As I’ve written in previous articles, I burn a lot of candles. I’m not sure why I started burning them. It is definitely a more recent habit of mine. It may have started in my teens and how I remember looking back at a candle I lit, surrounded by a blanket of snow, lending the white field it was nestled in, an eerie, yet peaceful glow. I used the candle to cast a love spell in my teens, in a time where I felt particularly lonely, after me and my friend group experienced some pretty heavy life events at too young an age. Thanks Bone & Hughes, for sticking it out with me. But the glow from my childhood memory still brings a warmth to my heart 💜💙
But along with the candles, I also have a lot of diffused, ambient lighting, because overhead light fixtures are just too aggressive. Another childhood memory of mine is seeing Christmas lights strung in someone’s room, most likely on TV, and thinking they were the coolest thing, and that I needed that element to boost my street cred. Which I’m sure every teenager thought was cool and sexy (never mind, I remember where I saw them now, Romeo & Juliet, the 90’s Clair Danes and Leo version. Google R & J 90’s Christmas lights. You won’t be disappointed:) Wherever my taste for ambient lighting came from, it’s been a constant to this day.
I’d like to show you what I’m using to light my rooms now. Some simple DIY’s with lights and how to make your room look like a scene from your own favorite romantic and cozy ideal. Be it a romance movie from the 90’s, or your favorite Italian restaurant. Let’s set the scene with some string lights.
String Lights, the Backbone of Your Lighting Strategy
Here I’ve taken a 50′ strand of copper wire, LED lights and used them as lighting around the baseboards of my room, also back lighting my plants, and wrapped around my chair, which I use as storage. I think this provides the room with what an overhead light does. Filling the room with light to increase overall functional visibility, while doing so in a relaxed and diffused way. AKA not so intense.
This is also a good way to highlight areas of interest, or just the things that are pleasing to you. For me, I plan on wrapping my plants with more lights, to showcase the greenery in my room. But you could also run them around photos or paintings, inside a bookshelf… Wherever feels most pleasing or cozy to you.
Candles, Think Inside the Box
I usually burn pillar candles, because 1.) they last a long time, hence cheaper, and 2.) I’d rather not spend money on the jars that I’m going to recycle anyway. It seems wasteful to me. I’ve also recently started making my own candles. So there’s the added benefit of feeling accomplished while I burn them.
The above candle holder is one of my favorites. The bottom is a wooden candle top, from one of the many store bought candles I’ve procured. These wooded tops, aka cookies, also double nicely as coasters, for an added earthy element to your home. And the top is from a misting diffuser that stopped working. It’s made from ceramic, so it’s fire proof, and it fits snugly on top of the candle top. Plus the pattern is not only pleasant to look at, but also adds to the cozy vibes I’m cultivating.
Light Globes
These were a good find. I found them on Pinterest I believe, in an ad that popped up while searching for lighting ideas. These globes are wrapped in cotton threat, so they have a natural, softer feel to them. They also have different settings, which is a nice touch when you want a change of pace. They are battery powered, which can be a pain when you have to change them out, but they’re also not tethered to a wall. Which means you can put them anywhere. As you can see, I’ve draped mine over my coat hanger, lighting an otherwise dim corner of my room.
Driftwood Tree Lamp
This is an element I use when I need a little more light to focus on a project, or to read or write by. This driftwood tree lamp is made from mostly found objects. Translation, cheap. The branches are pieces of driftwood I found on a beach close by. The base is made from an old countertop composting bin that I filled with rocks, also from the beach. And the lights are a combination of LED string lights and small globe lights.
The red and clear ornaments, above and to the left of the owl, are actually small replicas of old glass buoys. I got these from the gift shop of a local museum in Salem MA, The PEM. Since I live in New England, which is known for its rich maritime history, I thought it’d be a nice touch. Plus it matches the globe lights and look nice when back lit by the LEDs : )
Sea Glass Lamp
One of my neighbors, thanks Tara, turned me on to this idea. It’s a lamp made from sea glass. It’s a simple concept, but looks amazing, and is definitely a unique way to bring some cozy lighting into your space.
Essentially, the lamp is made from sea glass, hence the name, sea glass lamp : ) I scrubbed the surf to find the sea glass I needed, using about three to four cups for this lamp, which is about the size of a cantaloupe. For the base I used a hollow glass globe, and stuffed it with LED lights I used for the lighting element. The lights are also battery powered, but they’re long lasting because LEDs require so little energy. Then I used a hot glue gun to fix the glass to the lamp, and there you have it. A cozy, interesting and unique lighting element : )
Salt Lamp
Here is a salt lamp I picked up along the way. It adds a warm, pinkish, orangey glow to the room, while adding a grounding touch to the ambiance. It’s a little hard to tell in this photo because the wall color so closely matches the color of the lamp, but it has a cozy, warm feeling to it. In the photo I also have a found branch, wrapped in more LED lights, also battery powered, and the globe lights I wrote about above.
Wrapping Up the Room with Natural Elements to Create a Cozy Feel
I think, for me, that the lamps and lighting I use all have a natural element to them, which makes them feel literally more grounding and organic. The candle holder is made from wood and ceramics, giving it a timeless feel. The string lights are made from copper, with its warm tones that blend into their wooden backdrop. The globe lights are wrapped in cotton thread which gives them a softer feel. The driftwood lamp is made of wood, rock and ceramics, the sea glass lamp with its frosted glow, and the salt lamp with its soft, earthiness, all come together to create a natural and cozy feeling and look.
I used to be image obsessed. I like to think of my inner child as being like a tiny Jim Morrison. I wanted to be loved, but was to afraid to drop the intense, cold, arrogant and unfeeling facade that was keeping me from true connection. I was so intensely trying to show others how above them I was, that I didn’t realize that I completely severed most of my relational ties. What’s so strange about this is, that I thought being seen as superior would lead to authentic connection on my terms, not the smug, lonely isolation I experienced. If you want to experience 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 superficial levels, with a fierce pride, all to mask our insecurities. I know that was the case for me. And I’m so grateful for the friends that did stand by me, even after I treated them so poorly. What I needed was to dim the intensity and relax. Something I’m now doing literally, with my dim lighting. My own little love spell to myself.
So friends, whether you are trying to set the mood with that special loved one you cherish, or need a little self love time, maybe dimming the lights is just what you need to practice a little more peace and cultivate comfort. God knows I needed to slow down and just breathe, only in a more relaxing setting. Until next time, peace, and thanks for reading 🏔️🌙💜💙