Let There Be Light!
ALANA HUMPHREYS
Interior Designer
When you think “home renovation,” you’re not alone if the next thing you think is “sure…if I happen to win the lottery!”
As I often explain to my clients, though, there are plenty of ways to update your home and personalize your space without breaking the bank.
To give your home an inviting and contemporary radiance, new light fixtures are a brilliant idea.
As you shop for new fixtures, you’d be bright to keep some important considerations in mind…
Size & scale • A fixture that looks fabulous in a vast, high-ceilinged showroom may not translate into a 12’ x 12’ dining room with 8-foot ceilings. (As a general rule, the chandelier shouldn’t touch the top of the dining room table!)
Be mindful of your ceiling heights and anything that might compete with a light fixture for space…cabinetry, furniture, windows and doors, and so on. When you visit a showroom, it’s helpful to bring photos of your space for reference.
You need to be especially careful when selecting light fixtures from a print or online catalogue, which may provide no visual clues regarding size or sense of scale.
While I love incorporating oversized lights in unexpected areas, it needs to be done tastefully. There’s a very fine line between “Ooooh!” and “Ew!” That’s why I recommend working with an interior designer or lighting professional – someone to guide you in the right direction and help you (ahem) “see the light.”
Finish & materials • When designing a home from scratch, you consider every little detail…including the finish on the light fixtures. If you’re renovating a space or only updating your fixtures, you need to be mindful of the finishes on other items already in place. This includes door and cabinet hardware, plumbing fixtures, appliances and the like.
Also be aware that not all “brushed nickel” is created equal. While the name might be the same, colour finishes often differ among lighting manufacturers. If you’re eager to make an exact match to existing finishes in a space, be careful. (Sure, mixing metals has been growing increasingly popular in recent years; but not all metals mix well together, and the “accidental” approach to interior design isn’t all that reliable.)
Type & style • While many consumers see lighting as a practical matter rather than an aesthetic one, updating fixtures involves far more than just swapping out an old light for a new one.
As a lighting expert told my class in design school, lighting is to a home as accessories are to a dress: they complete (and elevate) the entire ensemble!
Consider, too, that proper lighting brings everything else in your space to life.
Most lighting showrooms do a great job of grouping fixtures into different design styles…from decorative crystals to ornate art glass to modern industrial and everything in between. A designer or lighting expert will help you navigate through the options, from the type and style of fixture you require to the most appropriate bulb.
Are you interested in updating the light fixtures in your home? Send me a message and let’s connect!