Post-Christmas lighting

As you know, Christmas entails rather a lot of changes to the decor in lots of homes. It's now time for the strings of lights, Christmas trees and mini Santas that were present in our homes during December to be packed away again. The weeks after Christmas can feel a bit cold and dark at home, and that's why we're sharing some of our best tips on how you can configure the lighting at home after all the Christmas decorations have been taken down and the new year is here.

Use several light sources

The right lighting can truly lift a room and it's important you think through your requirements when planning which light sources to place where. If you have a lot of natural light then perhaps you don't need as many light sources as you might in a room with less natural light. A functional home with a pleasant feel needs a combination of atmospheric lighting and general lighting - a good rule of thumb for a smaller room is to have at least 5 sources of light and at least 7 in a larger room. It might seem like a lot but not all light sources need to be on at the same time. Light sources should be tailored to your needs. Think about what you do in a room and use that as a blueprint for the lighting you're going to need. General lighting (a ceiling light), is an example of a fixture that only really needs to be switched on in a room when you need a bright light, for example, when you're cleaning.

During the dark winter nights, turning on decorative - otherwise known as atmospheric - lighting can create a cosy feel. These lighting fixtures are discreet and give off an atmospheric and cosy light.