Dimmers, Kelvins, and Mood: Why Your Home Lighting Matters

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Discover the transformative power of proper lighting as we illuminate one of interior design's most overlooked yet impactful elements. Have you ever wondered why some spaces feel instantly inviting while others leave you feeling on edge? The secret might be hanging right above your head.

We dive deep into the science of light temperature, revealing why professionals focus on Kelvins rather than watts. That harsh, headache-inducing light in your office? It's likely around 5,000 Kelvins – a clinical brightness that belongs in hospitals, not homes. For your living spaces, we recommend the warm, flattering glow of 2,700-3,000 Kelvins that instantly creates a cozy atmosphere. This seemingly small detail can dramatically transform how you feel in your space without changing a single piece of furniture.

Beyond temperature, we explore the game-changing versatility of dimmers, the energy-efficient benefits of LED technology, and the revolutionary freedom of cordless lighting solutions. From creating consistent ambiance throughout your home to strategically placing lights for architectural interest, each tip helps you craft spaces that not only look beautiful but feel incredible to live in. We challenge traditional fixture placement rules and encourage creative approaches to layered lighting that express your personal style.

Whether you're renovating, redecorating, or simply wanting to enhance your existing space, these practical lighting insights will elevate your home's design while positively affecting your mood and wellbeing. Take control of your environment by understanding how proper lighting sets the tone for everything that happens within your walls. Ready to see your home in a whole new light?

Learn more at:
https://twinteriors.com/podcast/

https://scottwoolley.com

Episode Transcript

Voice Over (00:00):
This is iDesign Lab, a podcast where creativity and
curiosity meet style and design.
Curator of interiors,furnishings and lifestyles.
Hosted by Tiffany Woolley, aninterior designer and a style
enthusiast, along with herserial entrepreneur husband
Scott, idesign Lab is yourultimate design podcast where we
explore the rich and vibrantworld of design and its constant

(00:23):
evolution in style and trends.
Idesign Lab provides industryinsight, discussing the latest
trends, styles and everything inbetween to better help you
style your life, through advicefrom trendsetters, designers,
influencers, innovators,fabricators and manufacturers,
as well as personal stories thatinspire, motivate and excite.

(00:43):
And join us on this elevated,informative and lively journey
into the world of all thingsdesign.

Tiffany Woolley (00:50):
Welcome to our little iDesign tidbit for today
we're going to discuss lightingand how important lighting is,
not only aesthetically but intemperature, and where things
vary and differ for lightinglighting and residential right
mainly residential.
Residential, yeah, becauselighting sets the mood lighting

(01:13):
sets the mood lighting and youcan actually play with lighting.
And nowadays there's so much umreally cool opportunity with
rechargeable lighting and lampsand all these cute little
push-button lamps that I can'tremember their name right now,
it's one of the things that mostpeople don't think about or

(01:36):
forget about, especially indesigning and decorating a home.

Scott Woolley (01:47):
home is, you know , they redecorate a home, but
don't put it into the thought ofthe how and what.

Tiffany Woolley (01:49):
the temperature of the lighting is going to be
in your home right and makingsure that your temperature is,
you know, cohesive throughout soyou don't have, you know,
bright white in one area andright.

Scott Woolley (01:59):
So a lot of people are going out and they're
putting in high hats in theirhome, or they're putting new
lamps in their house, or sconcesor chandeliers.
But not thinking about what'sthe type of light bulb you're
using in that, and most peoplethink about it, I think from a
standpoint that I relate to isat work.

(02:22):
Relate to is at work In a workenvironment.
Most of the time the lights arevery bright and a lot of people
will complain that the lightsare so bright.
I'm getting a headache andthat's probably because they're
at a light temperature ofprobably 5,000 or maybe even a
little bit more, which gives youthat really bright hospital

(02:43):
feeling in a room and you don'twant that in your home.
Correct.

Tiffany Woolley (02:48):
And when you have clients that are buying a
house, purchasing and thenmoving in a lot of time you have
mixed moshed of lighting.
You have different temperature,high hats, and then we're
putting in beautiful atmospherelighting and ambient lighting
and it's you want the lightingin a room to be all the same.

(03:08):
We tend to like 2,700 to 3,000Kelvins.

Scott Woolley (03:14):
Which is something that if you walked
into Home Depot or walked into alighting store, you're not
really asking them for.
Can I get a 3,000 Kelvin lightbulb?
Most people are used to askingfor 100 watt or 60 watt or 40
watt, and as you go down inwatts the temperature of that
bulb is less.
The 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin isreally a nice soft light that

(03:41):
sets a mood for a room.
One of the other thingspertaining to lighting is using
a switch or using a dimmer.

Tiffany Woolley (03:49):
All things should have dimmers.
In my opinion, it definitely isa little more pricey to do that
and even if you have to switchthem out yourself over time or,
you know, hire somebody to do ityou definitely want to have
dimmers Because that's you know,and people also walk into a
room and think A certaintemperature might make things

(04:10):
dark, but it's not the case.
You definitely want to be ableto bring the light up or down at
different times of the day,even when it's like doing makeup
and you're doing your makeup togo out in the evening.
You definitely want to bringyour temperature down in the
lighting so that you can matchthe temperature.

Scott Woolley (04:32):
Or even watching TV or watching a movie, creating
the mood you want to set themood for.

Tiffany Woolley (04:37):
Lighting.

Scott Woolley (04:38):
In the lighting that you have in your house.

Tiffany Woolley (04:40):
Yes, and like, when you're cooking you raise
your temperature, but then whenyou know you're done cooking and
you're sitting having dinner,you can lower the temperature in
the kitchen.
So it really does set a toneand it's really important for
people to take notice and really, you know, take a collection of
what they have in the housethat they're working with.
And if it's, you know, wantingto set a better mood and vibe in

(05:03):
your residence, you reallyshould start with lighting.

Scott Woolley (05:06):
It actually affects you mentally and how you
feel and how you look at thingsfrom the standpoint of how the
lighting is in your home andhaving a 27 to 3000 Kelvin,
which is a soft light, which iswhat most people you know.
Soft light, daylight, brightlight are the three main terms

(05:27):
you'll find Like, as I mentioned, going to a Home Depot or a
store like that, buying lightbulbs.
But the soft light is what'sbeautiful and nice in a home and
, as what Tiffany just said,having a consistency of the same
type of bulbs in a roomespecially is very important.

(05:47):
It's very important and alsothroughout the house, typically
your kitchen or the bathroom,you might want it a little bit
brighter.

Tiffany Woolley (05:55):
Brighter, but the same temperature.

Scott Woolley (05:58):
Right, but the rest of the house you want a
little bit softer.

Tiffany Woolley (06:02):
Yes, and, like Scott just mentioned, about
keeping that consistency.
But I really think theimportant part is adding in
these rheostat dimmers so thatyou can go up in brightness but
your temperature stays the same,so you're not losing any light
when you want it, and Ipersonally am a big lamp light.

Scott Woolley (06:26):
you know You're big in sconces and pendants Mood
lighting.

Tiffany Woolley (06:30):
So anywhere and everywhere that you can, you
know, add the light and itdoesn't need to be in you know,
your traditional placementeither.
They can be juxtaposed.
You can do two on one side of alight, of a you know sink
vanity.
You don't need to stay in thesetraditional builder special

(06:51):
placements, professional builderspecial placements.
You definitely can challengeyourself and update and, you
know, juxtapose lighting in somevery interesting ways that they
take on a more architecturaldetailing and bring light.

Scott Woolley (07:04):
Right.
And then today, leds are thebulb of choice because of the
fact that they don't they're notreleasing heat which is helping
with the air conditioning inyour home.

Tiffany Woolley (07:17):
Right, they don't have to be as big of units
either.
They're much more compact.

Scott Woolley (07:23):
Well, the old incandescent are kind of being
phased out and halogen, whichare very, very hot bulbs, are
being phased out.
So if you're looking to changeor get the lighting in your home
right, you should really belooking at.
Leds that are in that 2700 to3000 Kelvin.

Tiffany Woolley (07:44):
And a lot of them.
Now you can change the range onon site.

Scott Woolley (07:49):
Well, hi-hats.

Tiffany Woolley (07:50):
Right.

Scott Woolley (07:50):
All the new hi-hats that are being sold.

Tiffany Woolley (07:53):
You can make that adjustment on the hi-hat as
they're being installed.

Scott Woolley (07:56):
Yeah, so lighting is a very, very important part
of design and aesthetic within ahome, so keep it in the back of
your mind when you'reredecorating or decorating, add
the lamps everywhere.
Add them on the nightstand, addthem on the desk, add them on
the dresser and another reallycool thing, which Tiffany

(08:19):
mentioned, is the amount of desklamps and just lanterns and
lights that are cordless, thatare basically battery-powered
lithium battery-powered builtinto it.

Tiffany Woolley (08:32):
You do have to recharge them, but it's a great
alternative to people who areliving in high-rises and have
cement ceilings that you'reworrying about, or even older,
historical-style houses thathave plaster ceilings.

Scott Woolley (08:48):
The place that we've seen these where most
people have seen these arerestaurants.
A lot of restaurants now havethem, but now all the lighting
companies have come out with alldifferent, outrageous, unique
styles.

Tiffany Woolley (09:02):
Putting them on a bookshelf, using them on a
cocktail table as atmospherelighting again or ambient
lighting, and you know, next toyour little sink in the kitchen,
put them in a powder room Likethey just create great little
mood lighting.
We love to use them when we'reentertaining on the patio and by
the bar, so they're just greatlittle extra.

Scott Woolley (09:25):
So think about lighting to light up your life.

Tiffany Woolley (09:29):
I like that.

Voice Over (09:31):
That's our iDesign Lab tip today iDesign Lab's
podcast is an SW Groupproduction in association with
the 5 Star and TW Interiors.
To learn more about iDesign Labor TW Interiors, please visit
twinteriorscom.