Big light people? Or lamp people?

[greyshelving]

Had a few bizarre discussions on this subject recently and thought I'd ask the peoples of Mumsnet.

Are you a 'big light' person or a lamps person?

For context, one of the neighbours opposite has a big bay window so it's possible to easily see the TV on the wall and the big overhead light which is always on at night.

Me, I can't seem to relax if the 'big light' is on and prefer soft, subdued light (lamps etc). In our house 'the big light' only goes on if you've lost an earring!

One of my friends swears it's a male/female thing and in her view, women like atmospheric lighting and men just see lighting as a functional way to see and do things. I don't think you can reduce it to such stereotypes. To me, it's basically just a personal preference.

So, big light or lamps? Which are you?

Lamps everywhere, apart from the kitchen which I like to be as bright as possible.

Lamps. My mum had big flickering fluorescent tubes in the ceilings when I was little

Big light. I haaaate sitting in a dim room.

I mostly need a lot of light (more than 100w). Happy to sit with a few lamps on if watching TV though.

F: lamp
M: we have a very bright light above a built in bookshelf at the back of the couch. He’ll put that on to do something and leave it on. It’s awful.
he’ll also use the overhead light to put DD to bed and read her a story. 😂 how relaxing

hate bright lights

2 lamps/fairy lights around the mirror above the fireplace
Hate harsh lighting
Have been known to use a big torch for finding stuff rather than the glare from above
Nightlights in hall/landing/bedrooms
I even shower with the landing light on, door slightly open and the bathroom light off as it's all a bit sensory overload for me

I never put a big light on. Dh sometimes does and I turn it off if I enter the room. I hate how big lights make me feel. Even worse would be a big light with a naked bulb. I always feel for people when I walk by houses/ flats and see a naked bulb lit through a window. I always imagine them to be lonely and eating chips out of newspaper.

Switch the. Big light on. Switch on the lamps. Switch the big light off. Reverse to go to bed. Or get smart plugs for the lamps. I can’t believe condone has light they don’t like for reasons that are easy to solve.

Why would using lamps make it dim?

Condone? Someone.

Lamps and fairy lights. Our sitting room hasn’t even got a big light.

Lamps and fairy lights. But in the hall/landings the big lights have very warm-toned retro bulbs on dimmers, and we use them as the light from them is cosy and lovely, not harsh at all.

highlights should be banned they are hideous

Lamps, rarely use the big light. Even use low level light in the kitchen. Have lamps in there and dimmers. Only use the brightest lights if we smash something and need to see the floor very clearly.

Bathrooms also have a lower light option with softer wall lights and brighter ceiling lights. I don't think the ceiling lights ever get used.

Lamps all the way. Cannot stand the big light on - makes me notice all the clutter or a messy carpet. Love having the fire lit and cosy lamps on. Have a really good reading light that is great for just lighting up your book.

Depends on room and activity for me

Lamp!

I prefer the big light. Start to feel a bit gloomy with lamps. I also prefer long bright summer days to winter. So I don’t know if that has anything to do with it?

Lamp person here. Female. Hubby is big light.

I foolishly put bright white lightbulbs in the big light about six years ago. They are hideous so I only use lamps. I should really take them out and replace them but they wouldn’t fit anywhere else so they will stay forevermore.

Soft lighting definitely, DH says I am a mole as I like near darkness, he prefers rooms to have the ambiance of McDonalds. We are dimmer switch mad and I am turning lights down and he is turning lights up 🤣.

We have lamps all over the house. Much nicer, gentler. Me & my husband both prefer lamps.

The only rooms in our house that have a ceiling light are the kitchen and bathroom, its a thing here apparently. So everywhere else in the house is lamps, mainly in windows for mysbelysning with curtains/blinds open so homes and the outdoors have cosy lighting in the darker months.

We have no choice. The house is old and doesn’t have big lights.

Gosh, I grew up in a home where bright overhead lights were the thing. And a fringed standard lamp. There was no atmosphere or cosiness. A school friend had one of those lights you pull down over the dining table and I remember admiring it. Friend's mum was viewed as being quite louche (she was a perfectly normal and lovely woman but the judgement was strong from the other parents). The houses were identical, but my house was boring and friend's house was thrilling and sexy.

I'm going to be moving house and furnishing my own house for the first time. I want sofa tables at the end of each sofa with large lamps on each one. I can't find suitable tables anywhere. They are a must! I need them so I can be all louche with my low lighting.

PS where can I buy lamps now BHS has gone? I am definitely at the BHS end of the market.