How to Choose Light Fixtures That Complement Your Space
The way you light a room significantly impacts its functionality and atmosphere. Your light fixtures should help make the space pleasant to be in, safe to navigate, and easy to use, while also complementing and elevating the decor. That might seem like a lot of boxes to tick, and that’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you identify your ideal fixtures.
Defining Your Lighting Goals
The first step in finding the right light fixtures is to consider the type (or types) of light your space calls for. There are three principle layers of light:
- Ambient Light: General illumination that fills the entire space, making it visible and safe to navigate.
- Task Light: Focused illumination used to support specific activities like reading, cooking, or working.
- Accent Light: Decorative lighting used to highlight artwork, framed photography, architectural features, and other points of visual interest.
The first question to answer, then, is which type of lighting your fixtures will need to provide.
For example, if you’re looking to light a reading nook, a kitchen island, or the desk in a home office, you’ll want a fixture designed for task lighting. If you’re looking to give a living room or bedroom warmth and functionality, you’ll want something that provides ambient lighting, casting diffused light throughout the space. And if you want to make sure guests notice the paintings or family pictures on the wall, you’ll need fixtures designed for accent lighting.
Knowing your lighting goals will help narrow down your search for the ideal fixtures, preparing you for your next key consideration: size.
Assessing Room Size and Ceiling Height
The dimensions of your space will help determine the best fixture size.
For example, a chandelier over your dining room table should be large enough to make an aesthetic impact and give the area ample light, but not so large that it visually overwhelms the space or obstructs views across the table. In general, it’s best to choose a chandelier that’s 1/2 to 2/3 the width of your table, leaving 30-36 inches of space between the bottom of the chandelier and the table. These same ratios can be applied over kitchen islands.
If you don’t have a table to go by, you can measure the room itself. Here are some recommended dimensions:
- For rooms up to 10'x10', consider a fixture 17”-20” in diameter.
- For rooms measuring between 10'x10' and 14'x14', use a fixture 22”-27” in diameter.
- For rooms larger than 14'x14', you’ll probably need a fixture no smaller than 24”.
If you have high ceilings, taller fixtures can help activate that extra space. Just be sure to leave at least seven feet between the bottom of the fixture and the floor. If you have lower ceilings, consider flush or semi-flush mount fixtures to provide ambient light without taking up much space.
Keep in mind that none of these recommendations should be taken as hard-and-fast rules. The most important factor to consider is what looks and feels best to you.
On that note—once you know the type of light you need and the range of sizes you can choose from, you’re ready to engage your aesthetic sensibilities.
Selecting Fixtures for Aesthetic Impact
Your fixtures can impact the personality of your space in a variety of ways.
“Louder” fixtures like ornate chandeliers, striking floor lamps, and large lanterns can make a strong stylistic statement, catching the eye and serving as a conversation piece. On the other end of the spectrum are almost “silent” recessed lights, track lights, and picture lights, which are so subtle that guests notice what’s being illuminated but not the fixture doing the illumination.
No matter the “volume” you want for your fixtures, they should complement the space’s overall decor. Here are some fixture finishes to consider, based on how they pair with various aesthetic styles.
- Brushed Nickel: With clean lines and a sleek look, this finish pairs well with modern and contemporary decors.
- Oil-Rubbed Bronze: With warm and darker tones, this finish complements wood furnishings and vintage-inspired decor, making it great for traditional, rustic, and industrial styles.
- Polished Chrome: Reflective and sleek, this finish fits perfectly in modern, contemporary, and mid-century modern spaces.
- Antique Brass: This finish adds a timeless look that works beautifully in traditional, vintage, and eclectic spaces.
- Matte Black: This bold finish works well with industrial, modern, and minimalist styles.
- Satin Brass: By combining the warmth of brass with a modern touch, this finish adds a luxurious feel to transitional and mid-century modern spaces, without being overly flashy.
- Copper: This finish adds warmth and personality to rustic, farmhouse, and bohemian rooms, pairing perfectly with natural materials.
- Pewter: Soft and muted, this finish compliments vintage and modern elements, adding subtle elegance to traditional, transitional, and rustic spaces.
- Gold Leaf: With a luxurious and opulent vibe, this finish is ideal for glam and classic aesthetics.
- Weathered Zinc: By providing a distressed look, this finish complements coastal, rustic, and industrial styles perfectly.
In considering these choices, take note of any finishes already present in the space. Make sure the fixtures you choose match or contrast pleasantly with any cabinet handles, door knobs, or sink faucets at play in the room.
Once again, these pairing ideas are not comprehensive or prescriptive. The best pairing of fixture and decor is the one that best suits your aesthetic sensibilities.
Designer Tips for Choosing Light Fixtures
As you zero in on your fixture choices, here are some steps to consider:
Pay Attention to Light Bulbs
Choosing bulbs with the right color temperature and brightness seriously elevates any room's aesthetic. A warmer white bulb is perfect for cozy spaces like living rooms and bedrooms, while a cooler white bulb works best for task-oriented areas like kitchens, reading nooks, and home offices.
Fixtures that use LED bulbs are worth considering. This is true not only because LED bulbs save energy and last longer than traditional bulbs, but also because they work well with dimmers, allowing you to adjust the room’s atmosphere to suit any occasion.
Maximize Your Natural Light
When it comes to aesthetic appeal and health benefits, there is no competition for natural light. When choosing and placing fixtures, take natural light into consideration. The more you maximize natural light, the more open and welcoming your home will feel.
Combine Layers of Light
As mentioned above, there are three principle layers of light: ambient, task, and accent. Using a combination of light sources to provide all three layers will give any room a more balanced and pleasing atmosphere.
Get a Second Opinion
How you light your home is no small decision. Even once you’ve decided on what each fixture needs to achieve practically and aesthetically, it’s still worth your while to get feedback from an expert. If you can, share your lighting plan with an interior designer, architect, or contractor—someone who knows the tremendous impact fixtures can have on the look and feel of a home.
Ready to Start?
Visual Comfort & Co. offers a wide range of lighting fixtures, crafted with premium materials by world-class designers in a variety of styles. These collections are carefully curated to empower you to create the ideal atmosphere in every room in your home. Start exploring here.