This time of year brings a special kind of beauty and magic which is emphasized by creating a warm ambiance inside your home. Lighting is one of the most important features in a home in the fall and winter as it affects not only the appearance of a room but also your mood. When the days are shorter, you can illuminate your home with different sources of lighting to keep you feeling cozy all season long.
From the artful placement of sconces to pendant lighting and the glow of candles, you can light your home to perfection. Even small changes to your lightbulbs and lampshades can make a big difference when it comes to creating a welcoming stage for dinner parties and holiday gatherings. Before we enter the darkest part of the year, give some of the lighting tips below a try.
Create Layers of Light
When you have the benefit of the summer sun streaming through the windows, you don’t need more than a single lamp as a lighting source. However, on a gray winter’s day, having multiple lighting sources will help you achieve the right balance of light in the room. When you are choosing types of light, aim for mellow tones that scatter light on different levels in the room. For example, you might like to have a lamp on an end table, a pendant light overhead, and a floor lamp. Of course, you don’t need them all on at the same time — you can vary the type of light you use depending on how dark it is outside.
Install Dimmer Switches or Multicolor LED Bulbs
If you are able to install dimmers on your light switches, you’ll enjoy the flexibility of being able to tailor the amount of light in a room. You can even find plug-in dimmers that work with lamps to achieve the same effect as a wall dimmer switch. Alternatively, consider multicolor LED bulbs, which can be controlled to emit different amounts of light as well as color temperatures. Warm hues are particularly pleasant in the winter, which can be achieved with bulbs that are 2,700 Kelvins or less.
Swap Out Lamps Shades
Also important to achieving a warm glow in the fall and winter is the lampshades that you use. The best lampshades that diffuse light will be made of semi-opaque fabrics like cotton and linen. The color of the lampshade can also make a difference, with colors like red, yellow, and orange creating the warmest effect. Lamps with a warm or neutral base, like our Circus Table Lamp, look beautiful with any of these colors of shades in linen.
Use Statement Lighting
Recessed ceiling lights are not ideal for creating ambiance in the colder months. They can come across as harsh and sterile. Instead, consider using a pendant light, like our Piero Chandelier overhead. Not only will it illuminate your space from above, but it also creates a beautiful focal point for the room, whether hanging above your dining table or in the center of your living room.
Use Sconces
Wall-mounted sconces can be used in almost every place in the house as a secondary lighting source. Originally designed to hold candles or lanterns on the walls, you can now find them in every shape and style at our Charleston furniture stores. You can use sconces next to your bed, over your mantle, above a console table or in the kitchen to create a soft, scattered lighting effect. From a sleek, modern design like our Folio Sconce to a more traditional gold sconce like our Clove Double Sconce, there are plenty of options to light your home.
Magical Additions
Finally, there are the small additions that can bring extra enchantment to your space in the fall and winter. There is no light that is softer and more relaxing than candlelight, so try adding some candlesticks, like our glass Monroe candlesticks to your table on dark nights. Another simple lighting trick for this time of year is to use string lights to decorate. You can wrap your garland on the mantle, or just place a strand of string lights inside a hurricane lamp or lantern, like our Tammy Hurricane.
Let the Light In with the Help of GDC Home Furniture Stores
Light up your home this winter with the help of GDC. We have an expert team of interior designers who are happy to make suggestions that we’re sure you will find illuminating! Stop by one of our Charleston furniture stores to explore our large collection of lamps, pendant lights, and more.
Shop the Look
Monroe Candlesticks, Set of 2
This glass candlestick set blends perfectly into any home. The clean, traditional outline makes it an elegant decor addition. Dimensions: 9.5″H x 5″Dia.
Clove Double Sconce
Updated opulence comes to mind with this double sconce, which wears an antique gold leaf finish on its ribbed backplate and bobeches. Antique-inspired candles hold the crisp, modern shades.
