How An Interior Designer Considers Light Fixtures For Your Home

The right interior light fixtures can have you zinging with excitement, feeling head-over-heels about life, and throw your friends, family + neighbors into a fit of jealousy *wink*

 So when we talk about considerations for selecting light fixtures for your home, the stakes are high boo :) And that’s because lighting is a functional necessity to creating a welcoming, inviting + cozy home. 

Which is probably why you won’t be surprised when I tell you that as an interior designer a LOT of details go into creating your lighting plan + then selecting the perfect lighting for your space. 

Ready to deep dive into some of the things we consider when selecting light fixtures? Let’s talk about it, friend.

Types Of Lighting

There are three main types of lights we focus on when we’re considering a light plan + light fixtures for your home.

Ambient Lighting

We start with ambient lighting as it gives us a foundational + uniform lighting level. In some instances, ambient lighting may be it but likely we’ll be adding other layers of lighting through the space too. Typically, ambient lighting is soft + diffused so if these are overhead lights, we prefer them on dimmers for maximum control.

Task Lighting

Task lighting is exactly as it sounds. 

It’s lighting intended to illuminate a specific task but the light itself doesn’t typically brighten up the entire area. More often than not, task lighting is used for reading areas, desks or home offices, and in seating areas throughout a home.

These are often the most functional driven type of lighting because their specific to the task at hand.

Accent Lighting

A great way to think of accent lighting is to think of it’s role as highlighting or emphasizing a particular feature of the room. A typical use of accent lighting is for drawing the eye towards a sculpture, piece of art such as a painting or another element that you want to be the focal point of the space.

They’re often brighter + thus create a more dramatic effect than either ambient or task lighting.

The truth about lighting is that most well-designed rooms have a variety of light sources, being both natural light as well as multiple types of artificial lighting. 

However, to get the lighting right, you really need to think about the activities that are going on in a room. 

For instance, if we’re designing a reading nook, well then, it’s safe to bet we’ll want a task-light to prevent eye-strain. But, if we’re designing a hallway on the main floor of a clients home (potentially where guests will see) then we’ll want  accent lighting to create a more dramatic feel along the wall highlighting some kind of art.

Types Of Light Fixtures

First, the type of lighting matters and then the options for light fixtures are nearly endless.

You have chandeliers, pendants, sconces, floor and table lamps, task lighting, ambient lighting, architectural lighting — you get the picture. The sky (or the ceiling rather) is the limit!

Lighting is one of the single, most impactful design elements in your space.

 So, whether we’re designing a new home for you, remodeling or redecorating your existing one we take our time here to avoid muddling through the mess.
And you’ll probably be familiar with many of these but in case you’re not here are several types of light fixtures that we’re commonly using when creating a lighting plan for your home.

Recessed Lights

Recessed or can lighting is a type of light fixture that is housed above the ceiling — hence the name recessed. #Shocker

We use recessed lights for adequate light coverage in large open spaces where lighting may be a challenge on those gloomy pacific northwest days :) While they come in a few different sizes for a variety of reasons, recessed lighting often has a relatively narrow light spread so you need more than one *wink*.

Light Direction:  downwards

Ceiling Lights (a.k.a Flushmount or Semi-Flushmount)

A ceiling light fixture is mounted to the ceiling #ImagineThat 

Your mind is blown, right?!?! 

A ceiling light fixtures come as either a flushmount or semi-flushmount light fixture. For a flushmount light fixture, the light is right up against the ceiling whereas for a semi-flushmount the light fixture sits just below the ceiling. 

 Either, a flush or semi-flushmount light fixture, is a great source of ambient lighting in your home.

Light Direction:  up + downwards

Chandeliers 

Chandeliers are another light fixture that hangs from the ceiling + often has more than one light bulb integrated into the light fixture. 

Typically, these are overtop of a table or seating area to provide ambient light. We often use chandeliers in large spaces as an anchoring focal point to draw the eye up in the room. 

In any case, chandeliers add a lot of style to the space.

Light Direction:  up + downwards

Pendants

Like Chandeliers, pendants are also suspended from the ceiling but are limited to one light bulb per fixture. 

Typically, a pendant is used as a task light for over a surface such as a counter or bar. The world of home lighting is diverse (+ complex) so there are ways that a particular pendant may provide ambient light to a room as well.

Light Direction:  downwards

Sconces

Sconces are a type of light fixture that are fixed to the wall (a la “wall sconce”). 

While they can provide ambient or even task lighting in certain areas of a home, most often at Elegant Simplicity we use them as accent lights to a space.

Light Direction: up + downwards

Floor + Table Lamps

Floor + table lamps are yet another light fixture that often serve multiple functions. 

First, they’re versatile as light fixtures can be as they can go anywhere in the room + provide a great source of task lighting. Have a dark corner? A table or floor lamp might do the trick! 

Second, because there are so many options in terms of styles + even size, they’re a great embellishment to a room. #Layers!

Light Direction: downwards

Cabinet Lighting

Cabinet lighting is typically used in kitchen cabinets to illuminate the space underneath upper cabinets (a la undercabinet lighting). 

That said, that’s not it. Cabinet lighting also can be introduced in custom built-ins to draw emphasis towards a particular shelf or even in the toe-kick of base cabinets.

Light Direction: downwards

Architectural Lights

Architectural lights are a light that is incorporated into the, you guessed it, architecture of the home *wink* There are several architectural types of lights…

Cove Lighting

Cove lighting is often hidden behind a cove moulding or ledge that directs the lights upward onto the ceiling. It’s an elegant + subtle lighting that accents the space. 

Light Direction: upwards

Soffit Lighting

A soffit light is typically a recessed light in an interior soffit. They are a great way to add additional lighting to a space with various ceiling heights.

Light Direction: downwards

Valance Lighting

A valance light is blocked by, a valance, + typically reflects light onto the wall.
Light Direction: up + downwards

Light Direction

Now above, you saw we labeled out where the light direction of each lighting fixture is headed. We use light direction to ensure ample coverage. 

Light direction is how you determine what style of light makes functional sense for the particular area + whether or not the light bulb should be exposed or not.

Light Fixtures In Kitchen

When it comes to light fixtures in the kitchen there are several types of lights we might be designing:

• Recessed Can Lights

• Pendants

• Cabinet Lighting

• Architectural Lighting

Light Fixtures For Bathrooms 

As it relates to the light plan for a bathroom, it may include:

• Recessed Can Lights

• Ceiling Lights

• Pendants

• Cabinet Lighting

• Architectural Lighting

Light Fixtures In Dining 

When it comes to the light fixtures in the dining room, a comprehensive lighting plan may include:

• Recessed Can Lights

• Chandeliers

• Sconces

• Cabinet Lighting

• Architectural Lighting

Light Fixtures In A Living Room 

Lighting fixtures in the living room we’re designing may be:

• Recessed Can Lights

• Chandeliers / Ceiling Lights

• Sconces

• Floor + Table Lamps

• Cabinet Lighting

• Architectural Lighting

Light Fixtures For Bedrooms 

As it relates to the light plan for a bedroom, it may include:

• Recessed Can Lights

• Chandeliers / Ceiling Lights

• Sconces

• Floor + Table Lamps

• Architectural Lighting

How to Space Lighting Throughout Your Home

Picking lighting isn't merely about style — it's about function. And if all this seems like A LOT of lighting might go into a room, it is. 

 Because a home that is underlit — underwhelms. 

As designers we want to ensure that those welcoming, inviting + cozy vibes you desire exist regardless of the light fixtures + lighting plan it takes to make it happen.

In order to space lighting appropriately to ensure every nook + corner is getting the necessary amount of light it needs — we focus on the function of the space (+ then the aesthetic).

At Elegant Simplicity, function always precedes aesthetic.

For example, we might place wall sconces on either side of a fireplace but if this is a living room that you use a lot, you'll also need ambient lighting for enjoying company + task lighting over head for reading.

How to Choose the Best Size & Dimension Of Light Fixtures

The size of lighting a room depends largely on… the size of the room + where the light is going!

Is the light being directed downwards towards the floor? Is the light accenting a particular feature in the room? Is the light one of a few task lights or the only task light?

Designing a light plan full of gorgeous light fixtures is all about balance, in size, dimension, scale, location, and light output.

Like anything good in life, it’s a process that takes time. 

How to Hang Light Fixtures at the Best Height

Here’s another loaded question we get asked allll the time!

How high should you hang your light fixture? I wish I could give you a straight answer here, but again, there are so many factors at play!

Let’s throw them all out:

• Ceiling Height

• Light Fixture Size

• Light Fixture Location

• Type of Light

• And at times… depending on the function of the space (maybe even the height of the people whom live there)

After all, no one wants to go *bump* in the middle of the night… at least not with their light fixtures. ;)

What You Should Know about Your Bulb Options

If you’ve ever searched for a new or replacement lightbulb, you’ve likely been overwhelmed by a ludicrous amount of bulb options - been there *deep sigh.*

But fast-forward a decade + we’ve got bulbs covered!

What? Yeah, we’re about to simplify the game for you. Your best bets?

Incandescent LEDs. Why? Energy-saving staples (especially when there's light filtering drum shade + you can’t see the lightbulb).

But round Edison bulbs  (or bare-bulbs) are always a fun way to dress up a room whenever fixtures have exposed lightbulbs.

Whatever the style of your space + light fixture, we’ll make sure your light bulbs have got it going on. ;) 

Phew! That was a-lot amiright?!?!? And that’s simply everything that goes into considering light fixtures. Imagine how we consider the style of the light fixture, the finish of the light fixture…

We all want our homes to feel + embody an emotion. That’s why we use words to describe home as comfortable, cozy, intimate or purposeful. Making conscientious choices that really draw upon that feeling, that emotion, is what designing your home is all about to us!

It’s why great design takes time. Because designing with this kind of clarity is what you ultimately want in your home. Because decisions around your home should come from a place of purpose, they should have a story and a meaningful reason why. 

So, don’t just settle on any area light fixture + check it off. And if that all sounds like a lot… Well, we’re here to help. If you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat. 

P.S. If you loved this article then you’re going to really enjoy the4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.