December 2023

Over the last year I’ve spent an unreasonable amount of time thinking about what makes rooms feel ‘glowy’ ‘cozy’ and ‘warm’. I’ve noticed that, at least for me, rooms that feel this way (whether it’s a restaurant, living room, or office) help create the conditions for more honest or intimate conversations. I also just enjoy being in warm spaces.

In any event, much of making a space feel glowy/cozy/warm comes down to lighting. In the past year I’ve experimented with making my own home feel like this (my prompt for myself was: I want to feel like I’m living inside a lantern). A number of friends have asked how they can replicate, so here are a few quick notes.

1: Pick the right lightbulb

People spend tons of time picking the perfect light fixture, when I’d argue that choice of light bulb is much more important in determining the warmth of a room. Below are a few considerations when choosing a bulb, as well as a few specific recs.

• Bulb warmth: For a warm vibe, 2700K is a great choice. 2200K also can look nice, as can 3000K depending on the space. Higher than that and you’re in ‘cool whites’ territory.

• Glass type: For maximum glow, amber/vintage glass. Clear can also work well, depending on the space.

• Bulb shape: I don’t think this matters much for light warmth/quality — it’s mostly determined by the fixture you have.
• Recs: Below are a few good options after some basic trial and error. Unfortunately the incandescent bulbs do produce better light quality than the LEDs (though hopefully that will change!). Of course you’ll have to adjust the bulb shape to work for your fixture.
  • Overall (incandescent): These (amber glass), these (clear glass)
  • LED: These

2**: Layer layer layer**

Diversifying light sources to come from many different heights and directions helps to create a warm, cozy vibe.

1. Low: Candles, candelabras, table lamps
2. Mid: Wall sconce upward-facing, wall sconce downward-facing, floor lamps, table lamps.
3. High**:** Flush mounts, pendants. In my opinion, skip recessed lighting in most/all cases
4. Outdoor: Uplighting, bistro lighting, table lamps.

3**: No need to get too particular about the fixture itself**

If the goal is to get a warm, glowy look, the most important thing is the light itself (warmth) and where it’s coming from. The fixture can influence light warmth (ie via a lampshade, or how it directs the light) but in many cases it’s mostly decorative (which of course serves a purpose—just a different one than getting a glowy room).