6 Lighting Tricks to Mimic the Glow of Sunset in Your Own Home
Bottle golden hour: How to recreate the glow of sunset in your home
With the clocks going back at the end of October (Sunday 26th October) and the days getting shorter and darker every day in the lead up, the psychological comfort and joy of long summer evenings feels a long way off.
With Google searches for ‘sunset lamp’ and ‘orange lamp’ trending in the last month, as the nights start to draw in, we spoke with Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, lighting expert and co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds as she shares her advice on how to use light to recreate that soft sunset glow at home, even if it is pitch black outside.
1. Swap cool-toned bulbs for warm ones
The light in our homes can have a huge impact on both how we feel and how it makes the space look, so it’s important to choose the right fittings and light bulbs, especially if you want to recreate a sunset glow in your home. Ally Dowsing-Reynolds says, “For a warming effect, choose light bulbs with a low colour temperature, somewhere between 2000K and 3000K on the Kelvin scale.
“Look for warm white bulbs as these will provide a soft glow, perfect for living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas to create a cosy space.”
2. Use low level lighting
Ally recommends: “Using low level lighting such as lamps and wall lights can mimic the lower angle of sunlight at sunset, adding a cosy glow to your room.”
There are a few ways you can play with low level lighting sources to create a sunset effect in your space.
Ally says, “As a general rule, wherever you have seating options, ensure you have lamps surrounding them. Don’t forget to add smaller light sources at different heights and levels too. These can be placed directly on the ground, such as near fireplaces and on side tables, to create a layered effect.”
Circular lamps are a great option according to Ally, as they diffuse a mood-boosting projection of light across the whole room, mimicking the sun.
“In the kitchen, use wall lights above kitchen shelves to create a relaxing mood in your space, without overwhelming the area with one harsh light.
“In the bedroom, I love placing larger lamps directly on the floor for a truly cosy feel. Scatter several lamps across your floor in different shapes and sizes to achieve a real glow.”
3. Light up alcoves
Low-level lights can also be added to any alcoves or nooks in your home. Ally recommends, “While these areas are often forgotten about, illuminating them can add a personal and cosy effect to your space and helps your whole home feel warmer in the darker months.”
4. Incorporate dimmer switches
Ally says: “While overhead lights provide great task lighting, they can be harsh on the eyes and hard to control.
“Dimmer switches make lighting adjustable, helping you control the level of light and ambience in each room.
“While it may seem excessive having overhead spotlights alongside other light sources, we usually recommend using five to eight layered light sources to create a balanced lighting scheme that can be adjusted for different activities and moods – it may sound like a lot, but that includes windows, candles and fairy lights.”
5. Embrace warm colourful tones in your space
Using warm, colourful shades such as ambers, terracottas and cherry red accents in your interiors can help to mimic sunset tones as the light illuminates these hues. Ally says, “Bring these shades in through your soft furnishings, such as cushions and throws, to help your lighting bounce the colours around the room.
“Layer in natural textures such as woven rugs, rattan furniture and linen curtains to create a cocooning, grounded feel.”
You can even bring these tones into your lighting and choose golden-hued bulbs or tinted glass lamps to amplify the sunset effect in your space.
For a bolder approach, Ally recommends considering colour-drenching your space in a rich terracotta or go for wallpaper with warm undertones for added depth with low-level lights to illuminate it.
“Add accents of brass or copper in frames, vases, light fittings or switches to add a subtle touch of luxury that complements the scheme.” Ally further recommends.
6. Don’t forget to light hallways
Stairwells and hallways can often be neglected when it comes to lighting, but to create a cocooning effect after dark, hallway lighting is key.
“Adding light into this space will make your home inviting for guests, along with creating a relaxing sanctuary for you to arrive home to in the evening.” Ally says.
“To get stairwell lighting right, first consider the size of the space you’re working with.
“Wall lights are great if you have a smaller hallway to optimise space, whereas pendant lights work particularly well in homes with higher ceilings. Try installing a row of single pendants to guide you to the living room with gentle pools of light and put these on a dimmer switch where possible so you can adapt the mood.
“Lamps will help create a cosy ambience in the evening – they’re particularly good if you tend to host family and friends a lot as you can keep the lamp on for when your guests are moving between rooms, without having the ‘big lights’ on.
“If your hallway is particularly narrow, go for uplighters instead of downlighters – they’ll bounce light across your ceiling, making the space feel larger.”
7. Layer candles for a firelight glow
“Create a cosy atmosphere by grouping candles and tealights of different heights and sizes together,” Ally suggests.
“Place them on mantels, side tables, window ledges or alcoves around the home to mimic the flickering warmth of a fire.
“Place in metallic or glass candle holders to reflect the light to add a glowing effect to the space that instantly feels inviting.”