow of mood lighting,” she explains.

While these adjustments may seem straightforward, they can significantly impact a home’s atmosphere. Implementing these two key lighting strategies not only combats the seasonal affective disorder that can arise during winter but also transforms living spaces into warm, inviting sanctuaries. As the days grow shorter, these thoughtful changes can help ensure that homes remain vibrant and welcoming.