As autumn settles and the nights draw in, the need for cosy, comforting lighting in our homes really comes to the fore. We’re all drawn to light – candles, firelight and fairy lights are like a magnetic pull, completely irresistible. Yet we often overlook the lighting in our rooms, using overhead ceiling lights as our main, and sometimes only, source of light.

Lighting, like colour, has the power to instantly transform the atmosphere and feel of a room. Here are some simple guiding principles to lighting a room and creating a cosy, ambient living space.

Highlight design features

Work out where you need task, ambient or accent lighting in a room. Task lighting will be down lights, desk or reading lamps. Ambient lighting creates soft pools of warm light – think about pendants, wall lights and table lamps. Accent lighting can highlight design features such as artwork, shelving or display cabinets. Use table lamps, spotlights and hidden strip lights on shelving.

Create multiple points of light in a room, at different heights and for different purposes. As a minimum I would have four to five sources of light other than the overhead ceiling ones. Layer these different sources at different levels – floor, wall, table and pendant lights.

When it comes to wall lights, don’t always go for the obvious. This little cow bell in a kitchen I designed is one of the most charming elements in the room (pictured above). It gives a beautiful pool of light on the worktop as the daylight fades.

Especially good for small spaces
You don’t have to wire cables into the wall for wall lights either; lots of companies do plug-in wall lights where the flex is fabulous and on show. You just fix them to the wall and plug in to a socket. These are great for bedsides, lifting the lights off the bedside table; especially good for small spaces.

For table lamps, place these around the room at different heights where possible. Think of them as sculptural pieces in their own right; consider the size, shape, texture and material, and coordinate with your décor, whether you want to blend or contrast with other elements in the room. You don’t always need sockets close by either – there are some amazing rechargeable lights that you can pop anywhere in a room.

A sense of grandeur

Pendant lights over a dining table create great focus on the dining area and a sense of grandeur in a living room.

Lighting directly impacts your mood and can make every single room in your home more charming and atmospheric. Enjoy getting creative this autumn and bringing new light into your home.