What Does Warm Lighting Mean?
Warm lighting can change your home’s atmosphere. When we talk about lighting, we’re talking about how lighting fixtures can elevate your style, your home, and the impression your home gives.
One way we can make a space feel more comfortable and inviting is with warm lighting. However, you need to be careful not to overdo it. We’re here to give you some expert design tips to help you use warm lighting solutions effectively and create the space you’ve always wanted.
What is Warm Lighting?
To understand warm lighting, you need to understand color temperature. We measure the temperature of a light based on its Kelvin value— ranging from cool, neutral, to warm. Think about the sun at different times during the day. The sun at sunset is warmer and mellower than the glow of the sun at midday. These colors have a great impact on our moods, too, with cooler tones energizing us and warmer tones relaxing us.
Warmer lighting is provided by bulbs with a lower Kelvin value. As the Kelvin value increases, the brighter the bulb gets, and the cooler it gets, adding in a blueish tint at the higher end of the spectrum. This is suitable for some applications, but in residential spaces, this can be overpowering.
Personalized Lighting Solutions
The lighting you choose depends on your home, your color scheme, and your needs. Warm lighting isn’t suitable everywhere, and it’s important that you apply it effectively to get the results you want.
Here are some of our favorite uses of warm lighting— along with some places we think it should be avoided.
Bedrooms vs. The Study
Here are two spaces that are polar opposites. The atmosphere of your bedroom should be relaxing and rejuvenating, so this makes it a perfect opportunity for smart warm lighting. Toned-down lights can help your mind prepare for bed, creating a haven that feels inviting and calming. Soft lamps, recessed lighting strips, and diffused lighting fixtures soften the texture and harshness of light in a bedroom, enhancing the effect of a warmer lighting temperature.
On the other hand, studies and home offices are places where you want to feel energized. Too much warm lighting can impact your focus and alertness, so this room is better suited to a cooler-toned color scheme.
Dining Room vs. Kitchen
The dining room, especially if you’re entertaining, should be designed to be inviting. You want mealtimes to be comforting and set a welcoming atmosphere for yourself and for guests. This is a room where the benefits of dimmable lights become clear. We love them in every room of the house, but they shine through in several spaces.
The kitchen is a difficult room to pin down. You want bright, functional light for cooking, but cocktail evenings and late-night snack runs can feel too harshly lit. We suggest dimmable lighting fixtures, allowing you to tone down the intensity when the mood changes.
Bathrooms vs. Living Room
At first glance, you may think you want soft lighting in your bathroom. In fact, for many homeowners, it’s the opposite. Bathrooms are common places for shaving, makeup, and getting ready for the day or night. For this, you want lighting that’s functional.
However, if you’re after that relaxing glow, a seamless solution would be to install some hidden, recessed lights. Use your brighter, functional lights for getting ready to head out, and your softer, warmer lights for that end-of-day bubble bath.
The living room, on the other hand, is a space purely for winding down and entertaining. Whether you’re watching a movie, or enjoying a game night with friends, this room benefits from warmer-toned lighting. Like the kitchen and dining room, dimmable switches make a world of difference to your space.
Custom Lighting In Boca Raton
Here at Designer’s Mark, we know that lighting fixtures aren’t a one size fits all. Following these expert lighting design tips, you’re well on your way to creating a space you love.
In most cases, the best solution is to tailor your lighting solutions around your home and your needs. We’re on hand to help you make this a reality. We have decades of industry experience in matching your home’s textures and materials to the right light temperature, and we look for innovation at every step along the way.
Visit our Boca Raton interior design showroom to start your lighting inspiration journey.