Settling Into Cooler Evenings, the Sustainable Way

As evenings draw in, there is no need to flood every room with light. A few thoughtful choices around lighting, candles and the oven can keep a home cosy and calm without running up unnecessary energy use.

Learning to welcome a little darkness

Not every dim room needs fixing. Shadow and soft light can make a space feel more settled and inviting, especially once the brighter months have passed and evenings stretch out longer. Rather than switching on every lamp in the house, it is worth being selective about where light actually falls.

IKEA's DEJSA table lamp gives a gentle, focused glow that suits a reading corner or a bedside spot without lighting the whole room. Placed on top of IKEA's HAUGA chest of 3 drawers, it also becomes part of the furniture itself, a small pool of warmth in an otherwise quiet corner of a bedroom or living room.

DEJSA table lamp, beige/opal white glass, 28 cmHAUGA chest of 3 drawers, grey, 70x46x84 cmMALM dressing table, white, 120x41 cmHEMNES chest of 8 drawers, white stain, 160x96 cmRÅDMANSÖ chest of 6 drawers, brown walnut effect, 159x48x81 cmHEMNES chest of 2 drawers, white stain, 54x66 cm

Shop Chests of drawers & bedside tables

Choosing LED where it counts

LED bulbs remain one of the simplest swaps for a lower energy bill and a longer-lasting fixture. They use a fraction of the electricity of older incandescent bulbs and typically last many times longer, which matters in rooms where a light is switched on for hours at a stretch.

This is less about buying new fittings and more about what sits within them. IKEA's FULLTALIG candlestick works well as a steady, low-key light source on a sideboard or windowsill, while IKEA's JUBLA unscented chandelier candle offers a similar warmth without any flame at all, useful in a home with children or pets, or simply for anyone who prefers not to think about it.

JUBLA unscented chandelier candle, white, 19 cm 6 hr, 20 packFULLTALIG candlestick, set of 3, black

Shop Candle holders & candles

Bringing candles back into everyday use

Candles have a way of making a room feel calmer almost instantly, and the longer evenings of the cooler months are exactly when they come into their own. A softly lit table or windowsill can turn an ordinary evening at home into something a little more deliberate.

IKEA's KARAFF carafe and KONSTFULL vase both sit comfortably alongside a few lit candles on a dining table, while IKEA's TÄRNABY table lamp or SAXHYTTAN table lamp can take over once the candles burn down. For a dimmer, more ambient option, IKEA's LUNNOM LED sign bulb E14 100 lumen casts a warm, low glow that mimics candlelight without the upkeep.

JÄLLBY cord set, textile nickel-plated, 1.4 mLUNNOM LED sign bulb E14 100 lumen, clear, 26 mm, 2 packMOPPE mini chest of drawers, birch plywood, 42x18x32 cmSAXHYTTAN table lamp, beige/black, 26 cmKONSTFULL vase, clear glass/patterned, 26 cmKARAFF carafe, clear glass, 1.0 l

Shop Lamps

Letting the oven do double duty

Anyone who cooks regularly will know that an oven in use does not just heat the food. It warms the kitchen too, and on a mild winter evening that residual heat can mean the difference between reaching for the thermostat and not bothering at all.

A kitchen that is pleasant to work in makes this easier to notice and enjoy. IKEA's STENSUND door and SKRUVSHULT handle give cabinets a calm, practical finish, while IKEA's HÖVOLM rack with 6 knobs keeps tea towels and oven gloves within reach. Afterwards, IKEA's PERJOHAN bench with storage, finished with a KUSTFLY cushion cover, makes a comfortable spot to sit once the kitchen has done its job of warming the room.

STENSUND door, light green, 60x140 cmPERJOHAN bench with storage, pine, 100 cmKUSTFLY cushion cover, beige/black, 50x50 cmSTENSUND door, light green, 60x60 cmSTENSUND door, light green, 60x80 cmSKRUVSHULT handle, anthracite, 152 mm, 2 pack

Shop Kitchen doors & drawer fronts

Finding warmth in a simple hot drink

Sometimes the easiest way to feel warmer has nothing to do with heating at all. A hot drink, taken slowly, does more for a chilly evening than most people give it credit for, and it costs very little in energy to prepare.

IKEA's IDEALISK tea infuser makes loose-leaf tea straightforward rather than fiddly, paired naturally with an IKEA 365+ mug that holds its heat well in hand. For a more old-fashioned approach to warmth, a 100% cotton bag filled with wheat and warmed briefly in the microwave makes a natural, reusable alternative to an electric heating pad, something worth keeping in a kitchen drawer through the cooler months.

IKEA 365+ mug, clear glass, 24 clIDEALISK tea infuser, stainless steelFÖRNUFT 24-piece cutlery set, stainless steelIKEA 365+ carafe with stopper, clear glass/cork, 1 lSTORSINT wine glass, clear glass, 49 cl, 6 packBLANDA MATT serving bowl, bamboo, 20 cm

Shop Christmas tableware

Small, considered choices around light and warmth add up over a season. Maltashopper delivers these IKEA products to homes across the Maltese islands, making it easy to settle in for the cooler months ahead.

More home ideas