...I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. So I have spent almost all the daylight hours in the open air. -Nathaniel Hawthorne, fall of 1842
Although Hawthorne enjoyed spending time in the autumn sunshine, you’ll start to get less of a chance in the coming weeks. In fact, this Thursday, September 22, is the Autumnal Equinox, the day where the length of the daylight and the length of the night are equal. Though there’s a balance on the equinox of light and dark, we can expect lengthening nights and decreasing daylight from here on out (well, at least through the winter!). All of which means this is the perfect time to focus on one aspect of your home that will matter more and more as the season goes on - lighting.
While it might not seem so important now, as the days get shorter you’ll be relying more and more on the lights within (and outside of) your house to illuminate family dinners, holiday celebrations, and chilly nights enjoyed under the stars around a firepit (at least until it gets too cold for even that!). Plus, autumn means family is coming to visit for one of the many holidays coming up, or you might be hosting get-togethers in your home for friends who have been out of town. No matter what your plans might be, an upgrade to the lighting you have is definitely in season. Check out some ideas!
Outdoor String Lights
It’s still early enough to enjoy sitting outside around a firepit with friends; in fact, it can be nice to cozy up in the chilly air after a sweltering summer. But you’ll probably want at least a little more light than the fire as you roast marshmallows and make s’mores. Our favorite way to light up your gathering? Use outdoor string lights, strung between a couple of trees or below the pergola. Perfect ambient lighting that’s not too bright for stargazing.
Curb Appeal Upgrade
Autumn dinner parties, unlike summer evenings, tend to start and end after the sun has dipped below the horizon. Help guests make it to your front door by updating your exterior lighting! We love the look of these quintessential fall lanterns, which can be mounted around the door or installed as a lamp post by the front walk.
Classy Chandelier
Autumn dinner parties call for upgraded dinner lighting, and what better way to wow your guests than a fancy chandelier above the dinner table? An interior decorator can help you find one that matches your style, and there are tons of custom options. Pro-tip: for fall gatherings, you can wrap craft-store garlands with fall-colored leaves around the limbs of your chandelier for cheap, easy, DIY autumn decor!
Autumn Accents
For accent lighting in the living room or around the house, we like this DIY Leaf Candle Holder. To make this DIY, you’ll need:
- Mason Jars (as many as you want)
- Leaves
- Modge Podge
- Sponge Brush
- Raffia String
...plus the lights you want to put in them, which can be tea light candles or LED lights. One of the great things about this DIY is you can use fake leaves or even real leaves. Finish a batch of these in an afternoon and have beautiful, decorative lights for your next fall party!
Pumpkin Season
Lighting + October = Jack-o-Lanterns, of course! Well, for a classier take on a jack-o-lantern that will work all season long (and can be kept indoors), think about some of these pretty, ceramic, gourd-shaped lights. They’re the perfect amount of ambient light and can dress up any table, from now until Thanksgiving.
