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A Livingetc report presents Norwegian designer Gudbjørg Simonsen’s approach to lighting homes during the country’s short winter days. Her advice emphasizes varied light, practical and decorative layers, and designing with seasonal darkness rather than trying to erase it.
Norwegian designer Gudbjørg Simonsen has outlined how she approaches home lighting for the country’s short winter days, in advice published by Livingetc. Her recommendations favor varied, layered light and seasonal design over trying to make every part of a home uniformly bright.
Simonsen, who is based in Stavanger, told Livingetc that changes in daylight should shape how homes are designed throughout the year. She said her projects take account of both the surrounding environment and the people who live in the home, with traditional Norwegian architecture also informing her work.
One of her central recommendations is to avoid an even wash of light across an entire room. Simonsen said she prefers brighter areas, soft transitions and shadow, drawing on the variation she sees in natural light. In her view, filling every corner equally can make an interior feel flat rather than atmospheric.
She also advocates layering lighting to meet different needs. Technical or task lighting can provide focused illumination for work, help people move through a space or highlight art; Simonsen said she prefers fittings that are concealed or integrated where possible. The source excerpt ends during this discussion, so it does not include her full set of lighting recommendations.
Designing for Winter’s Changing Light
The advice offers a practical design perspective for people dealing with short days: winter lighting need not mean turning every room into a uniformly bright space. Simonsen’s approach separates the job of helping people see from the atmosphere a room creates, and treats contrast and shadow as intentional parts of a home’s character.
That distinction may help readers think about lighting choices room by room. A focused work light, a softer source for a sitting area and a light that guides movement serve different purposes. Simonsen’s comments are design guidance, however, not evidence that a particular lighting scheme produces a specific health or mood outcome.
Norwegian style layered home lighting
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Norway’s Seasonal Daylight
Livingetc’s report frames the advice against Norway’s winter daylight, stating that the country can receive up to six hours of daylight a day in December, while its northernmost areas can have periods with no daylight. The article does not specify a location or measurement method for the six-hour figure, so it should be understood as the report’s broad description rather than a figure applying uniformly across Norway.
Simonsen’s approach is tied to these seasonal changes. Rather than designing as if daylight stays constant, she argues that a home can change in feel across the year as light, shadow, color and materials are experienced differently. Her comments provide the design rationale behind the practical suggestions in the article.
“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. We have to design with it.”
— Gudbjørg Simonsen, Norwegian designer, speaking to Livingetc
Limits of the Published Advice
The source material provides selected recommendations, not a complete lighting plan or product guide. It does not specify particular bulb brightnesses, color temperatures, fixture models, costs or measurements for different rooms. Nor does it provide research establishing health effects from the suggested design choices.
The daylight description is broad and does not give a precise geographic reference for the figure of up to six hours in December. The source excerpt also stops partway through Simonsen’s discussion of layered lighting, leaving her full advice on decorative and ambient fixtures unavailable here.
Applying the Ideas at Home
Readers can use the published points as design prompts: identify where focused task light is needed, consider a separate softer source for relaxation, and test whether a room benefits from contrast rather than uniform brightness. Simonsen’s guidance also suggests observing how natural light changes through the day and across seasons before deciding where additional lighting is useful.
Livingetc’s report does not announce a follow-up, new project or product launch. Further specifics would depend on the complete article or additional comments from Simonsen; no later development is stated in the supplied source.
Key Questions
What is Gudbjørg Simonsen’s main advice for winter lighting?
She recommends designing with seasonal darkness, rather than trying to make every part of a room equally bright. She favors variation, layers of light and intentional shadow.
Why does Simonsen advise against evenly lighting a room?
She told Livingetc that uniform illumination can make a room feel flat. She prefers a mix of brighter areas, soft transitions and shadow, similar to variation in natural light.
What does layered lighting mean in the report?
It means using different lighting for different tasks, such as focused light over a work surface, guidance through a space or illumination for art. Simonsen said practical fittings should remain discreet where possible.
How much daylight does Norway get in December?
Livingetc says Norway can have up to six hours of daylight per day in December, while areas in the far north can experience periods with no daylight. The report does not specify the location behind the six-hour figure.
Does the report say winter lighting improves health or mood?
No. Simonsen discusses atmosphere and how lighting can make a home feel warm and welcoming, but the supplied report does not establish a medical or measurable mood effect.
Source: rss
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