What Our Cabin Looks Like at Night + Tips for Good Lighting

Now that fall is officially here in the Pacific Northwest, it get darks quickly and early (and it’s not even Daylight Savings yet). Throw in the fact that we live in a very rural area without light pollution and things get very dark. This was definitely something I didn’t think about before we moved! So today I wanted to share with you what our cabin looks like at night and offer some tips on how to light your home at night for the best cozy vibes this winter. Let’s dig in.

Nighttime Tour of Our PNW Cabin

As you can see, I like to keep the vibe pretty chill and embrace ambient glow at night here at the house. I’m all about good lighting and have experimented quite a bit to get to this point… and I love it. Our cabin is so cozy and homey!

Typically at night, the saucer bubble pendant lamp over the dining table is on so that the overall cabin space is illuminated. That’s why I chose this particular fixture! I love the warm glow it casts. So hygge!

I also chose a similar bubble pendant style for our stair landing to keep things simple. It provides a beautiful glow without being too much of a statement — especially when I add more to the gallery wall.

Then in the living room, it’s all about strategically placed table lamps. The small gold table lamp on our side table is usually turned on at dusk. Then I turn on the mushroom lamp on the wooden cabinet to add more light when night falls fully. These two table lamps provide a gorgeous glow that’s cozy without being too bright.

Also, I only turn on the arc lamp if Andy, Sean’s dad, is visiting because he says I keep the house too dark! Personally, I find an overhead light to be too much, almost like I’m being interrogated. So for the most part, our arc lamp is purely for decoration.

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Tips For Getting Good Lighting In Your Home At Night

Have an array of options

As you can see in our cabin, I have many options for illuminating our space including table lamps, an arc lamp, pendant lights, and wall sconces. Typically, it’s recommend that you have at least 3 sources of light at nighttime including:

• general lighting – this refers to any type of overhead lighting such as a pendant, chandelier, or arc lamp
• task lighting – like a work lamp or reading lamp
• ambient lighting – typically this refers to wall sconces

Consider the lampshade material and color

This sounds so elemental, but it’s worth mentioning! In order to get good lighting in your home at night, select lighting based on how it will illuminate. For example, if you want a table lamp that will provide a lot of ambient, fill light, shop for one with a white lampshade that is semi-sheer because that will allow the most light out.

Alternatively, if you want the lighting to feel more ambient and moody, choose lighting that has a more opaque shade or cover — like our wall sconces in the entryway.

Bounce light with reflective surfaces

Mirrors are a great way to bounce light throughout a space while also making it feel bigger. You can also do this by shopping for lamps, sconces, and lighting with metallic or reflective finishes.

Think about where you want to hang out

Here’s my biggest tip: light your home according to how you use it. If you sit on the sofa to read, make sure you have a large enough lamp or bright enough light bulb to allow you to do that comfortably.

Don’t forget about candle light

I love burning candles at night and not just for the good smells! Just a single lit taper candle or jarred candle can provide a pretty flicker that can make any home feel cozy. As far as I’m concerned, candles equal instant ambiance and good lighting.

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Photography by Jojotastic.