Why Autumn & Winter Need a Different Lighting Plan
In autumn and winter, daylight shrinks and solar elevation drops, reducing both intensity and penetration into interiors. Typical indoor illuminance without intentional design can fall below 100–200 lux in many rooms (well under the 300–500 lux often recommended for general tasks). A seasonal plan raises daytime brightness for alertness, while keeping evenings warm and low to support melatonin.
Key Targets
- Daytime ambient: 300–500 lux in living areas, 500–750 lux in task areas (kitchen, desk).
- Evening wind‑down: 50–200 lux with warm color temperature (≤ 3000K), dimmed.
- Color temperature: 2700–3000K evenings; 3000–4000K for daytime task; 4000–5000K at workstations if alertness is priority.
Daylight Strategy First
Daylight is free, full‑spectrum, and mood‑positive. In colder seasons:
- Unblock apertures: Use sheer or open treatments during the day. Keep mullions and frames clean.
- Reflectance matters: Matte, light‑colored walls (LRV ≥ 60) bounce light deeper into the room.
- Desk orientation: Place work surfaces perpendicular to windows to reduce glare while maintaining high vertical illuminance.
Layered Lighting by Space
Living Room
- Ambient: Ceiling fixture or perimeter cove; aim 200–300 lux day / 50–150 lux evening.
- Task: Reading floor lamp with 4000K (day) then dim to 2700K (evening) via tunable lamp or dual bulbs.
- Accent: Picture lights, shelf strips at 5–10 W/m; dimmable.
Kitchen
- Ambient: 300–400 lux via recessed or a large diffuse pendant cluster at 3000–3500K.
- Task: Under‑cabinet LEDs: 700–1000 lx on counters; 3500–4000K, CRI ≥ 90 for food color fidelity.
- Accent: Toe‑kick strips at 2200–2700K for evening navigation.
Bedroom
- Ambient: Central diffuser on dimmer; 100–200 lux evening.
- Task: Bedside sconces with cutoff; 3000K or “warm‑dim” bulbs (dims to 2200K).
- Night path: Low‑level motion‑sensing lights at ≤ 1 W to avoid blue peaks.
Home Office
- Ambient: 300–500 lux general fill, minimize contrast.
- Task: Desk lamp 4000–5000K for focus; position opposite writing hand.
- Camera lighting: Soft key light at ~45° for calls; avoid top‑down shadows.
Color, CRI, and Dimming
- CRI ≥ 90 keeps colors accurate in low‑sun months.
- Warm‑dim LEDs emulate incandescent from 3000K down to 2200K as you dim—ideal for evening coziness.
- Scene presets: Program “Day”, “Cook”, “Read”, and “Wind‑Down” on smart dimmers.
Fixture Shortlist for the Season
- Diffuse ceiling fixture (fabric drum or opal dome) for soft ambient.
- Under‑cabinet linear LEDs with 90+ CRI and ≥ 700 lx on task plane.
- Arc floor lamp (cutoff shade) near seating; add a 2700K bulb with high CRI.
- Accent strips (2700K or amber) under shelves/toe‑kicks.
Quick Checklist
- Map lux: raise dim rooms to 300–500 lx.
- Standardize bulbs: 2700–3000K for evenings, 3000–4000K for task.
- Add dimmers to every frequently used circuit.
- Consider tunable white for multi‑use rooms.