Did you have guests over for Thanksgiving? How was the lighting? You no doubt consider plenty of elements when you have folks visit your home, but don't leave out what we consider one of the most vital ones: how your party is lit.
Lighting is essential for a perfect gathering of friends at your place. It not only sets the tone, it can make people feel more comfortable, get them talking more and make your whole space look even more spectacular. Our top five lighting tips for parties (plus some more resources below):
No overhead lights Unless it's a low-watt chandelier or really awesome hanging pendant that throws just a spot of light on a table top, turn off those overhead lights and turn on the ambient lamps.
Make sure you have enough lamps and don't fill them with high-watt bulbs. 40 watts to 60 watts max (or their compact florescent counterparts, of course) are really perfect, and if you use compact fluorescents, try to use ones that have a very warm, yellow glow. We totally test ran a ton of bulbs for you.
Candles and fireplaces are the way to go In fact, they create a wonderful glow that nearly everyone looks spectacular in and make for such a nice atmosphere. Consider grouping candles in vignettes that will create strong, warm glows in corners of your space or as centerpieces at a table. Go for unscented unless you want to knock all your guests over with smell.
Use indirect light for lighting art or other fun vignettes Using directional lights on art or other fun table top setups (you don't have to get fancy, a simple desk task lamp used creatively can be a directional light) can create a great perimeter of light that you can supplement with groupings of candles or a few low-watt, warm lamps.
Don't forget about the outside! If the weather permits and your guests might enjoy wandering into your fabulous outdoor spaces, don't blind them with security lights or other fixtures you use for your outdoor use. Turn those off and replace them with lovely outdoor lanterns or a string of white lights.
MORE LIGHTING TIPS AND RESOURCES FROM APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Tips For Lighting Your Party
• Lightbulb Wars: We're Testing 18 Light Bulbs in 10 Weeks!
• The New Look Of The Light Bulb: Are You Ready?
• Party Lighting: For The Bathroom
• Top Ten: Clear Glass Table Lamps for Under $200
• A Sampling of Favorite Floor Lamps
Images: Beth Zeigler and Anthropologie.com
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"No overhead lights" is my #1 lighting rule, party or no party.
I live in an apartment with an open space floor plan. The living, kitchen, dining and entry all flow into each other. So . . . should I not turn on my kitchen light or my dining light? Both are overhead lights, the kitchen being a flushmount and the dining being a pendant.
Love the Paint By Numbers painting! So genuinely retro!
I have black shades on the lamps in my living/dining area. The lamps are three way with 50-75-150 watt bulbs. Depending on which wattage I am using the room can be bright or dim and moody. The pharmacy style reading lights by my chairs all have dimmer switches. I have one large piece of art with a halogen spot light angled down it's length, and finally, I have one small pin light on the floor behind my grandfather clock to light it from behind. The lights are rarely ever on at the same time except on the rare occasions when we have company.
No overhead lighting ever!!! except when trying to clean is my rule (dimmers all 'round for chandeliers etc.).
@Anita - you could get lamps for all those spaces, then you could turn off the overhead lights.
I have lamp in my kitchen and I only turn the overhead light on when I'm cooking or cleaning.
The milk glass hobnail lamp brings me back...had a couple in my bedroom as a kid. It's cute, although a bit old fashioned. They always looked so beautiful with the light on. Very glowy. I might check these out on Etsy...