We don't want to call ourselves experts in creating a sultry spaces, but we've hosted over 300 happy couples in our Airbnb listings that would agree that we've perfected the art of creating a moody yet sultry bedroom vibe. By the way, a romanticized bedroom experience is not reserved for only couples, we've hosted tons of individual travelers with "main character" energy, that want to romanticize their travel experience on our properties. Don't take our word for it, checkout our listings & reviews on Airbnb for receipts that we know what we're talking about.

For Part 1 of this Transform Your Space series we'll be focusing on all our favorite tips, tricks and products for the most elegant and dare I say, sexy, bedroom/ home lighting. As Teddy Pendergrass would say: "Turn off the light's, and light a candle..." we'd love to help you create a romantic mood. Here are our 5 must-have lighting ideas for creating a sultry and cozy bedroom or home ambiance.

1.Natural Lighting

We love natural light pouring through windows. The best part is, it's FREE! Photographers often urge using the "Golden Hours" to take outdoor pictures, and we'd encourage using those same golden hours to give your room or your home a natural sun-kissed vibe.

What are the Golden Hours?

• Dawn: For early mornings, peel back your curtains on your east facing windows to flood your home with the delightful rising sun.
  

• Dusk: For a romantic sunset, undress your west facing windows for a wave of warm amber sun rays.

Either way, you have 2 prime opportunities to seize the day's perfect natural lighting moments.

To optimize/ enhance your natural warm light experience, consider using sheer curtains that allows the light to spill into your space while offering subtle privacy. Sheer curtains filter sunlight and balance the light level between indoor and outdoor space, plus it enables you to enjoy the beautiful scenery outside the window and prevent people from seeing your indoor room directly.

2. Warm Mood Lighting

Warm lighting makes your skin glow, and instantly sets a subtle mood without having to say a word. It mimics the lighting created by sunsets and candles, and what can be sexier than those 2 things? After You, Nothing... Warm lighting can usually emit color notes of amber, red, purple, and orange.

To contrast, consider the cool, sterile and stark lighting you'd typically see in a hospital or an office. Although this type of lighting can be useful and serve a purpose, it does not create the cozy warm feeling of home or the allure of a couple's haven.

How to Identify warm lighting?

We like to stick with lights that are between 2700K and 3000K for the ultimate warm lighting. In addition, you'll often see phrases like "soft white" or "warm white" in the description of these lights. These principles apply to a variety of bulb and lighting types, like these (with links for all of the bulbs we actually use in all of our properties):

• Edison Light Bulbs

• LED Light Bulbs

• Smart Light Bulbs

We benefited from using this Color Temperature Guide created by Alcon Lighting. They provide a comprehensive breakdown of light color ranges, the moods they emote, definitions and an intriguing history lesson on this subject.

Is warm lighting bright enough for me to see?

Just to Clarify, warm lighting is about the temperature and color of the light, not necessarily the intensity or brightness of the light. Using warm lights with varying intensity could help with clarity and brightness, and the use of Smart Light Bulbs are often perfect for managing this, as it has a wireless dimmer feature, that can be used to increase or decrease the brightness of your lighting from a simple app on your phone, along with all the other cool features like timers and the ability to remotely switch them on and off.

3. Layered Lighting

Ditch using only your ceiling fixtures! Illuminating different areas of your space creates texture and dynamic moments to relish. Strategically placed lighting allows you to draw the focus on curated design highlights, and can literally help put less important things in the shadow for that moment while still keeping the whole room illuminated.

The key to layering your lighting is adding different levels or heights of lighting. Consider the levels created by having a standing lamp in one corner, a table lamp on another corner, and a lit candle on a coffee or end table. We will delve further into lamps and candles in the next few points.

4. Lamps

Lamps are the perfect way to add warm layered lighting that matches your design style. We've created numerous vibes on our various properties with these different lamps:

• Modern Architectural Standing Lamp: We've used the lamp to frame the couch and a painting in Villa C at the Tropical Oasis Villas, and it looks stunning.

• Modern Minimalist Table Lamp: We love how this minimalist modern table lamp- packs a subtle punch of light that's perfect for a night stand or end table.

• Glamorous Crystal Table Lamp: This gorgeous lamp has an extra glow as it reflects from the crystal, and we're obsessed.

• Glamorous Floor Lamp: We don't have this floor lamp, but it's on our list for our next glam design, since it's so elegant.

• Boho Table Lamp: This bohemian style table lamp really resemble a candle with the pattern it casts from the light.

• Boho Floor Lamp: We love the basket weave effect of the shade.

No matter what your design style, lamps can make your sultry lighting dreams come true.

5. Candles

I'll be honest, we don't allow candles in our listing properties, because of the potential risk of a guest not managing them responsibly, but we absolutely use candles in our own home for not only the warm ambience but the yummy scents and THE VIBE.

Here are a few of our faves:

• Linen Jolie Candle : The Best Candle All-Around and In Show

  • The scent of this candle is light and refreshing, but the crystal container is the star of the show, since it emits the most beautiful light, and for that, his candle wins best all-around and in show)

• Sundrenched Linen Candle : The Best All-Around Scented Candle

  • This my all time favorite candle scent, as Bath & Body Works perfected not only the scent but the intensity of the fragrance with their use of essential oils. This candle wins best all-around scent in my book.

• Cedarwood Jolie Candle: The Best Wood/ Musk Scented Candle

  • This wins best wood scent, and is also housed in the iconic Jolie glass containers. Wood and musk scents radiates a fresh masculine energy. They market it as a holiday candle, but I enjoy it year-round.

• Unscented Candles: The Best Layered Candles

  • If you're sensitive to scents, and just want a vibe, you'll love these tiered unscented pillar candles. We'll dub these Best Layered Candles. Notice that it's in keeping with our recommendation for layered lighting.

• Fake Candles: The Best Candle Dupe

  • If you're looking to avoid the risk of an open flamed candle, these battery operated candles can be a good alternative, but stay tuned we'll share a few of our other favorite dupes in the future.

A well wish to end:

In your home, let there be light, let there be love, let it be good.

Image Citations (In no particular Order):

• Color Temperature Guide created by Alcon Lighting

• designed by Freepik