Last weekend, our kitchen held not only our family of seven, but at various times, five additional ravenous teen boys who made — I kid you not — about 12 scrambled eggs for just a pair of them, a teen girl who baked brownies with my daughter for a movie night snack, and three preteen boys who scrounged around in the pantry all day. Our kitchen is the busy epicenter of our home, and that’s exactly the way I like it.
Nothing makes me happier than having a bunch of kids in my house. The conversations that inevitably happen in our always-moving kitchen have been such a huge part of folding our kids’ friends into our bustling family life and wrapping up loved ones, new and old, into the love we love to share. I cultivate this atmosphere purposefully, not only through a door-always-open policy and cooking my kids’ friends’ favorites, but by how the kitchen itself is set up.
For example, when we remodeled it, I wanted the L of the countertop to be a place where people could sit and hang out while I was cooking, and I designed our eat-in corner to feel as intimate as our favorite Knoxville speakeasy. But there’s one detail that no one ever really “sees,” and it makes the kitchen cozier than ever: the dimmer switch my husband installed for the overhead lights above our kitchen table.
Why a Light Dimmer Is So Effective Creating My Kitchen’s Cozy Vibe
A dimmer switch, however, goes a long way in setting a soft, calm tone by casting a warm glow over us as we sit to eat together. I dim the lights in the early mornings when my bleary-eyed elementary kids are eating their breakfasts and during dinner, when I want to subtly signal to the family that it’s time to unwind and connect.
This might sound like a cozy-maker you want to get on board with, but it’s not as difficult or pricey of a project as you might think. A dimmer switch, which costs less than $30, can be installed in place of essentially any light switch, as long as minimum and maximum wattages and bulb types match up and the bulb is dimmable. It’s a pretty easy DIY depending on your comfort level, but don’t be hesitant to call in an electrician, either. The swap is so worth it!
Here’s a quick checklist for taking on this cozy-making, ahem, switch:
Once your dimmer switch is properly installed, you can look forward to a customizable cozy vibe, literally at your fingertips. It’s perfect for the colder months but is amazing to use all year round!
Buy: Lutron Ariadni/Toggler LED+ Dimmer Light Switch, $24.25
