After all the joy and revelry of the Christmas season, January can feel rather dull and gloomy. Help beat those winter blues, with these lighting tips and ideas…
The days are short, the skies are often dull, and home can start to feel more like a cave than a sanctuary. Luckily, lighting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to lift your spirits and nudge your mood in a more positive direction.
How can lighting help with the winter blues?
The wonderful thing about lighting is it doesn't just illuminate the room – it transforms the way a space looks and feels, and it can also affect how we feel. Light is closely linked to mood, and with some clever lighting tricks you can help to brighten up your space, boosting energy and positivity, and creating a warm, welcoming haven that you can enjoy spending time in, whatever the weather’s doing outside.
Here’s how to use lighting to bring a little cheer back into winter…
1. Create a warm welcome with a lantern
There’s something deeply comforting about a lantern glowing on a cold evening. Whether you’re coming home after a long day or welcoming guests in from the dark, a lantern instantly sets a reassuring, almost magical tone.
Pendant lanterns cast a warm, buttery light that feels far kinder than a stark overhead fitting. Our outdoor lanterns are weatherproof and durable, designed to withstand wintry weather – and they look just as lovely inside a porch or entrance hall.
View our range of lanterns and outdoor hanging lights
2. Balance the spread of light
One of the quickest ways to make a room feel gloomy is relying on a single overhead light. Pendants and chandeliers alone can create glare or shadows, as well as flat, unflattering light – especially in winter.
Instead, think in layers. Combine overhead lighting with wall lights, table lamps and floor lamps to create pools of gentle illumination around the room. This layered approach evens out the light and allows you to adjust the mood as daylight fades. It also banishes those dark corners that can bring down the mood.
Find out more about layering light: Home lighting design: A guide to layering light
3. Use lampshades to lift the mood (and the colour)
A lampshade is an easy and affordable way of bringing a bit of post-Christmas cheer to your space. Lampshades come in all sorts of different designs and materials, and they add instant colour, texture and character to a room - without the need to brandish a paintbrush.
Think warm whites and creams, interspersed with brighter pops of colour such as warm yellows, or pinks and purples – or for a touch of winter glamour try combining cool whites, light blues and metallics.
Looking for the perfect lampshade? Read our guide: How to choose a lampshade
4. Add warmth and flexibility with rechargeable table lamps
With rechargeable table lamps you can brighten up even the gloomiest of days.
There’s no need to worry about wires or plug sockets: pop them on bookshelves, place them in alcoves, on windowsills and side tables, or anywhere else you fancy, for a lovely warm, comforting glow of light.
Try clustering two or three at different heights to create a gentle, candle-like effect that’s perfect for winter evenings.
5. Set the mood with warm lighting
The colour temperature of your lightbulbs has a surprisingly powerful effect on mood. Measured in Kelvins (K), it describes how warm or cool light appears.
- Cool, blue-white light (above 4,000K) is energising and practical – great for kitchens and bathrooms.
- Warm, yellow-white light (around 2,500–3,000K) is calming and soothing, making it ideal for bedrooms and cosy corners.
In winter, leaning into warmer light temperatures can make your home feel more nurturing and, well, homely. Exactly what we need during darker months.
Find out more about warm lighting and colour temperature, in our expert guide: Understanding warm lighting - plus a guide to colour temperature
6. Create a cosy retreat
Having a cosy space to retreat to is a great antidote to the winter blues, and all you need to get started is the right lighting and something comfy to sit on.
You can create a cosy nook almost anywhere. Place a floor lamp by your favourite armchair, at one end of the sofa, in a window nook, or the unused space under the stairs. Add in a cushion, a warm throw, and a side table to pop a nice warm cuppa, and you’re all set…
Find out more about using lighting to create a cosy corner.
Don’t let the winter blues get you down - with the right lighting, you can make your room an inviting and welcoming space that’s a joy to spend time in.
View our range of beautiful, affordable designer lighting and accessories.
