Motherly Love Summer 2021

The feel of a room changes
completely depending on how it’s lit.
It’s easy to forget about lighting when
you’re busy choosing furniture and
decorating, but it’s something that
affects every part of your home.
Here’s some advice, both practical
and aesthetic, on how to light a
house—room by room.
Choosing a lightbulb is just as
important as choosing a type of
lighting. Be aware of the colour
temperature. A warm white will
create a much more welcoming feel
than a cool white.
HALLWAY
• A table lamp near the front door can
create a sense of warmth and
welcome when guests step into
your home.
• A string of fairy lights won’t be
enough to light most rooms, but
they can add a whimsical feeling to
a corridor!
• When you’re going up or down a
set of stairs, your main priority is
seeing where your feet are going.
A table lamp by the top of the
stairs is fiddly to switch on and
can’t be switched off when you’ve
reached the bottom—but an
overhead light, controlled by a
wall switch at both the top and
the bottom of the stairs, is a lot
more practical.
LIVING ROOM
• Because the living room is for
relaxing and socialising, overhead
lighting can feel a little glaring.
• Table or floor lamps are often a
better fit for a living room.
• Use different levels of brightness
for different purposes—softer
lamps for ambience and brighter
spotlights for reading.
• Try dimmable ceiling or wall lights
to add a cosy feel.
KITCHEN
• Stay practical when thinking about
lighting in the kitchen.
• Table lamps leave too many
shadows and may make it harder to
see what you’re cooking.
• Ceiling lights are better for lighting
up the whole room and offer the
most practical choice.
• Spotlights can be added under wall
cabinets and extractor fans to
illuminate work surfaces for added
character and design.
BEDROOM
• When you’re going to sleep or
you’ve just woken up, you don’t
want to drag yourself out of bed
and over to a light switch by the
door, so keep a lamp on your
bedside table.
• Look for alarm clocks that
use natural-style lights to
make waking up in the mornings
easier. Illuminated clock-faces
are also good if you want to check
the time at night without putting
on a light.
• Dimmable lights can be useful
in a bedroom, particularly when
you’ve just woken up and your
eyes aren’t prepared for full
lighting yet!
Motherly LOVE Issue 1 63