What I Learned About Summer Comfort From One Lamp

Posted 2025-07-04 11:45:33

Last summer I was sitting in my living room, trying to read. The fan was on, the windows were open, but I still felt uncomfortable. It wasn’t just the heat,it was the light. Something about it made the room feel too intense, too “on.” It was like the space was working against me.

That night, I turned off the main ceiling light and switched on a small table lamp in the corner. The difference was instant. The room softened. I felt calmer. It wasn’t colder, but it felt cooler.

That’s when I realized: lighting makes a huge difference in how summer feels indoors.

I didn’t rush to change everything at once, but I started paying attention. One light at a time. What I found was surprising, mostly because the fixes were small, cheap, and easy.

Here’s how I changed the feel of my home last July using nothing but better light.

1. The Bright Kitchen Mistake

My kitchen has always been bright. Two big overhead lights keep everything lit, which is great when you’re cooking. But in the summer? It felt like I was walking into an oven, even when the stove was off.

One evening, after sweating through dinner prep again, I looked up. I was using two old incandescent bulbs, ones that give off a lot of heat along with their light.

I swapped them with cooler, energy-saving LED bulbs. Same brightness, but the kitchen immediately felt less oppressive. The lighting was cleaner, but it didn’t bake the room.

I figured out what kind of bulb I needed by checking out 50bulbs. Their guides break it down so you can find the right bulb without guessing or overthinking.

2. The Bedroom Wind-Down

In summer, sleep is harder. Longer days, warmer nights, and I was still using the same overhead light I used all year. It was bright and direct—not what you want when you’re trying to relax.

So I made one small change. I added a small lamp to my nightstand and popped in a soft, warm bulb. It wasn’t fancy. Just something with a lower color temperature (around 2700K), which is easier on the eyes.

Now, after dinner, I only use that light. No more harsh glare. It gives my brain a signal: time to slow down.

If you’re unsure about color temperatures and what’s “warm” vs “cool,” 50bulbs explains it clearly. That’s how I found the right balance for night use.

3. My Office Got Less Harsh

I work from home, and my desk is next to a window. That’s fine in the cooler months. But in summer, the mix of sunlight and ceiling light felt harsh, almost dizzying.

I switched off the overhead light and used a desk lamp with a neutral white bulb. I also started paying attention to when natural light was enough. Some mornings, I didn’t need any artificial light at all.

This helped me stay focused longer, without feeling tired from the glare. It’s a little change, but I noticed it in my eyes and even in my mood.

The bulb I picked came from 50bulbs. Their site has sections based on how you use each space, which made it easy to choose one for working hours.

4. Fixing That Strange Hallway Glow

There’s a hallway in my house that always felt cold and weird in summer. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I changed the bulb. It was a daylight bulb—good for task lighting, not for comfort.

I swapped it with a soft white bulb. It didn’t just look better. It felt better. That strange hallway suddenly felt like part of the house again.

It’s a small spot, but it reminded me that even one wrong bulb can throw off the whole vibe of a space.

5. Lighting for Summer Evenings

We often think about summer lighting as bright and fun—patios, grills, string lights. But indoors, after sunset, what we usually need is the opposite.

I started using just one or two lamps in the evening. No ceiling lights. The lower lighting helps the house wind down naturally. It feels more restful.

I also chose bulbs that are dimmable. That way I can control the level depending on the time of day or what I’m doing.

Again, I didn’t know what bulbs worked best until I read a short article on 50bulbs. It explained how to pick based on mood and purpose. It wasn’t salesy. Just helpful.

What You Can Try

You don’t need to do a full lighting makeover. Just try this:

Pick one room that feels too bright or uncomfortable
Check what kind of bulbs you’re using
Replace one with a softer, cooler, or more efficient one
Use lamps more often and overhead lights less
Try matching the light to your activity—cool white for focus, warm white for rest

That’s it. See how it feels. Your home will tell you what’s working.

One Lamp, Big Difference

I never would have guessed that changing a single light could affect how I feel in a room. But it does. In summer especially, the right light can make your home calmer, cooler, and easier to enjoy.

Now, every June, I do a quick check. Which bulbs need changing? Which rooms feel a little too warm or harsh? It only takes a few minutes and sets me up for a more comfortable season.

If you want to explore it yourself, 50bulbs has simple guides and a good selection of basic, useful lighting. No pressure. Just information you can actually use.

Small fixes. Big comfort. That’s what I learned from one lamp last July.