Searching for ways to elevate the look and function of your space? We explore the art of ambient lighting to help you make your home feel like a warm embrace, one lightbulb at a time…

One cab ride, numerous steaming cups of coffee, and 594 air miles later, I touched down in the charming capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. Eager to discover the best this buzzing city had to offer, I dropped my carry-on luggage off at the accommodation, wrapped up warm from head to toe, and ventured out to explore. It didn’t take long to notice the cosy atmosphere oozing from the surrounding tall buildings. What did these apartments with floor-to-ceiling glass windows have in common? Apart from strangely having no curtains, there were no ‘big lights’ on…

The art of ambient lighting

From lit-up candles and floor lamps to low-level pendants, the rooms were basking in a soft, diffused, warm glow. The Scandinavian countries are, of course, well known for the sought-after lifestyle concept of hygge (pronounced ‘hyoo-guh’), which promotes a sense of comfort; and lighting is one of the key design elements contributing to setting the right mood in your home.

“We live in a cold, sometimes very dark country. So across the winter months, we prefer the lighting we use to be warm and soft, making conscious use of shadows to achieve an embracing environment,” Peter Bundgaard Rützou and Signe Bindslev Henriksen, co-founders of design studio Space Copenhagen, tell me when asked about the roots of using ambient lighting in Denmark.

Which got me wondering, how can we achieve this snug feeling back at home? I reached out to my industry contacts to find out.

Types of lighting

It’s good to know that there are four main types of lighting – ambient, task, accent and decorative – and various fittings and fixtures, such as chandeliers and sconces or floor and table solutions, to help you illuminate your rooms. But it’s the ambient and decorative (which we are concentrating on here) that will help add an extra layer of warmth and depth to your design.

“The fixtures used as ambient lighting enhance the atmosphere, mood and cosiness in a space, or add sculptural value. This allows you to read a book or create an intimate, dreamy vibe,” explain Peter and Signe.

Layer your lighting

So, where do you start building your own ambient scheme? During my research, I learnt that layering your lighting is the most beneficial way to set the right ambience at home. And, interestingly, everything from the shade, the lightbulb colour to different styling tools plays a role in how cosy your environment feels.

“Materiality of the lighting fixture and shade as well as colour temperature are all crucial elements. The temperature should be at 2700 Kelvin or below,” explain Peter and Signe. “We often prioritise having dimmer control to create the balance needed to correspond to the time of day and season.”

Claire Pendarves, independent lighting consultant at The Soho Lighting Company, agrees and advises never to underestimate the power of dimmers. “Dimmers are the magical ‘genies’ that sprinkle the fairy dust,” she says.

But what about in each individual room?

How to use ambient lighting in your kitchen

As the heart of the home, the kitchen naturally needs to feel warm and welcoming. “Pendants over the kitchen island or dining table create warmth while subtly accentuating textures in wood or tiles,” says Lily Watson, head of marketing at lighting brand Heathfield & Co.

Whether placed in dark kitchen corners or on countertops, table lamps are also growing in popularity; they’re ideal for enjoying an intimate dinner with guests or a hot cup of tea in solitude. Warm under-cabinet and plinth lighting, LED strips or spotlights inside glazed cupboards, and even some stylish extractor hoods with in-built lighting, can help in adding visual interest and an extra layer of cosiness to your design.

Bedroom

If you want your bedroom to feel like a relaxing sanctuary, Lily advises combining dimmable ceiling lights with bedside lamps or pendants. “For added ambience, wall-mounted lights or low-profile floor lamps create a calm, inviting glow that complements the bed area without overwhelming it.” Peter and Signe also love the trick from traditional Japanese architecture, where you place indirect light close to the floor to achieve a mysterious, warm feel.

Bathroom

In your bathroom, Lily recommends fixtures with frosted glass to diffuse light gently and achieve a spa-like feel. Strip lights in storage alcoves and dimmable spotlights are also helpful in setting a tranquil atmosphere.

Apart from the look, it’s equally important to choose your lights with the proper IP (ingress protection) rating for a safe environment. For example, the areas above your bath or shower (zone one) need to have a minimum rating of IP44 while for the basin area (zone two), IP44, IP56 or IP65 ratings are ideal.

After having my lightbulb moment in Copenhagen and chatting with the experts, I now have a new-found appreciation for the art of lighting, and I hope it has sparked your creativity, too.

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