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Have You Got The Right Amount of Lighting in Your Home?

When it comes to home decor, what comes easy to you? I am a firm believer that everyone has their thing. And while I struggle with rugs (seriously, I can never get a handle on those things!), I've found lighting to be my superpower!  I think it's because I love lamps as decor and appreciate the way they can completely transform a room! Since moving to Sweden (coming up to 17 years ago now - gaaaah, where did the time go?) I've also realised how important it is to light up your home properly in the long, dark winter, just for your own sanity! To sum up: 

Here are 7 reasons why I love lighting:

1. It helps you to carry out daily tasks such as cooking and reading, as well as to find what you're looking for (saving you from walking out of the door wearing your child's bobble hat / your jumper inside out / terrifying make-up). 

2. Dimly lit, and soothing warm lighting helps you to relax

3. It makes your home feel more inviting / welcoming and comfortable (one off the reasons Scandinavians love to place lamps in the window)

4. It helps to highlight features in your home you love - and hide those you don't!

6. It helps to divide a room into different zones

7. The light itself can be a work of art

So, how does one create the perfect lighting in your home? I'm a firm believer in the 5-7 rule outlined in Frida Ramstedt's Interior Design Handbook. It stipulates that every room should have at least between five to seven lighting points - with some people even recommending up to nine! 

To really use lighting to its full advantage, it's great to cover: General lighting: a ceiling lamp that spreads ambient light across the room, Task lighting: a reading lamp, desk lamp or strong light over kitchen work surfaces. Spot lighting: lighting that directs itself to highlight a picture, bookcase or help create shadow on the wall. Atmospheric / decorative lighting: mood lighting, dimmable small lamps, candles etc.  

It's also important to use the right bulb - check out this guide for more. So much to think about! 

Time to take stock of my own lighting: 

I've had my Z1 overhead pendant lamp hanging in my sitting room for years. It's such a perfect light - when dialled up, it spreads light throughout the room without glare, and when dimmed, it sets the tone for a relaxed evening (while looking a little like a Thai sky lantern!). 

This pretty brass and marble lady is the Chloe lamp from Hudson Valley Lighting - used purely for mood lighting and brightening up a dark-is corner (although I could dial her up for semi-OK task lighting too).

I can't tell you how many questions I get about this Zuiver Shady two arm lamp. It's the perfect reading lamp and a family favourite. 

One of my treasured vintage pieces, I found the Jielde lamp* on Etsy a while back. Vintage lighting can be really tricky and often needs re-wiring - but your efforts will be rewarded. It's used to shed light on the table in this picture, but I also love to use it to highlight the bookcase or pictures (depending on how this corner has been arranged!). 

In the bedroom, my beloved Ferial lamp from Paris Au Mois D'aout. I am not sure if they are still making it, but they do produce similar ones. I love how it spreads light throughout the room and casts shadows on the wall. 

This elegant lady was handmade in the UK by a local craftsman over 20 years ago. She's followed me to Sweden and has stayed faithfully by myself ever since. I have to be honest, she's a fair-ish reading light but I'm not sure a serious lighting expert would approve! 

The Tip Table Lamp on my desk is a little saviour when the sun dips beneath the horizon - or I'm burning the midnight oil while Per sleeps! 


Look closely, and you'll spot the Vuelta table lamp* from Ferm Living on the shelves behind my desk - it has a built-in dimmer switch and looks lovely lit up in the evening.   

One that I haven't had the chance to photograph yet, but really love, is my glass table lamp from Hübsch. If you're looking for a lamp with a perfect, warm glow - this is your lady! 

It was so fun to take stock of what I have. Even so, I realise there's definitely room for more (perfect excuse for a little light shopping this weekend!). 

What's the lighting situation in your home? Do you need more? Any lighting fails? Or great tips and tricks you'd love to share? 

If you're also planning on taking stock of what you have this weekend, you might also like to consider the following: 

- Dimmer switches are your best friend
- Angle or adjust the height of your lamps to ensure you don't get any glare
- Vary the height of the lights in each room to add feeling and depth: e.g. place on the floor, on surfaces such as low tables, shelves, windowsills, wall mounted or hung from the ceiling. 

Right folks. I do believe it's the weekend - wooohoooo! I can't say I'm doing anything too exciting! But it'll be nice to have a lie-in, pick out some paint colours with Liv for her bedroom and perhaps go for a walk along the beach. And enjoy a couple glasses of wine no doubt. 

Skål to the weekend! 

Niki

*some of the links contain affiliate partnerships which means I might make a teeny tiny amount if you click and buy something - at no extra cost to you. Also, a few of the lamps featured are press gifts. 

LATEST COMMENTS:

  1. I have had many lamps over the years - I have no idea where some of them have gone but they must have broken - but my favourites are a tall Anglepoise that has moved around the house over the years and now I am back to my first love - large white paper shades. Rather too large in one room but it looks so beautiful that I don't care and besides, I am short. Not so my irritated husband. Give me that two-armed grey lamp at once!

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  2. Lighting is definitely one of your superpowers! All of your lighting vignettes seem perfect. I struggle with lighting and only have two to three sources in most rooms, except the kitchen where there are six. The kitchen also has large windows on three sides of the room, so lots of natural light during the day, which I love but introduces other issues such as making it too hot in summer a;d too cold in the winter. Clearly haven’t struck a balance on design features at our house🙄.

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  3. Hi Nikki! I'm such a fan of the site -- thanks for all of the beautiful inspiration! I've been wondering, who created the blue ombre watercolor print on your living room wall? (The one that's diagonally down from the shelf.) I'd love to find one, or one that's similar!

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  4. Love this post. I love lighting yet I definitely fall short of the guidelines. I have two newish table lamps that I love but find it difficult to find lovely modern styles locally- I am rural so I have limited options. I likely will have to resort to ordering online to find lighting I really love
    I do have a tip. I have a standing lamp I love- great situated for reading but always on in the evening for ambiance whether reading or not. In the fall when I bring in my menagerie of tropical plants from the patio, I put a led grow light bulb in the standing lamp, plugged into a timer and arranged an indoor jungle next to it. I’ve done this for two winters now and have seen a big improvement in plant vigour. Long Canadian winter, low-light conditions can take a toll on my plants- perhaps this solution would benefit a few Nordic readers also.

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    Replies
    1. I should also mention for those unfamiliar with more recent LED bulbs options, they come in a range of tones, measured in kelvin units, that varies from cool blue tones to warmer yellow light. With the LED grow bulb, it emits a very warm comfortable light not the stark bright white that some expect from LED

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  5. Hi Niki! I like your "Paris" lamp. Is it possible to know more about the lamp? I visited the page but there is only instagram. How did you contact them? Maybe you can tell me the size and a price of the lamp? Thanks.

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