Sweater weather is here, and we’re dreaming of the sound of crunching leaves, the aroma of favorite warm drinks, and retreating inside the home to soft blankets and a fireplace. 

Fall is also the season of gratitude, and at this time of year, there’s nothing we’re more thankful for than the comfort of ambient lighting. It’s time to give this type of lighting its due as a lovely way to embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving and highlight the comfort it brings into the home. 

What Is Ambient Lighting?

If you’re unsure about what makes ambient lighting, chances are you already have some throughout your home. Ambient lighting is a room’s primary light source. Its purpose is to enhance or replace natural lighting in a room. Just as importantly, it creates the atmosphere or mood of a space. 

A consistent wash of light is essential in the home, and ambient lighting is just that. It evenly opens up a room and draws people in, perfect for your upcoming holiday get-togethers. What’s more, ambient lighting softly bounces off the ceiling and reduces facial shadows, making it useful for photos and capturing special moments. It also acts as a kind of foundational layer of light that’s usually followed by accent or task lighting that serves specific purposes. 

Where to Add Ambient Lighting

Every room could benefit from ambient lighting! It’s especially important during the colder months when the sun sets earlier in the day — ambient lighting can help mimic the look of natural light on cloudy days and late afternoons. When done well, ambient lighting works in harmony with other light sources in a room. 

Living Room

The living room is an easy and comfortable gathering spot when it’s cold outside. Make it as welcoming as possible with living room lighting that feels balanced and natural. Consider a small chandelier for overhead lighting, two accent wall sconces that flank a console table, and one or two floor lamps for reading or socializing. And don’t forget candles for even more cozy ambiance. 

Dining Room

Celebration dinners and entertaining are hallmarks of the fall season, so the dining room is another spot that’s ripe for a lighting refresh. Ambient lighting balances the need for adequate illumination to see loved ones (and what you’re eating!) and the desire to create an inviting atmosphere to savor the holiday. 

Bedroom

Create a cozy retreat you’ll love relaxing in day or night. For great bedroom lighting, it’s all in the layers. Add a swath of ambient light overhead with a dimmer switch to control the amount of light depending on the time of day. Include bedside lighting for an additional ambient light source and for reading and a floor lamp to light up darker corners of the room.

Types of Ambient Lighting

With ambient lighting, you’ve got options. Go big and bold or soft and subtle, the choice is yours.

Flush Mounts 

Flush mounts hug the ceiling and offer an even amount of light downward into a room. They’re also versatile and play well with other types of light fixtures. 

Semi Flush Mounts

A more decorative take on the flush mount, a semi flush mount extends downward from the ceiling several inches. Its deeper profile opens it up to many different styles to suit your home’s existing decor and style preferences. 

Recessed Lighting

Tried and true, recessed lighting is a staple of ambient lighting and offers a source of unobtrusive lighting that blends well with the rest of the room. Install them with a dimmer switch to control the amount of light and the mood of a room. You can also add a few recessed lights around another type of fixture so you have more overhead lighting options. 

Chandeliers

Create a focal point in a room with a chandelier that complements your existing decor. Available in dozens of styles, colors, and sizes, chandeliers offer a touch of glam and put the finishing touch on a room’s design. For safety and aesthetics, a ceiling should have a minimum height of eight feet to accommodate a chandelier. 

Wall Sconces

Sconces wash a room’s walls with light. Because these fixtures are commonly installed at eye level or slightly above, they provide a lovely even layer of horizontal light that balances light from other fixtures. 

Floor Lamps

Never underestimate what a well-placed floor lamp can do for a room. It can provide a supplemental source of ambient light in darker corners and other areas of a room other fixtures can’t reach.

Fall and Winter Lighting Made Easy

Get ready for cozy season with ambient lighting that feels natural and welcoming to family and friends. Visit a Lighting One member showroom near you for personalized lighting recommendations for your fall renovation, refresh, or remodeling project.