Creating Warmth and Coziness in the Cold Months

I've found that a great way to combat the potential winter blues headed our way is to pivot our perspective on how we feel about the cold weather and shorter days. So today, we're thrilled to share our best ways to create warmth and coziness in the cold months with Kichler.

The Danish culture embraces Hygge by adopting elements that foster coziness and a general feeling of contentment. We love cultivating this into our own designs, and it's particularly uplifting in the colder months. One of the best places to start is with ambience and lights. Going hand in hand with color, it's one of the quickest mood enhancers for a space. So, the best way to beat that feeling of cold and darkness is to create your own light and retreat indoors to generate warmth.

As designers, whether we're grouping lights in unexpected ways or adding beautiful, simple statement pieces to spaces with Kichler, it's always like adding jewelry to a space. Kichler makes it effortless. They are the finishing touch that always seems to bring a room to life.

When people think of lighting, they tend to gravitate towards grand chandeliers and statement pieces. While those are among our favorites, we always encourage our readers and clients to think of lighting in unexpected, multidimensional ways. Building light in layers is the key to making a space your own. So, without further ado, let's break down some of our very favorites.

1. Sconces

Nothing creates that beautiful character and custom-built-in look like the fine art of using sconces. Kichler offers so many options; we love having this in our arsenal to offer in a variety of fun ways. The key is knowing how, and we adore coming up with solutions in ways our clients may not have anticipated yet. With the structural art pieces that sconces have to offer, from their design to their well-lit elements, this is your cue to get creative. They're always timeless. Nothing beats that golden glow in the colder months, or year-round. Some great products include: Midi, Phix and Farum.

The bathroom always offers a timeless array of options, especially around the vanity for traditional placement. But we love using them in unexpected ways too, like in this basement renovation for our clients, where the sconce-like vanity lights serve as a great way to introduce a secondary lighting element.

We've also installed them in one of our favorite rooms in our home, surrounding the space. This brings in so many more lighting options, especially in the colder months. They bring in a gorgeous, warm glow at night. My only regret? I wish I'd thought to use these in more spaces in our home, since our pool room has been such a game-changer for us.

Used over bookshelves and in entryways, they're always a significant upgrade. Bedrooms are also a fantastic option to cozy things up, instead of the usual suspects, like a table lamp. There's something about a good sconce that makes things feel more formal in the very best of ways, with intentional, well-thought-out designs.

The possibilities are truly endless when you use sconces as a powerful tool to warm a space and provide additional lighting. They're magical in spaces without windows or natural light.

2. Tape Lighting

Tape lighting is one of our very favorite tools from Kichler, and the possibilities with this one are quite endless. This is something people never consider, and it's a wise option to use just about anywhere, for multiple reasons.

We love enhancing the insides of glass cabinets and the undersides of kitchen cabinets. They help create quite the ambience at night with dimmer switches (more on that below!) and offer such a variety of that soft, warm glow... every space can benefit. We've used these under shelving, and on the insides of closets to create a much-needed lighting option. We adore the way Kichler's tape lighting really brings spaces to life.

3. Dimmable Lights

Dimmable lights are a fantastic element that is often left out of other designs. All of Kichler lights are dimmable when paired with a dimmer switch (sold separately), adding another dimension to the possibilities for fine-tuning a space. Since lighting is a very personal preference for many, it's essential to offer this option, which adds an automatic coziness factor. You can immediately change the mood of a space by adjusting the amount of light used. There's just something so welcoming about that beautiful soft glow in the colder months, and we love having options! From chandeliers and sconces to under-cabinet lighting and bookshelves...you can change it up by opting for whatever your heart desires in the moment.

4. Mirrors

If you don't own a Kichler mirror, you really don't know what you're missing, and I don't think I can speak more passionately on this topic. Not to be dramatic or anything, but now that I've had one in my own home, I can never go without. I recommend them for any space as an essential upgrade, especially in bathrooms that lack natural light. They're game-changers for all things prep and incredible ambience in the everyday.

We often use our own mirrors in the bath for ambience, and they're LED, which makes them reliable. We also have various brightness settings, which serve as fabulous night lights when not needed for their full use. Some of the mirrors we've installed for clients have this incredible option to switch from warm to cool lighting, and we adore the effect it brings to any space.

Their mirrors might be a close second place to their incredible chandelier options... but then again, it's always hard to choose with Kichler and all their beautiful options!

We hope this gives you a little inspiration to combat the blues and create warmth in your own home in the dark, cold months this winter. It's always a win with Kichler. What are some of your favorite ways to bring warmth to your home with lighting? We'd love to hear. Have an inspired day!