Get cozy, inside and out.

Westinghouse Lighting

Want to make your home as cozy, calm and relaxing as possible?  Try hygge, the Danish lifestyle trend that has captured the imagination of lighting and interior designers, as well as homeowners. More than just a décor trend, hygge is a state of mind – one of stress-free contentment while appreciating the simple things that bring joy to life.

GLOW
TIME

Lighting is key for optimal hygge.

Lighting is a key element in hygge (pronounced: hue-gah), which takes a minimalist concept and punctuates it with warmth, texture and glow. One of the most effective ways to create a warm and cozy atmosphere is through the placement and adjustment of lighting in the home.

The gentle glow of candles, which symbolizes the hygge trend, is complemented by soft, mood-provoking electric lighting. With hygge, lighting is used to help create a pleasant ambiance. Light and shadow are equally important elements, as they contribute to a feeling of warmth and naturalness.

For hygge, use several light sources to scatter warm light throughout a space. Transform space with shadow and light by placing lamps in spots chosen to highlight a room’s decorative elements. Adding a few softly lit pendant lights brings a serene, diffused glow that creates areas of darkness as well as light, increasing the sense of tranquility.

To add a comfy, hygge-worthy glow to your home, follow these lighting tips:

• Limit the use of ceiling lights. If overhead lighting cannot be replaced with lamps, install a dimmer on the overhead light.
• Select light bulbs that are warm or soft white with a low lumen number.
• Use LED candles for a pleasant flickering glow.
• Place darker shades on table and floor lamps.
• Bring the outdoors in by choosing organically shaped light fixtures made of natural fibers and fabrics.

To find more tips about how to create your hygge-inspired space, visit an ALA-member showroom or go online to ALALighting.com.

Image above courtesy of Hinkley Lighting

Kichler Lighting

MOOD
MAKER

Change with the seasons.

While cozy lighting is essential for dark winter nights, the long, light-filled summer days also harmonize with hygge. Light, in general, is critical to hygge, whatever the season.

In the summer, hygge capitalizes on outdoor living. As the sun sets, light outdoor spaces with twinkling rope lights, step/path lights, table lamps, dimmable sconces, pendants and chandeliers made specially to withstand outdoor conditions.

Inside, use natural decorative elements and place lamps, dimmed mini spotlights or electric lanterns thoughtfully throughout the space. Take advantage of natural light flowing through the windows to create dramatic dark and light contrasts.

Play around with combinations of lighting to create the perfect hygge setting for every occasion: soft summer evenings, crisp mornings, rainy afternoons, chilly winter nights.

When the light in your home is sufficiently hygge, there is a greater sense of wellbeing that leads to a feeling of pure contentment and bliss accomplished through finding pleasure in small, everyday moments.

For help finding your hygge, visit a local ALA-Member Showroom.

Progress Lighting-Toil Brothers

EXPERT
ADVICE

Ask a lighting professional.

I have a deck with a fire pit that overlooks a lake and woods. Is there a type and color of light I can use to illuminate the area without night critters being frightened away by bright white light?        -Bob B.

We recommend you use landscape/deck fixtures with a visually warm color temperature and light sources that are shielded, which means the light source or light bulb is not directly visible. A color temperature in the range of 2700K to 3000K is less harsh than higher color temperatures.

To see the almost unlimited range of deck/landscape fixtures with varied shapes, forms, materials and light sources, visit an ALA-member showroom.

Generation Lighting

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