Best Warm Light Bulbs for a Cozy Home

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The Danish Concept of Hygge and How It Applies Warm Lighting

The Danish concept of ‘hygge’ is becoming increasingly popular as a way to add warmth and coziness to your home. This philosophy encourages people to focus on the little things that make life more enjoyable, such as lighting, decor, and comfort. One key part of creating hygge in your home is choosing the right hygge light bulbs for your space. The type of light bulb you choose can have a huge impact on the atmosphere in a room and how comfortable it feels. In this article, we will explore why certain light bulbs are better than others when it comes to cultivating hygge in your home and how different colors of light affect the moods they create. So let’s get started!

The Benefits of Incorporating Warm Light Bulbs into Your Home

Lighting has the ability to completely change the atmosphere of a room or event. Soft lighting is a great way to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home. Not only does it create an inviting environment, but it also helps to relax the body and mind. Soft lighting helps to reduce stress levels, as well as improve sleep quality. Studies have shown that too much bright light can affect our moods negatively and make us feel more anxious. Choosing the right hygge light bulb for your home is essential to creating a hygge atmosphere, as the wrong type can have an adverse effect on your space.

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4 Warm Light Bulb Options to Create the Ultimate Cozy Atmosphere

When it comes to selecting hygge-approved light bulbs, there are a few key factors to consider. Firstly, you’ll want to opt for bulbs with a warm color temperature, between 2700K and 3000K. Try using bulbs with a lower lumen count, between 400-800. You could also consider using energy-efficient LED bulbs to save money on electricity. Dimmable bulbs are a good option so you can adjust the brightness as needed. Be mindful of the bulb type – frosted or soft glow bulbs can create a cozy feeling while harsh or bright bulbs may create a cold environment. We know there’s a lot to consider! So here are our top 4 hygge light bulbs to help you narrow down your search.

LED Bulbs: LED stands for “light-emitting diode”, which is an energy-efficient lighting technology that is widely available in stores nowadays. LED light bulbs are a great option for creating the perfect hygge atmosphere in your home. LED bulbs offer warm, inviting lighting that is highly energy efficient and cost effective. They are available in a variety of color temperatures ranging from 2700K to 3000K, making them ideal for creating cozy vibes throughout your house. Furthermore, LED bulbs use much less electricity than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs, meaning you’ll save money on electricity bills while also enjoying the benefits of soft lighting. LED lights can help create an inviting and relaxing space that promotes comfort and contentment – perfect for cultivating hygge.

Why we like them: These 2700K bulbs fall in the ideal warm color temperature range. With only 450 lumens, this bulb is on the low end of the ideal 400-800 lumen range, meaning it will emit a very soft glow. The frosted finish of the glass will nicely diffuse the light throughout the room and you can’t beat the energy efficiency and cost savings of an LED!
Edison Bulbs: Edison light bulbs are a great way to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in your home. With their warm, soft glow, Edison bulbs can be used to cultivate hygge – creating an atmosphere that promotes comfort and contentment. They provide a low level of lumens (400-800) which creates a softer lighting effect than other types of bulbs. Not only do these bulbs look beautiful but they also use less electricity than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs making them cost effective too. So if you’re looking for ways to make your home more cozy and inviting, this amber white bulb could be the perfect choice for you.

Why we like them: With a color temperature of 2700K, it falls within the ideal hygge color range, creating a welcoming ambiance. In addition, this bulb has a very low lumen count at just 240 lumens, which means it emits a gentler than usual soft light. Even though it’s not an LED, this bulb has a low wattage for an incandescent bulb, making it energy-efficient. Its unique vintage design adds to the ambiance by giving a classic, throwback look while emitting a warm glow. This hygge light bulb is also compatible with dimmable lamps, allowing you to adjust the brightness to create an even softer and more relaxing ambiance.
Incandescent Bulbs: While less energy efficient than LEDs, incandescent bulbs reach warmer color temperatures and have lower lumens. These bulbs emit a warm, soft, natural light that cozy up a room. Many LED bulbs have a “warm-up time” where you may be waiting several minutes for the light to reach its maximum glow. Incandescents have no warm up time and are typically more cost effective than LEDs. Incandescent light bulbs are a great way to create an inviting and cozy atmosphere in your home on a budget!

Why we like them: A typical hygge lumen count will be between 400-800 lumens, and at 250 lumens, these frosted hygge light bulbs will diffuse a very soft glow in your space. At 2700K, the color light will be in the warm amber range. These are a great, and cost effective, option for extra low light areas for relaxation.
Dimmable Bulbs: You can find dimmable bulbs with warmer color temperatures, which produce a cozy and calming light that’s great for setting a soothing and welcoming atmosphere. Adjusting the brightness of your lights allows you to customize the ambiance and make your space more comfortable, promoting a sense of hygge in your home. Before purchasing dimmable bulbs, make sure you have a fixture that supports this. Not all light fixtures and lamps will allow you to dim your lights just because the bulb is dimmable.

Why we like them: This 2700K dimmable LED hygge light bulb offers a low lumen count of 450 and comes in a frosted white finish for the best light diffusion. This bulb is capable of dimming down to a warm and cozy glow similar to traditional incandescent bulbs. You can adjust the level of dimness to transition from a bright, soft-white light to a lovely amber tone. The light becomes warmer as you dim it further.

The Color of Light and Its Impact on Hygge

The color of light can have a huge impact on how hygge-like your home is. Warmer colored lights like yellow, orange, and amber create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere that helps to relax the body and mind. These colors are ideal for living rooms and bedrooms where you want to create a calm, inviting space. On the other hand, cooler colored lights like blue or white can be used in more active areas such as the kitchen or home office. These colors are energizing and help to create an atmosphere of productivity.

Warm, cool, and neutral light are the most common color temperature of light. Here’s how each type of light can affect our mood and wellbeing:

Warm Light: Warm light is often described as having a yellow or orange hue and falls in the range of 2700K to 3000K on the Kelvin scale. The amber-orange glow mimics a sunset or firelight. Naturally, our brains associate this color light with the end of the day and winding down for bed. When exposed to this type of warm lighting, the brain produces more melatonin, regulating our circadian rhythm and making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. This type of light can help reduce stress, promote relaxation, and create a sense of comfort. Sunsets and candle light emit around 1800K. A general rule of thumb for hygge lighting is the lower the Kelvins, the more hygge. Warm lighting is your hygge sweet-spot.

Cool Light: Cool light is often described as having a blue or white hue and falls in the range of 4000K to 6500K on the Kelvin scale. Cool light, especially in the higher end of the range, is known to increase alertness and wakefulness. Exposure to cool light can help you feel more energized, focused, and attentive. This type of light can help boost productivity, improve mood, and reduce eye strain. Cool light can help reduce feelings of fatigue and drowsiness, especially during the daytime or in spaces where you need to stay awake and alert. The higher color temperature and bluish-white hue of cool light stimulate the brain and can help combat sleepiness. Exposure to cool light in the evening can disrupt your natural sleep-wake cycle and make it harder to fall asleep. It’s recommended to limit exposure to cool light during the evening hours and shift to warmer, softer light to promote relaxation and prepare for sleep. When aiming for a hygge-inspired atmosphere, you’ll want to stay away from cool light.

Neutral Light: While neutral light does not have as pronounced an effect on mood as warm or cool light, its natural and balanced qualities can contribute to a generally positive and comfortable environment. Neutral light falls in the range of 3500K to 4000K on the Kelvin scale. Neutral light is often used in areas where tasks require visual accuracy, such as in the kitchen or bathroom. Neutral light does not help to promote hygge in your space. A lamp or light fixture that can dim between neutral light and warm light is ideal for multi-use spaces, like a home office that transforms into a cozy bedtime reading nook.

The color temperature of light can affect our mood and wellbeing in different ways. Warm light can help promote relaxation and reduce stress, while cool light can help boost productivity and improve mood. Choosing the right type of light for each environment is essential for creating a comfortable and productive atmosphere.

Shopping for the Perfect Hygge Light Bulb – What to Look For and Where to Buy

You can find light bulbs in almost any one-stop-shop, whether that be a grocery store, convenience store or bodega. But hygge light bulbs are harder to come by. Typically your local stores will carry light bulbs in the cool or neutral color temperatures, as these are the most purchased. But if you want a frosted warm light bulb, with low lumens, that falls between 2700K and 3000K (the hygge-sweet-spot!), your best bet is a specialty store. You can’t beat the convenience and variety of Amazon, but home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes also carry a wide selection as well.

Before making your purchase, make sure you light bulb meets this criteria:

Kelvin scale: 2700K-3000K (The lower the Kelvins, the warmer the light; Under 2700K works too, which is when you start to enter red-light territory)
Lumens: 400-800 (But you can go even lower! The lower the lumens, the dimmer the light)
Bulb finish: A frosted finish is ideal for maximum light diffusion
Wattage: Higher wattage bulbs consume more energy. Typically an energy efficient bulb will be slightly more expensive, but will also last longer. The energy efficiency aspect doesn’t have much impact on hygge, so this one is up to you. However, it’s important to consider the wattage rating of the fixture or lamp you intend to use a light bulb in. Using a bulb with wattage higher than the fixture’s rating can pose safety risks, such as overheating or electrical issues.
Dimmable: If you have a dimmable fixture or lamp, make sure the bulbs are compatible. This flexibility will help you to transform the mood of your room based on the activity at hand.

Our personal favorite are these Edison bulbs. With a very low lumen count of 240, and 2700K, this hygge light bulb will radiate a soft amber hue to provide the maximum hygge ambiance. It is both dimmable and energy efficient. Plus, you can’t beat the antique look. Checks all of our boxes!

Tips for Placing Light Fixtures for Maximum Ambiance

The strategy with which you place your light sources is almost as important as the lights themselves. The goal is to create soothing pockets of light throughout the room. Overhead light is not ideal for hygge-inspired spaces because they light up a room evenly from wall to wall. Try to imagine a room in your home decorated with a cluster of flickering candles on the table, an amber Himalayan salt lamp glowing on the shelf, and a dimly lit lamp in the corner emitting an orange hue. Now think about the same room with the overhead light on, brightly shining uniformly across the space. See the difference? The idea behind hygge lighting is to mimic firelight or a sunset, which is accomplished in the lower Kelvin ranges and in smaller pools of light.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when it comes to choosing hygge-friendly light bulbs for your home, a frosted warm light bulb with low lumens that falls between 2700K and 3000K is your best bet. Not only do they provide warm, diffused light without being too harsh, but they also can help trick your brain into winding down and relaxing. Once you have the light bulb picked out, check out the best hygge lamps to pair them with.

Best Warm Light Bulbs for a Cozy Home in Winter 2023