Tips For Choosing The Best Lighting Fixtures

Establishing a style for your home steers the direction for one of the most essential elements in a room: lighting. The perfect lighting sets the room’s tone and atmosphere, but with so many options, it can take time to decipher which light to choose. Clients want more daring shapes, textures, and materials in their lighting design choices. With that in mind, interior designers look for beautiful inspirational pieces to bring the design to life. Here are some designer tips for choosing the best lighting fixtures.

Lighting Trends in 2023

If you have shopped for lighting fixtures in 2023, you will know that there unlimited options. From unusual shapes to innovative materials, there is an increased desire for bold light fixtures that demand attention when you walk into a room. These eye-catching light pieces are art forms in themselves.’ Your choice of lighting can be a creative and artistic celebration of different shapes, materials, and colors, enriching your space with an elevated look of visual interest and modern design. When buying new lighting fixtures for a home, there are several things to consider to add beautiful inspiration to your space.

Consider the Purpose of the Light

The purpose and end-use of the light are a priority, and the lighting requirements vary for each room. Every light fixture offers a different purpose, like general, task, accent, or ambient lighting. Some rooms may require soft, ambient lighting, while others require brighter task lighting. Choosing one that will suit your needs is essential. 

When selecting lighting, considering the room size is the first step. Larger rooms generally require more lighting than smaller rooms because they have more surface area to illuminate. In addition, the height of the ceiling also plays a role in determining the lighting requirements; rooms with higher ceilings will require more lighting to illuminate the space properly. Other factors impacting lighting are wall color, flooring, and natural light entering the space. Most rooms will require a combination of both ambient and task lighting.  

Different types of Lighting

• Ambient lighting – Use ambient lighting in spaces that don’t need to be brightly lit. Ambient lighting creates a comfortable and welcoming environment without causing glare, harsh shadows, or accentuating certain features or objects in a room. Wall sconces, floor lamps, or lights meant to highlight artwork are great examples of ambient lighting. They might be placed on a dimmer switch so the user can adjust the intensity of the ambient lighting to create different moods throughout the day or evening.
• Task lighting – This lighting type is usually used for a specific task or activity and is brighter than ambient lighting. It often illuminates specific places in kitchens, offices, and bathrooms. Typical task lighting examples include desk or workspace lamps, headlamps, and spotlights. 
• Accent lighting – Accent lighting highlights a specific area or object and includes wall sconces, recessed lighting, table and floor lamps, and track lighting. Accent lights offer ambiance and visual interest to a room. This foyer’s polished frost-white marble Ebena Accent Lamp gives off a nice glow. 

Style and Design

Lighting fixtures come in a wide range of styles, from traditional to modern, so choose one that complements the style of your home. They come in a variety of finishes and shapes. The type of materials in the fixture characterizes the style, and some offer the room a timeless look, whereas others, like geometric shapes, can add a touch of modern style to any room. 

Look For Statement Lighting

Statement lighting is a great way to add drama to a design. These light fixtures create a focal point in a room like the dining room, kitchen, entryway, or living room. Statement lights are often large or oversized chandeliers or pendant lights and are the most obvious statement piece in the room. This trend is great anywhere you want to make a bold statement. Check out this stunning Golden Onion Chandelier used in this formal dining room. The rich brass romantic shape is made of steel and acid-etched to create a unique pattern casting a starry reflection and an inner glow. 

Use Natural Materials and Organic Shapes

Lighting fixtures made from natural materials made from wood, bamboo, and woven fibers, bring texture to a space. These fixtures add a touch of warmth, refract light beautifully, and can complement a range of decor styles. We also love organic shapes and look to use these shapes whenever possible. In this eat-in kitchen, we used The Boreas transitional chandelier from Uttermost. This gorgeous light features cascades of clear glass buttons dripping from burnished silver champagne leaf branches with light bulbs nestled in the shimmering branches.

How the Light Bulb Affects Lighting 

The right color temperature of a light bulb can affect the room’s mood. Warmer lighting is excellent for cozy spaces, and cooler-colored lighting is better for task-oriented spaces. Ambient lights are best with soft white hues. Unfortunately, choosing the wrong bulb can create an unflattering appearance or highlight undesired features. By selecting the proper light for your home, you can create a perfect atmosphere that highlights and enhances your space. Look for warm whites with a yellow glow (think candle hue) and cool whites depending on the type of light.

Let Gracious Home Interiors Help with Selecting Light Fixtures

Installing new lighting fixtures changes the feel of a home. The artistic design of each light beautifully brightens each room. Know that not all fixtures are created equal. Look for a unique light that provides the right amount of light for the space. Need some help? Gracious Home Interiors works with homeowners, builders, and commercial businesses in Charlotte, NC, and surrounding locations to select lighting and other materials. Contact us to get started today.

Interested in some of the lighting, furniture, and accessories used in our designs? Shop here or contact Gracious Home Interiors to purchase.