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A Livingetc report shares Norwegian designer Gudbjørg Simonsen’s approach to lighting homes during short winter days: use varied light, combine practical and atmospheric sources, and design for changing seasons. The advice is design guidance, not a claim that a particular lighting setup has proven health benefits.
Norwegian designer Gudbjørg Simonsen advises homeowners to plan for winter darkness with varied, layered lighting, rather than trying to make every part of a room uniformly bright. Her guidance, published by Livingetc, draws on Norway’s seasonal changes and frames lighting as a way to shape a home’s atmosphere as well as meet practical needs.
Simonsen says homes should be designed for the changing quality of daylight across the year, not treated as if natural light stays constant. She argues that a home can change character with the seasons, as light interacts differently with its shadows, colors and materials. In her view, the goal is not to fight darkness but to work with it.
One practical recommendation is to avoid aiming for even illumination throughout a room. Simonsen says natural light has brighter areas, gradual transitions and shadows; bringing some of that variation indoors can make a space feel less flat. That means a shadowed corner does not always need to be flooded with light, provided the room remains usable and safe.
She also recommends layering lighting for different purposes. Task lighting can support activities such as working at a surface, while other sources can guide movement or draw attention to art. Simonsen favors keeping technical fittings discreet when possible, so people experience the light without every fixture dominating the room. The source excerpt does not provide a complete list of recommended products or a detailed room-by-room plan.
Lighting for Norway’s Winter Darkness
The advice matters beyond Norway because it offers a way to think about lighting during any period when daylight is limited: brightness is not the only design goal. Simonsen distinguishes between light that helps people see and light that affects how a room feels. She describes warm, visible light in a window as a sign of human presence and welcome, linking the emotional meaning of light to its practical role.
For readers planning a seasonal refresh, her approach suggests prioritizing comfort, function and atmosphere together, instead of solving every dark spot with a stronger bulb. That is a designer’s perspective, not evidence that a particular scheme will improve mood or treat seasonal health conditions. Lighting choices should still suit the room’s activities, occupants and safety requirements.
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Design Shaped by Seasonal Light
Livingetc’s report places Simonsen’s advice against Norway’s pronounced seasonal shifts. It says that in December some parts of Norway receive up to six hours of daylight a day, while the country’s far-northern areas can experience periods with no daylight. The article does not specify the locations or dates behind those figures, so they describe broad seasonal conditions rather than a uniform national experience.
Simonsen is based in Stavanger, according to the report. She says her work takes account of the surrounding environment and the people living in each home, alongside her interest in traditional Norwegian architecture. The supplied article excerpt begins outlining varied lighting and layering, but ends partway through its discussion of technical lighting; further recommendations are not included in the provided material.
““I don’t think we can design homes as though light remains constant throughout the year. Nor do I think the answer is to fight the darkness.””
— Gudbjørg Simonsen, Norwegian designer, as quoted by Livingetc
Limits of the Published Advice
The supplied report excerpt does not give a publication date, product specifications, measured lighting levels or evidence that a particular lighting arrangement changes mood. Simonsen’s comments are professional design advice and personal interpretation, not clinical guidance. The excerpt also cuts off during its explanation of layered lighting, leaving the full set of recommendations unclear.
The daylight figures are presented broadly, without a named northern location or specific dates. Daylight varies across Norway by latitude and time of year, so the figures should not be read as applying equally to every Norwegian home.
Applying the Advice at Home
For homeowners, the immediate next step is to identify how each room is used and combine task lighting with softer, atmospheric sources where appropriate. Work areas need light suited to their tasks; seating areas may benefit from a more intimate arrangement. Simonsen’s advice also invites residents to notice how daylight shifts through their homes before deciding which areas need additional lighting.
The supplied material does not announce a new product, policy or follow-up study. Further practical recommendations would depend on the full Livingetc article and on the needs of each space; readers should not treat the excerpt as a complete lighting specification.
Key Questions
What is Simonsen’s main advice for lighting a home in winter?
She recommends working with seasonal darkness, using variation and combining lighting sources for practical and atmospheric purposes rather than making every area equally bright.
Does she recommend lighting every dark corner?
No. Simonsen says some shadow and contrast can help a room feel less flat. Rooms and walkways must still have enough light for their intended use and safe movement.
What does layered lighting mean in this report?
It means using lighting for different functions. Simonsen gives examples including task light over a work surface, light that guides people through a space, and lighting that draws attention to art.
Does the report show that winter lighting improves mental health?
No. Simonsen discusses how lighting can affect the feeling and atmosphere of a room, but the supplied material does not provide medical evidence or claim that a lighting scheme treats a health condition.
Source: rss
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