The One Lighting Trick That’ll Instantly Make Your Home Feel Cozier

You’ve done everything right to create a cozy space — you’ve put down area rugs, added in different textures with textiles, curated an eclectic display of accessories, and painted your walls in a warm color palette — but the space still doesn’t feel right. The potential reason? Your light bulbs. 

If you’re not using the right temperature bulbs, your homey space can go from warm to sterile as soon as the lights come on. That’s why it’s so helpful that a popular content creator is sharing her tips for picking the right bulbs to up the cozy factor at home.

“These are the types of light bulbs you’re going to buy if you want the lighting in your house to feel like this instead of this,” Carlotta Cisternas said in a recent video, sharing a photo of a warm dining room compared with a cold living room.

Your decor might be fabulous, but the light bulbs could be undermining the vibe by making your space feel cold and uninviting. Carlotta’s first tip is to always buy the warmest light bulb you can find — “warm” or “soft white” should be written on the package, and you’ll want to look for a Kelvin (K) rating of between 2,500 and 2,700 degrees Kelvin. The lower the K rating, the warmer the light.

Wattage is important to consider, too. Carlotta recommends always keeping 40-watt-equivalent LED bulbs on hand for most of your lighting needs. “A 40-watt lightbulb is a really great standard light bulb to have around,” she said, noting that she likes to use them in regular table lamps, overhead lights, and for lighting fixtures that require multiple bulbs.

Note that 40 watts is just a jumping-off point. “For a little lamp like a nightstand lamp or a kitchen counter lamp, you’re going to go for a 25-watt LED equivalent light bulb,” Carlotta said. “25 watts is just enough to give off a nice glow and give you light where you need it without feeling overwhelming.”

For your larger overhead lights over your dining room table, kitchen island, and other workspaces, go for a 60-watt equivalent dimmable bulb. That way, you can have all the light you need for tasks with the ability to tone it down when you want more ambience.

Anything over 60 watts? Banish these bulbs from your home, Carlotta said, adding, “No one needs that much artificial light.”

“Do you know that I love you????? I’m about to move into a new apartment, and this is the guide I needed!!!!” one person commented on Carlotta’s post. Another said, “Everything I need. It’s a wrap.”

It’s always important to review the guidance on the lamp or light fixture. As long as you have the right wattage, though, picking out a warm bulb over a cool one will cozy up your home.