As I’ve written in a previous article, I burn a lot of candles. I’m not sure why I started using them as a lighting source. It may stem from my teen years, and how I remember looking back at the candle I lit that I used in the love spell I cast. It was surrounded by a blanket of snow, lending the white field it was nestled in an eerie yet soft and peaceful glow. I cast that spell in a time where I felt particularly lonely, after me and my friend group experienced some pretty heavy life events at too early an age. Thanks Bone & Hughes, for sticking it out with me. But the glow from that childhood memory still brings a warmth to my heart 💜💙
Along with the candles, I also have a lot of diffused, ambient lighting. Because overhead lighting fixtures are just too harsh. Another childhood memory of mine is seeing Christmas lights strung in somebody’s room, most likely on TV, and thinking they were the coolest thing ever. As a teenager I needed that element of cool to boost my street cred. Never mind, I remember where I saw them now. Romeo & Juliet, the 90’s version with Clair Danes and Leo. There is a good mix of candles and modern lighting in the scene I remember. Wherever my taste for ambient lighting came from, it’s been a constant with my decoré style.
I’d like to show you what I’m using to light my rooms now. Some simple DIY’s with various lighting sources, and how to make your room look like a scene written from your own romance. Be it Romeo & Juliet, or your favorite Italian restaurant, let’s set the scene with the foundation of your lighting schematic: string lights.
String Lights, the Backbone of Your Lighting Strategy
In the above photo I’ve taken a 50′ strand of copper wire LED lights and used them as the lighting around my baseboards. They’re also back lighting my plants and wrapped around a chair I use for storage. This provides my room with what an overhead light does, only in a fresh and ambient way. Filling the room with diffused light to increase overall visibility, while doing so in a relaxed tone. Not so harsh.
This is also a good way to highlight areas of interest, or what brings joy to you in your room. I plan on wrapping my plants with more lights to showcase the greenery. But you could also run them around photos or paintings, inside a bookshelf as I’ve done here using battery powered LEDs in a Tiffany Lamp knock off. Highlight whatever feels most pleasing or cozy to you. Don’t over think it, just go with your gut.
Candles, Thinking Inside the Box
I usually burn pillar candles. Because one, they last a long time which translates to savings. And two, I’d rather not spend the money on container candles that I’m going to recycle when I’m through with them. It seems wasteful to toss a votive every time I burn one down. I’ve also recently started making my own candles. This has the added benefit of feeling accomplished while I’m burning something I’ve made.
Light Globes
These were a good find. I saw them on Pinterest I believe. They were in an ad that popped up while searching for lighting ideas. These globes are wrapped in cotton thread and have a natural, soft feel to them. They also have differently timed, flashing light patterns. Which is a nice touch when you want the lighting to match the mood you’re in. They’re battery powered, which can be a pain when you have to change them out, or buy more. But on the upside they’re not tethered to a wall outlet, which means you can put them anywhere, and they have a remote which is convenient. As you can see to the right I’ve draped mine over a coat hanger, lighting an otherwise dim corner of my room.
I’ve also recently discovered that you can recycle AA batteries at your local Staples. All you need to do is ask for a small cardboard box they hand out at the counter, fill it and then return the filled box to the store. They also take a bunch of other items as well. This was def a good and green find.
Driftwood Tree Lamp
This element I use when I need a little extra light to focus on a project, or to read and write by. It’s a driftwood tree lamp, made from mostly found objects. Translation: it’s cheap. The branches are pieces of driftwood I found on a beach close by. The base is made from an old countertop composting bucket that I filled with rocks for stability, also from the beach, and the lights are a combination of LED string and globe lights.
The red and clear, glass ornaments above and to the left of the stuffed owl, though not lighting themselves are actually small replicas of old glass buoys. I got these from the gift shop of The PEM in Salem MA. Since I live in a New England city that’s known for its rich maritime history, I thought I’d represent NE and it’s a sophisticated yet salt of the earth charm. They also match the globe LED lights and look nice when back lit 🙂
Sea Glass Lamp
One of my neighbors (thanks Tara) turned me on to this idea. This lamp covered in sea glass is a simple concept, but looks amazing. And it’s definitely a unique way to bring some cozy vibes into your space.
I scrubbed the local surf for the sea glass I needed, using about three to four cups for this lamp. It’s about the size of a cantaloupe and for the base I used a hollow, glass globe, stuffing it with battery powered LED string lights for the lighting element. The batteries are long lasting because the LEDs require so little energy, and to create the mosaic of sea glass I used a hot glue gun to fix the pieces to the glass globe. Though you could also use a clear, plastic globe as well for the base for a less fragile lamp. And there you have it. A simple yet cozy and unique lighting element : )
Salt Lamp
Above is a salt lamp I picked up along the way. I think I got it from Amazon, and it adds a warm, pink and orangey glow to the room. The salt element helps to ground the space and the overall ambiance. In the above photo, to the right of the salt lamp, I also have a found branch wrapped in more battery powered LED lights. Wood being another grounding element, and you can see the globe lights to the far right I mentioned above.
Wrapping Up the Room with Natural Elements to Create a Cozy Feel
The lamps and lights I used in my lighting strategy all have a natural feel to them, which lends the room a grounding and organic feeling. The string lights are made from copper, and their warm tone blends into the wooden hues seamlessly. My candle holder is wood and ceramic, giving it a timeless feel. The globe lights are wrapped in cotton thread, which gives them a softness. The driftwood lamp is made of wood, rock and ceramic. Grounding. Together with the frothy sea glass lamp reminiscent of the surf, and the soft glow and weighty feel of the salt lamp, they come together to create a natural and cozy feeling and look.
Lighting That’s a Reflection of Your Personality & a Soft Persona
I used to be image obsessed. I think my inner child was like a tiny Jim Morrison. I wanted to be loved but was too afraid to drop the cold, arrogant and unfeeling facade. But this kept me from truly connecting with my friends and family. I was focused on trying to show how above them I was, thinking that being seen as superior would lead to authentic connection on my terms. I thought I could control my relationships by manipulating how others saw and felt about me. I wanted to be so cool that no one would ever be able to reject me.
But what I didn’t realize is that I had completely severed most of my relational ties with this way of thinking. My smug demeanor led me to loneliness and isolation. If you want to experience a taste of what I’m talking about, go to your local Whole Foods and try to make eye contact with anyone and smile. We avoid connection. Even at the most superficial of levels. Often times we do this, mask our insecurities, by acting smug and distant. I know that’s what I did. And I’m so grateful for the friends and family that stood by me. Even after I treated them with such contempt.
What Does Your Inner Lighting Strategy Look Like?
Like switching to a soft and diffused lighting, I needed to tone down the relentless and intense defenses I built around my authentic self. Smugness and feelings of superiority to name a few, and find a way to relax and tear down my defensive walls, to uncover my inner peace. Getting in touch with my authentic style instead of frantically trying to mold myself into somebody else’s idea of what cool is, thinking I could fool them into believing I’m their ideal idea of what a perfect friend should be.
Building a sanctuary by using the blueprint of what’s an honest reflection of your style, and what bring you peace will help you to build self confidence. Once you feel secure in who you truly are, you can drop your defenses knowing you have a place you can return to and recharge.
This is where I believe style and environment informs and represents who we are. If we surround ourselves with the elements and a space that brings us peace and ease, our true personalities will shine through like my tealight candle above. Throwing the patterns of our style into the world, allowing people to see our authentic selves shine through.
So friends, whether you are trying to set the tone with that special loved one, or need a little self love yourself, maybe dimming the lights is just what you need to cultivate a little more peace, and by doing so letting your authentic self shine. God knows I needed to slow down and relax a lot. Only in a more peaceful, softly lit setting. Until next time, peace, and thanks for reading 🏔️🌙💜💙🕯️