The big light is so last year.
How to Transform a Room With Lamp Light
Embrace the magic of transforming any room with the perfect dose of lamp light! Learn tips and tricks on choosing the right lamps, placement, and lighting techniques to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere. From modern to classic designs, we’ll show you how to enhance your space, highlight key features, and set the mood with just the right amount of illumination.
Homeowners and renters alike have flipped the switch on how their lighting should feel. Bright and sterile overhead lighting is getting replaced with small and moody ambient lighting as more and more people ditch the big light for more custom options. You’re probably already familiar with the concept of mood lighting, but there are more benefits to leaving your big light behind than just for the sake of ambiance. Try a combination of our creative ideas for unique ways to light up your space without the typical overhead light to discover them for yourself.
Jacob Fox. Styling: Breanna Ghazali
Related: Soft White vs. Warm White vs. Daylight Bulbs: How to Choose the Right Lighting
Why People Are Officially Over the Big Light
It’s been trending on social media for a while now: People have declared that they just don’t like overhead lighting. Lovers of calmer lighting options claim that overhead lighting feels sterile, is unflattering, and doesn’t offer a relaxing feel. Others say that the much-maligned big light even gives them headaches. A surge of mood lighting inspiration has come from this stand against too-bright, harshly cool lighting, and now there are plenty of soothing light ideas that establish a more soothing mood while still keeping the room bright enough to see in.
Related: 10 Living Room Lighting Ideas That Are Both Pretty and Functional
Benefits of Mood Lighting (aka Little Lights)
Advocates for solely using mood lighting tend to feel strongly about the subject, often considering it an unspoken rule to never turn on a big light. There are a few reasons pro-mood lighting proponents feel so passionately about their lighting choices.
Related: 15 Easy Ideas for Better Lighting
It’s More Flattering
The direct downcast of a bright overhead light can create shadows on faces and bodies, accentuating features that most people would rather not focus on. Have you ever wondered why you sometimes look completely different in a clothing store’s dressing room? The reason is probably harsh overhead lighting. Mood lighting illuminates the room from all directions with a softer glow, casting much softer shadows (if any).
It Leads to Less Eye Strain
Using big lights with stark fluorescent bulbs that cause glare on screens often leads to eye strain and headaches. This can especially be an issue for those looking at a computer or phone in a room that has brighter overhead lighting than the screen. Implementing ambient lights that are dimmable and color-adjustable allows you to choose the brightness and tone that leaves you with less strain on your eyes.
It Lets You Fully Unwind
According to the Sleep Foundation, there is a direct correlation between light and how it makes us feel. Bright and blue light (both of which are often found in overhead lighting) can inhibit melatonin production and keep us awake longer. Ambient lighting that mimics the setting sun (red, orange, and yellow) is better for relaxing and unwinding at the end of a long day.
Little Light Tricks
We’ve gathered a few of our favorite little light ideas to make your space calming but still aesthetically pleasing—and bright enough. No matter your design style, there’s a little light setup for you! Combine a few of these ideas for the perfectly lit, soothing room.
Mushroom Lamps
Mushroom silhouettes are a huge trend right now, and they’re even better when they’re functional. A mushroom table lamp is perfect for adding a small glow to a bookshelf, coffee table, or countertop.
Floor Lanterns
Having lighting on the floor might seem strange, but it helps to move the eye to an often-forgotten part of a room. Not only are floor lanterns great for the visual interest aspect but also create an unexpected cozy glow around seating areas.
Tabletop Orbs
An enchanting tabletop orb light adds a splash of funk and art to a room while still emitting functional light. Change the color of the orb to reflect your room’s decor, or even better, your current mood!
Floor Lamps
Don’t overlook a tried-and-true lighting option—the floor lamp. Set it behind a reading chair or sofa, or so it casts light over a desk for working at night. There are countless sizes, designs, and types of floor lamps available, making finding one for your personal style easy.
Geometric Table Lamps
Table lamps are common lighting staples in most homes, but what about trendy geometric ones? Playing with lamp base shapes and how the light is coming out of the lamp can create a completely different feel than a more traditional one would. Consider a lamp without the standard shade for a fresh lighting look.
Wall Picture Lights
They’re not just for museums or art galleries anymore—wall picture lights can illuminate anything on your walls at home! Your personal collection of art and photos can now be properly shown off with picture lights while still contributing a warm glow to the room. You might not even have to hardwire them: Many are battery-powered.
Related: 13 Lighting Trends to Brighten Your Home in 2024
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