How to choose the right lighting fixtures for different rooms?

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Answer
Choosing the right lighting fixtures for different rooms in your home involves considering several factors, including the room's function, ceiling height, and interior design style. Here are some tips to help you make the right choices:

1. Consider the Room's Function

  • Kitchen: Bright task lighting is essential for cooking and food preparation. Use under-cabinet track lighting, recessed lights, or pendant lights over the island to provide ample illumination15.
  • Living Room: Combine ambient and task lighting to create a layered effect. Use ceiling lighting, floor lamps, table lamps, and wall sconces to achieve this14.
  • Bedroom: Adjustable lighting for reading and relaxation is crucial. Opt for bedside table lamps, wall-mounted reading lights, or a statement chandelier15.
  • Bathroom: Proper lighting for grooming tasks is essential. Use vanity lights on either side of the mirror or above it to eliminate shadows and provide even illumination15.

2. Match Lighting Styles with Interior Décor

  • Modern Decor: Choose sleek, geometric fixtures like pendant lights with metallic finishes to complement clean lines and minimalist designs1.
  • Traditional Decor: Select chandeliers or wall sconces with ornate details and finishes like antique brass or wrought iron to add elegance to traditional interiors1.
  • Eclectic Decor: Mix and match different styles to create a visually engaging space. Combine unique fixtures like Asian-inspired lantern pendant lights with Chinese porcelain-inspired table lamps1.

3. Consider Ceiling Height and Room Size

  • High Ceilings: Use dramatic lighting elements like chandeliers, pendant lights, or tall floor lamps to add vertical interest and make the space feel grand and airy12.
  • Low Ceilings: Opt for flush or semi-flush mount fixtures to provide ample illumination without encroaching on headroom12.

4. Choose the Right Size and Type of Fixtures

  • Room Size and Scale: Ensure fixtures are well-proportioned to the room. Avoid small fixtures in large rooms and oversized fixtures in small rooms2.
  • Dining Table Size: For dining tables, choose a fixture with a diameter that is approximately one-half to two-thirds the width of the table2.
  • Ceiling Height: Consider the height of the ceiling when selecting fixtures, especially for pendant lights with suspension cords2.
  • Spacing for Multiple Fixtures: Space multiple fixtures evenly to maintain a balanced proportion in the room2.

5. Create a Whole Home Lighting Plan

  • Start by making a list of the fixtures you need: Identify the types of fixtures required for each room, considering factors like ceiling height and room size3.
  • Determine the general style and design direction: Use your decorating style as a guide for choosing light fixtures. Stick to fixtures that fit your style to maintain a cohesive look throughout your home3.
  • Choose fixtures with similar lines and feels: Echo design elements to create a harmonious look3.
By following these guidelines, you can select the right lighting fixtures for each room in your home, ensuring a well-lit and aesthetically pleasing space that suits your personality and style.




Author: Julie Khuu





Key insights

  • Choosing the right light fixture for your space involves considering the size, scale, ceiling height, and shape of the room.
  • Scale and proportion are key ingredients in designing your space, especially when it comes to choosing the right lighting fixtures for different areas of your home.
  • For double-height ceilings, the larger the light fixture, the better - around 54 to 72 inches in diameter.
  • Whether your style is modern farmhouse, traditional, or mid-century modern, there are specific lighting fixtures to suit each type of vibe.
  • "Always place your lighting on dimmers."
  • Choose what you love and it can translate into any style regardless of your accessories or your furnishings for the home.
  • Always splurge on lighting and save up for that perfect piece, you will never regret spending more on lighting than on furniture.

Timestamped Summary

  • 00:00 Choose the right light fixture for your space based on size, location, scale, ceiling height, shape, style, and function.
  • 01:21 Choose the right lighting fixtures based on the size and purpose of the space to ensure proper illumination and aesthetic appeal.
  • 02:34 Measure your space and ceiling height to choose the right size light fixture, with flush mounts for 8-foot ceilings and chandeliers for higher ceilings, considering the location and what's underneath.
  • 03:49 For 10-11 foot ceilings, 30 inches is the minimum size, for double-height ceilings, go for 54-72 inches, but consider the space and ceiling height.
  • 04:38 Choose lighting fixtures that match your home's style, such as crystals for glam, swags and fringe for bohemian, distressed wood for modern farmhouse, glass and clean lines for modern, and fabric shades for traditional or mid-century modern.
  • 05:44 Choose lighting that fits your style, source from Wayfarer and overstock for variety and price options, and always use dimmers for the right fixture for your space.
  • 06:15 Choose lighting that allows you to control the brightness and vibe, and choose fixtures that you love regardless of style or accessories.
  • 07:03 Always invest in high-quality lighting for your home, as it can make or break a space, and check out the speaker's blog for more information and shopping links.

Video Full Text

  • 00:00 Hey babies welcome back to my channel. I'm Julie cool your interior design expert and today we'll be breaking down lighting and how to choose a right light fixture for your space. This video comes highly requested by one of my best friends Taylor. She actually just bought a brand new house in Newport Coast and has no idea where to begin with lighting I mean you got bathrooms dining rooms living rooms. Pendants sconces chandeliers I mean where do you even begin in this video. I'll be breaking down the four key principles that you should look out for when deciding on the right light fixture for your space. We'll be talking about the size of the fixture and the location of the room the scale of the fixture in proportion to the room the ceiling heights and the shape of the room and lastly we'll be breaking down the styles and the functions perfect sir so let's get right into it. Typically a living room is one of the largest common areas that you'll have in your space. I love to install a chandelier because a chandelier has arms to appropriately fill up the space. A dining room light fixture is usually situated right above the table. What you want to do is to specify a smaller chandelier or a pendant light.
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  • 01:21 So not only does it light up your tabletop. But it's a really beautiful focal point to kind of anchor. This kitchen islands are usually one of the trickier spaces to source a light fixture. First you have to measure the size of your island and then you'll know what type of fixture looks best right underneath it. Families are the perfect space to install a really beautiful crystal chandelier for bathrooms. I love to install a wall night or a vanity sconce even if you have general recessed lighting. A wall sconce is a perfect place to show off a little bit more of your personality for really narrow passageways like hallways or closets I love to install flush mounts. This will allow you to walk right underneath it without impeding the walkway and it won't hit your head since nothing's dropping down have you ever walked into someone's house and all of a sudden. They had a really huge living room and a tiny little fixture that means the proportion of the fixture is totally off in relation to the size of the room. Interior designers know that scale and proportion is one of the most key ingredients when it comes to designing your space. The first thing you need to do is bust out.
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  • 02:34 Those tape measures you absolutely need to understand the size of your space and the ceiling height before you get to sourcing each individual light fixture for your space. Let me break down all these different ceiling heights for you starting with something very typical. An 8-foot ceiling you wouldn't want like a chandelier dropping right on top of people's head so for an 8-foot ceiling a flush mount fixture would be best. I will probably store something between 12 and 2 and 18 inch diameter for a botched mouth. Chandelier 90. You have a little bit more height from an 8 but just think that's 12 more inches you can either install. Another flush mount or you can have another drop with a semi flush mount. Typical sizes will probably vary between 18 inches in diameter depending on what the fixture looks like and how low it drops. I probably wouldn't exceed 22 inches for 10 foot to 11 foot ceiling height. You have a little bit more options depending on where the location is if it's in a living room and you have a coffee table underneath or if it's against the hallway and you're trying to light up a little seating area definitely consider what's laying underneath it and you'll know how far you can drop that fixture it down. So you can probably go about 22 inches of 26.
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  • 03:49 Inches would be the perfect size for a 10 to 11 foot ceiling. If you have a space with a 12 foot. Ceiling 30 inches would probably be the minimum I would go not only would. This allow you to fill up the space better but the size of the light fixture would be a really beautiful contrast to the height of the ceiling for double-height ceilings like 17 feet or even up to 20 feet. What you want to do is source the largest fixture that you can around 54 inches in diameter to 72 inches in diameter. I know that sounds really massive but you're trying to fill up a really huge space and I am falling about statement lighting the bigger. The better remember that there are always exceptions to these general guidelines definitely understand where you're placing the light fixture and you'll know how large you can go in relation to the ceiling height.
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  • 04:38 Next we'll be breaking down the style of fixtures and the key characteristics so you know what to look for when designing your space. For instance if your style is glam you want to look for statement lighting characterized by crystals. Mercury glass something really beautiful reflective and bold is your style. A little bit more bohemian a little bit more worldly do you love that jungle oh look if so look for something with swags chains fringe. Even Cost Plus World Market has really great fixtures to suit that type of boho lifestyle or is your style more of like a modern farmhouse which is almost kind of industrial but is characterized by distressed wood. A little bit of metal lack matte or a really cool brushed nickel farmhouse lighting is totally fixer-upper Joanne and Gaines type of vibe. If your style is more modern you absolutely want to look for a fixture that highlights a lot of glass and very clean simple lines. If your style is more traditional you want to look for a fixture with fabric shades or maybe even crystals if your style is mid-century. Modern.
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  • 05:44 It's a very 1950s look it's characterized by bubble glass bulbous glass very simple shapes. If your style is a little bit more on the industrial side or you live in a loft you love that type of metal and glass and wood I love to source from Wayfarer and overstock because not only do they have a variety of items. They have a very different price point. You really can find something for less than $500 to outfit your space here are my designer tips for lightening and choosing. The right fixture for your space always place your lighting on dimmers.
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  • 06:15 You want to be able to control how dim or bright the light emits so that you can control the vibe and the mood of face. The only exception is probably the bathroom lighting where you want a controlled amount of light. All the time so if you have a wall sconce in the bathroom and separate recess LEDs dimmers for the recess LEDs and a regular on and off switch for the wall sconce remember. These are not hard step rules. It's just a general guideline to help you take the guesswork out of choosing the right fixture for your space. I've designed so many different types of spaces and now that I'm doing a lot more custom residential. This is what I know for sure choose what you love and it can translate into any style regardless of your accessories or your. Furnishings for the home look at a fixture and if it elicits a really positive reaction out of you or you just love to stare at it.
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  • 07:03 That's the one if you love it. You will always take it with you from space to space no matter how many times you move. Lighting is like a statement piece to start a conversation. I always tell my clients that lighting is like the finishing touch the accessory for your room. Lighting can absolutely make or break a space so my number one tip for you is to always splurge on lighting get. The best you can afford or save up for that perfect piece that you've been eyeing for months. You will never ever regret spending more on lighting than you do on furniture. I know it uses a lot of information for you to digest and jot down but don't worry. I have done all the work for you all of this information including shopping links for some of my favorite pieces that you see in this video will be available on my blog pockets are vlog comm by the end of the week. In the next video I'll be breaking down all of my favorite styles of chandeliers sconces pendant lights in all different price points all under $500 to help you take the guesswork out of choosing the right fixture for your space. If you like this video please give it a thumbs up like comment and subscribe and please. Let me know what types of videos you want to see in the future. I can also help you source lighting if you guys drop me a comment and let me know what room you're trying to look for a fixture for and what price point and budget you're in thank you for watching. See you in the next video you.
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