The importance of lighting when you’re creating a cosy calming home in partnership with Habitat

This post is in paid partnership with Habitat.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, unaltered and unedited as always. Affiliate links feature throughout.

Since I can remember there’s been an ongoing source of bickering in our house – the big light. My husband Jason will walk into a room and immediately turn it on.

This is shortly followed by me turning it off in favour of any low light source I can find. I despise the big bright overhead lights our homes come with. They give me sensory overload and make it so difficult to truly relax. It was only when we visited Oslo in December, when there’s roughly four hours of daylight each day, when I discovered how lighting should really make us feel.

I was in heaven. Everywhere we went the lights were low, warm and made me feel so cosy and calm. I took photos of the lighting the hotels, cafes and even shops used throughout our entire trip and as soon as we got back I committed to educating myself on how lighting really worked so I could make some changes and create that same feeling in my own home. I’ve been obsessed with lighting ever since.

When Habitat got in touch to ask if I wanted to work together and celebrate the importance of balancing mental health and wellbeing in the sanctuary of our homes I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share some lighting basics with anyone who finds themselves lost under the bright spotlight of the overhead light whilst craving an alternative but perhaps isn’t sure where to start.

Where to put lighting

Intentional lighting can transform a room quicker than any renovation. That reading chair where you like to snuggle up with your favourite book – is there a soft warm reading lamp there to make the experience as pleasurable as possible? Perhaps you prefer a brighter more direct light you can angle onto the page. Good design is always formed around how you want a space to feel and how you actually use it in your real life – not your fantasy life. 

The most important thing to know is what you’re lighting. The entire room? A painting? A corner of the room you enjoy or wish to draw attention to? Once you know your subject you can make an informed choice as to what kind of light you need.

I used to have lamps purely for decorative purposes and when I decluttered 80% of my possessions a lot of those lights were donated or sold. I was committed to having as few lights as possible, but this just didn’t work for me. Now I understand why. Lighting plays a significant role in how a room makes us feel. It isn’t unusual for an interior designer to place 5 light sources in one room depending on what it’s used for. As long as you’re lighting with intention – I say go for it.

Types of lighting

Not all lights are created equal. Think about the films and tv shows you love and how lighting is used to influence the mood of a scene to evoke a feeling in the viewer. Overhead spots are always used to create drama and tension whereas candles are used to create feelings of romance and nostalgia. Carefully considering the feeling we want to create in our homes is no different. Think of yourself as the director of your interiors and get creative. 

Table lamps will offer a smaller light source and are a great way to highlight a specific area of a room, floor lighting like the one I’ve used offer more height and usually give out more light whilst wall lights can be used to travel light up or down the wall or across the room. It’s always worth paying attention to the direction and intensity a light creates. 

Shades shouldn’t be neglected either. These are there to diffuse the light. A desk lamp with a metal shade will create a very harsh spot light effect as the light can only travel in one direction. Linen or cotton shades will allow the light to creep out creating a softer, less direct effect. A coloured glass will cast that colour around the room. Considering what kind of light you want to create will help you make a decision about the type of light you need. Always go for the right type as opposed to the one you think looks the best.

Light temperature

Did you know light has a temperature? The higher the colour temperature the warmer and more orange the light appears. Vice versa the lower the colour temperature the cooler and more blue the light will appear. Light temperature is measured in kelvin and can get complicated but all you really have to remember is the higher the kelvin the whiter the light appears. Habitat always list the effect to expect from their bulbs – low warm or bright white. The bulbs I chose give a warm amber glow which suits the cosy and calm atmosphere I prefer. 

Using light temperature intentionally is another great tool to create the feeling you want. Cool lights are often used to create a clean bright space but can sometimes feel sterile and clinical. Alternatively warm lights are used to create a cosy calming space but can create a look that’s too dull for some. You’ll often see these used in spas or Scandinavia like I did. Whatever your preference it’s important to note the effects you can create with temperature so you can make an informed choice. 

Even just moving things around a bit or switching out your bulbs now you’ve got some basics under your belt can help you create that calm cosy space you’re craving. Our homes are sanctuaries now more than ever and we should enjoy spending time in them. To do that we need to design them around what we like and benefit from, not what the builders thought would do.

Jason still loves the big overhead light on (I’ll never understand why) but at least now I’ve created my own alternatives so I can create my version of a cosy calm space in seconds. 

Big thank you to Habitat for sponsoring this post and sending out some beautiful props for me to style. Their range is well worth a look if you’re in the market for some versatile lighting. Habitat’s gardening range is also worth a browse If you’re looking to add some calm via greenery. They have some beautiful planters and garden furniture in right now. 

Anyone else have the big light argument in their house? I can’t wait to see how you create your calm cosy alternative. Tag me in on Instagram or drop me a DM so I can see.

You can find out more about Habitat’s mental wellbeing at home campaign here.