I Tried This 30-Second Lighting Hack for Winter, and It Instantly Brightened My Bedroom
Like so many, I’m deeply affected by lighting. And even though I live in L.A. — where the sun almost always shines, even in winter — I dread the colder months because it gets dark too early, and the light fixtures in my apartment just don’t cut it. While recently shopping for some accessories to style on my new Joybird couch, though, I had a revelation: What if I treated lighting like throw pillows and swapped out my lamp shades for the season?
I currently have tall wicker table lamps with woven, basketlike shades on my bedside tables, which I found a few summers ago. I love the shades so much, and they add a nice cozy touch (and a ton of texture) to my eclectic bedroom decor. But, every winter, I’m disappointed in how dim and dull they feel. They’re great for summer when it doesn’t get dark until 8 p.m., but trying to pick out an outfit for date night in near darkness at 4 p.m. is less than ideal. So I decided to put this seasonal lighting hack to the test and found a couple of cute white scalloped lamp shades to temporarily replace my existing ones.
I brought the lamp shades home and ran to my bedroom (which, surprise, surprise, was already dark) to swap the old shades out. My particular lamps are a bit tricky and really only designed for the wicker shades, but I was able to make the new shades work — they just barely fit — and was immediately wowed by the effect. My bedroom went from dark and moody to bright and cheerful in an instant, and I hadn’t seen it this well-lit since early September.
The best part about this hack? In addition to the brighter lighting, these lamp shades nest together and are easy to stack on a shelf in my closet — next to my assortment of extra throw pillows — when the seasons change, and I’m ready to swap them out for the wicker style again.
You can implement this in any room, too, including with floor lamps or sconces. Just make sure you opt for a light-toned linen or cotton shade, which you can find in a range of sizes from The Home Depot, IKEA, and H&M for under $30. Add warm-toned or color-changing light bulbs for another instant brightening upgrade as well.
This 30-second lighting trick is truly a home decor game-changer, and I’m so excited to be able to actually see my bedroom during winter again! Consider this your sign to start treating lamp shades as interchangeable seasonal decor, just like bedding or throw pillows.