Making small changes to your interior decor is always a great way to usher in a new season. Take your home from cool and breezy to warm and snug in four easy steps:

1. SAVE MONEY
Shorter days and longer nights mean that your lights will be working extra hard over the next few months. To keep your electricity bill down and extend the lifespan of your bulbs install a dimmer switch and swap out your incandescent bulbs for LEDs. Dimmers are useful year-round, but in winter they really prove their worth. A dimmer switch allows you to adjust the level of brightness in the room so that you can create a welcoming atmosphere. Lowering the intensity of lighting uses less electricity and prolongs the lifespan of your bulbs. Take it a step further by using LED bulbs. They’re energy efficient and don’t need to be replaced as often as incandescents, and when combined with a dimmer switch, they’ll save you money in the long run.

2. CREATE A WARM GLOW
Transform a room from cold and lifeless to warm and inviting by making sure all your light bulbs are warm white as opposed to cool white. Not only do warm white bulbs create a cosy glow, but they also help our body to relax and wind down which is often needed in winter when we retreat to our homes for comfort and rest. If you’re not sure what to look for when purchasing your bulbs just take a look at the Kelvin temperature listed on the box. To get that golden glow you want a bulb with 2,700 Kelvins or less.

3. LAYER UP
Layering your lighting is one of the most important parts of any room design because it creates visual balance and allows the room to be used both comfortably and safely. In winter, layered lighting helps create a cosy ambience. A corner floor lamp overlooking your favourite reading chair will provide you with enough light to read and will seep out into the wider room, creating a relaxed feel. Lamps placed on side tables will gently illuminate a space when the family is gathered around the TV for a movie night. Under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen will spill light onto the countertops and turn your kitchen into a comfortable workspace for whipping up hearty meals.

4. GET THE LOOK
When the temperature drops we turn to rich colours and varied textures to make our homes cosier. Adding sumptuous scatter cushions to the sofa or draping a chunky throw over the bed immediately adds an element of warmth to a room. But don’t overlook the aesthetic appeal of your lighting. Copper lighting, in particular, is a popular go-to choice for winter and for good reason. These metallic fixtures have organic appeal and tie in seamlessly with most decor styles. Matt copper luminaires add an element of understated warmth to a room, while shiny copper makes more of a statement. Regardless of which one you choose, copper lighting will emit a warm, orange glow when switched on and create an inviting atmosphere.

visit: www.eurolux.co.za

 

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