Last week we discussed how swapping out your outdated door hardware could make a dramatic change in your home with minimal effort. The same is true with the light fixtures. A new light fixture can add character and charm to a space as well as tie in your home’s decor.
If you are swapping out your old lights for new ones, here are a couple of tips for choosing the appropriate fixtures in your home.
- Consider function and lighting needs: Each room has different lighting needs. For example, a bathroom benefits from utilizing a combination of task and ambient lighting (i.e. see our previous post on bathroom fixtures for more info); whereas a dining room may simply need ambient lighting. Whether you choose a chandelier, pendant, ceiling mount, or sconces will be determined by each room’s function and lighting needs.
- Be consistent with finishes: If you finished switching out your previous door hardware from brass to matte black, you should consider finding light fixtures with the same finish. Doing so will create a better sense of flow in your home as well as a more cohesive design.
- Make note of scale and proportions: A single pendant light may look strange overtop of your grand dining room table, just as a chandelier may not suit your kitchen island. Take into consideration the scale and proportion of each new fixture. Once you’ve determined where you are hanging your new lights, follow these Better Homes and Gardens guidelines for finding the appropriate heights:
- Dining Room: The bottom of the light fixture, on an 8 foot ceiling, should be approximately 27-30 inches above the table. For higher ceilings, add 3 inches per additional foot. NOTE: Also, be sure to select a fixture that is no wider than the width of the table minus 12 inches.
- Island Lighting: Pendants should be hung 35-40 inches above an island to allow for kitchen tasks.
- Task Lights: According to Kerry Jayms Lighting and Decor, sconces can be set up at varying levels depending on ceiling heights, your own height, and room needs. However, the general rule is 5 feet from the floor and spaced across a room every 6 to 8 feet. (Check out her blog post for more info. It’s got all sorts of advice for every type of lighting fixture.)
If you are wanting to swap out your old fixtures but are not sure what to choose, here are the typical chandelier and ceiling mounts we use in our flips: Globe Electric Sansa 6-Light Chandelier and Energetic Lighting Flush Mount. Otherwise, good luck on your fixture adventure, and remember, when it comes time to install your new fixtures – safety first – if you are not comfortable with electrical work in your home call in the pros!