October 2025
Mornings have become darker, evenings are arriving earlier and a familiar autumn chill fills the air, while there’s something wonderfully comforting about cosy nights in and flickering candles once the clocks go back, the reduced daylight can have an impact on our mood.
To help you understand how you can utilise lighting to keep your home feeling bright, warm and inviting all season long, we’ve teamed up with the incredibly talented team at Show Business Interiors to share their top tips and tricks with simple, effective ideas that can make a big difference without the need for a full makeover.
Curious to know more? Read ahead to learn more about how you can incorporate these tips and tricks into your own home.
As the sun now sets earlier, layering your lighting becomes essential. Relying on a single ceiling fixture often leaves rooms feeling flat and unwelcoming. Instead, think about combining different types of lighting to create depth and warmth. Start with your main, ambient lighting, usually from ceiling lamps or pendants, then add task lighting where you need focus, such as a reading lamp beside the sofa or under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen. Finally, use accent lighting to highlight artwork, shelving, or architectural details. Together, these layers create a balanced glow that feels both functional and comforting, mimicking the effect of natural daylight.
Choosing the right bulbs can make a substantial difference to the atmosphere of your home. Warm-toned bulbs provide a soft, inviting glow that instantly makes any room feel cosy and welcoming. They are ideal for spaces where relaxation and comfort are a priority, such as bedrooms and living rooms, helping to create a soothing atmosphere.
Alternatively, cool-toned light is designed to enhance focus and clarity, providing clear, bright lighting that boosts energy. This makes cool-toned light more suitable in areas of the home where concentration and productivity are important, such as kitchens or home offices.
Smart bulbs are another great option, they allow you to adjust brightness and colour temperature throughout the day, so you can wake up to a bright, energising light and unwind in the evening with a soft, golden glow.
Mirrors and reflective surfaces can also play a big role in brightening darker spaces. A large mirror placed opposite a window will bounce light around the room and instantly make it feel more open. Metallic accents, glass furniture, or glossy finishes can subtly enhance this effect, catching and scattering the light in a way that adds both style and luminosity.
When the evenings draw in, creating a cosy atmosphere becomes key. Soft, warm lighting from table lamps and floor lamps helps transform your home into a haven from the cold. Layering in fairy lights or candles, adds that flickering warmth that invites relaxation, this is the perfect time of year to lean into the glow and make your evenings as comforting as possible.
By carefully layering your lighting, selecting the right bulbs, and using reflective surfaces, you can transform your home into a space that feels inviting, comfortable, and perfectly suited to your needs, even as the days grow shorter.
Discover the art of designing a show home and how you can implement the process in your own home.
