How to select the right lighting for your home

You did remodeling of your new home, changed the floors, kitchen, paint and now it’s time for lighting? Or you might have just moved into new place and you don’t like the light fixtures that came with the house. You are not the only one! You might be asking yourself: how to select the right lighting for your home?

It can be overwhelming when in comes to choosing the right light fixture for your home, especially if it’s more than just one light. Right light fixture is so much more than just decoration, it brings energy, light and gives home a special feeling. It is like jewelry for your home!

I decided to write my first blog post about lighting as I work in a lighting and home decor store. I help people select the right light fixture for their place all the time, so I wanted to share this with you.

Few tips before we start:

• It is always better to have more light so that you can dim it down than be lacking on sufficient amount of light in the room.
• Use more layers of lighting: lamps, recessed light, chandeliers or ceiling light, task lights like over the vanity light, wall sconces, etc.
• Maximize the natural light, for example don’t block the view by putting some heavy looking chandelier over your table if the room is already dark.
• Choose light you really feel comfortable having in your space, in the end you are the one living in that house.

This is how to select the right lighting for your home:

Sizes and numbers

Go through the house and bring a paper so you can start writing down. For example: foyer light, dining chandelier, pendants over the island, fans, wall sconces, etc.

• When putting chandelier in the room, find out the width and the length of your room, that will determine the size of your light fixture. For example, say your room is 12×14, this is how you calculate: 12+14=26. In this case, your chandelier should about 26” in diameter. Chandeliers in the bedrooms and foyer have to have 8′ clearance from he floor.
• For the fans, please remember to put them only where they are needed like bedrooms, living room, great room, etc.I live in Florida, you can imagine how popular it is to have a fan in your bedroom and have that extra breeze.

• When it comes to bathroom vanity light, take a look at where they put the junction box. For example, on the mirror, above it or next to it as a wall sconce. Note that lights that are on the mirror mounted shouldn’t be heavy. It is more challenging to install those, you don’t want them to break the mirror. Rule of thumb: vanity light over the mirror should cover 50% or more of the length of the mirror. Wall sconces should be level with your face, about 3” from the mirror and 36-40” apart.

• Most people do multiple pendants over the island or one longer island light. When having multiple pendants, make sure there is enough space in between, like 24-30” so they don’t look cluttered. Distance between the light and counter should be about 36”. Measure your island and using the required space in between see how many pendants you should have.

• If you are renovating, you might want to keep the number and location of the lights you already have. When you want to change the location of any light, you need an electrician and it can be a little more work. Please remember that you can’t change it if you have a concrete ceiling which is usually in small condos.

• Dining/kitchen light should be placed 32-36” over the table. When putting a round fixture over your table, the rule of thumb is half of the width of the table, plus 6” and in that range to be the fixture. For example: your table is 42” wide, then your formula is 21+6=27, so your fixture should be at least 21” and no more than 27” wide.

Finishes, colors and coordinating light fixtures when selecting light fixtures

Choose your finish/finishes you will be working with. Not sure how to pick finish or mix metals? Get inspired by Instagram or Pinterest, there is plenty to look at. If you are just updating your home, look around, you already have some finishes that will determine your style.

Pay attention to your theme, you want to stay in your theme as much as possible. Choose your style, you might like modern-mid century style, farmhouse or contemporary sleek design.

• If your house has a lot of neutral colors than you might want to bring in some contrast. That can be beautifully achieved by adding some darker finishes. I like to recommend matte black finish. It looks very sleek, clean and I am sure that finish will stay around for a while.
• Very popular combination black and brass, it is like a return of mid-century look that can look very moody. Colors that go along with those metals are: dark blues, greens, purples, it can be bold red as well.
• Light and airy look like brass and white brightens the home and makes it look very light. Those metals like colors such as brown tones, whites, ivory, greens, sunwashed brick, yellows.
• Polished nickel and brushed nickel are still very popular and used a lot. On the other side there is brush nickel, which is non shiny finish. Brushed nickel is probably the most used finish in a builder grade.

Hope this is inspirational and useful to you. Don’t forget to have fun while choosing the right lighting for your home! What matters the most is that you choose something you like, it matters even more than having everything perfectly matching.

What is your favorite finish? Do you like to mix and match or are you more of a one tone person?Let me know in comments.

Namaste!

Jana (Yana)