Lighting is one of our favorite ways to make a splash in a home. We get a lot of questions about the technicalities of lighting - rightfully so, since lighting is such an open and saturated market for all of us shopping for it. Scroll through for some of my go-to tips for picking lighting for your spaces and make a statement in the process!
WHERE TO GO BIG
I think hallways are a brilliant spot to do big lighting, depending on the ceiling height, as well as dining rooms and breakfast areas. I don't know what it is about eating places, but I think they are under estimated areas. Many people might only think to bling out their powder room or bedroom or living room, but breakfast nooks, and in between spaces like hallways can all be really fun places to do interesting lighting purely for visual effect, rather than always thinking about practicality.
Office spaces are a great place to layer lighting with a super cool overhead chandy and a table lamp if you have room...and I don't say that just because I'm going blind as I get older.
DON'T STICK WITH BUILDER GRADE LIGHTING
Two words: boob lights. I hate 'em, and I know you do too! I also hate the fluorescent boxes builders install in kitchens or laundry rooms just as much. My blood boils when I see those walking into a new build, because I know the builders chintzed out and wouldn't spend a few more bucks to put in more acceptable lighting back when construction was underway.
Trust me when I tell you that your space will look instantly more custom and more interesting just by switching out boob lights or fluorescent boxes, if that's the only thing you can afford to do right now.
LIGHTBULBS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
It feels like the entire lighting industry has pivoted to LED lighting, but I have to say I'm still partial to incandescent bulbs. Not only because the warm glow of incandescent bulbs makes for a cozier space, but studies have shown the makeup of some LED lighting contain potentially toxins like lead and arsenic, so it's not necessarily the best environmental option as the industry claims, in my humble opinion.
From personal experience, it seems like a big bait and switch situation by the industry telling us that they would last and last and last because we bought in, hook, line, and sinker, when we replaced every canned light bulb with LED bulbs in our house. We thought, whoo hoo we won't have to change these for 20 years! Think again - it's only been a few years and we've replaced at least 6 of them already. BTW...designer tip...I usually look for lightbulbs in the 2700k to 3000k scale...not too cool, not too warm but rather just right. #personalpreference
If you're looking for a few new lighting pieces for your home, I put together a collection of my favorite pieces I've used over the years down below! What room are you shopping for - let me know in the comments! I love hearing what everyone is working on - I just finished adding to my office, well, I just that term finished loosely because it's never really done when it's your own work space...right?
