lamps and light bulbs
While I love selecting chandeliers and other ceiling lights both for my own home and for my client’s projects, I’m a huge fan of lamps. If I visit a client for a consult and notice that they don’t have lamps in their main living areas then that is usually one of the first things I address. Lamps help a space to feel cozy and comfortable, warm and welcoming. Family movie night or even dinner in front of the TV is more relaxing with lamp light instead of bright overhead lights. When entertaining, a lamp or two on a foyer table creates an inviting environment when guests enter your home while table and floor lamps in the family room and entertaining areas help your guests to relax. Overhead lights when talking to friends at a dinner party can feel uncomfortable, like there is a spotlight showing every pore on your face.
Aside from lamp light, one way to soften the atmosphere in your home is to put a dimmer switch on overhead lighting. I like to be able to control the light output in my home so much that, in my kitchen, my island pendants are on one dimmer switch, the can lights are on a separate dimmer switch and the under cabinet lighting is on its own dimmer switch as well. Doing this allows me to adjust for function (cooking when I need more light to read recipes), circadian rhythm (when I need my children to calm down at the end of the day) and entertaining (when we want somewhere in-between lighting).
The type of light bulb you select also makes a huge difference in a space. We all know that fluorescent lighting is harsh, uninviting and not very flattering. But, even the new LED lights can give off a bad vibe. You definitely want to avoid the kind that throw off an artificial looking glow that almost looks blue. Three-way lamps are great because it’s like the lamp has its own little built in dimmer switch. Edison bulbs are unique and fun, but they don’t give off much light and sometimes the filaments can look too orange (I have had to return my fair share of Edison bulbs because they just didn’t look quite right). These light bulbs by GE are my go-to bulbs (I actually buy them at Harris Teeter, our local grocery store). They give off the perfect amount of soft, warm light and last a really long time!
