How Lighting Can be an Instant Update

Add instant impact by updating to a modern chandelier.

Seven Ways To Quickly Update Your Home With Modern Interior Lighting

Being stuck inside with the winter blahs is enough to make anyone a little stir crazy and eager for a new environment.  By making small updates to your home by the way of lighting, you can instantly change and enhance your surrounding with only minor work and expense. 

Unique Wine Bottle Chandelier

Perhaps the dining room or kitchen island is in desperate need of a makeover.  Chandeliers and pendant lighting are necessary elements to these areas, and will give new life to a staid look. 

Candice Olson Kitchen Design With Chandelier

If your house was built in the mid 90’s, chances are that you may have some bright, shiny brass hanging around – get it out of there! 

Candice Olson Kitchen Design

Look for the new richer finishes of bronze or copper – many times these are layered with brown tones or golds to go with the decadent new colors. 

Candice Olson Living Room Design With Chandelier

Add Metallic Finishes

Candice Olson Bathroom Design

Metallic finishes are very popular right now in décor, especially in lighting. 

For more modern looks, the sleek brushed nickel or satin aluminums are still right up to the minute.  Adding a bit of black undertone is a great way to tone down the metallic without doing away with it.

 

Add Subtle Accents With Sconces

Sconces add ambiance to wall areas that otherwise may be shadowed.  I think sconces should be incorporated when there is need for subtle accents without taking over a wall. 

The most interesting sconces will incorporate colored glass with rich metal finishes.  Washing the walls with soft light can make the room look cozy.

 

Choose The Right Size For Your Space

 

Chandeliers can also be added in unexpected places, such as above nightstands or in bathrooms.  These can be great space saving measures, as well as add some glamour to an area. 

Choose smaller scaled pieces – no more than 16” in diameter by 18” tall is a good start. 

In order to determine how much light is needed for a certain area, simply multiply the length and width of your room in feet. Then, multiply that number times 1.5. This number is the recommended wattage for general illumination.  Always put overhead fixtures and sconces on dimmer switches – over-lighting a room is never flattering.

Use Lighted Ceiling Fans

Lighted Ceiling fans are the bane of every interior designer, but they do serve a purpose.  Air circulation is important to certain rooms, particularly those that do not get it naturally.  Try to find fans that are flush mounted so that they hug the ceiling. 

The more transitional styles are much more appealing as the lights are typically incorporated into the body and don’t hang down from the fixture.

Table Lights and Floor Lighting

 

Rooms also get a lift from changing up table and floor lighting. 

In rooms where there is no overhead light, use lamps of varying heights and shade colors to give visual interest.  If you must use matching lamps, shoot for only one pair in a room. 

 

Interior Lighting Design: Where To Shop For Lighting

Great deals on lighting are all over the web – www.lightinguniverse.com and www.lightology.com are two awesome sites.  Sometimes updating your lighting is as easy as changing the shade, but when you need a real freshen up, consider changing the entire piece.

More Inspirational Designs by Candice Olson

Comments

[Turnadaisy]

Hi!
Great blog :)
Speaking of lighting...We have 6 light fixtures that are easily 100 years old or older cast iron and use an exposed bulb. We are putting them in our kitchen. The problem is that the "pretty bulbs" are incandescent and we cannot get them...so does anyone know of an attractive alternative? We are green as can be but these fixtures need a prettier bulb than the "pigtail" Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)
Suz

[Style Estate]

Hi! Thank you for the compliment on the blog. This site will compliment StyleEstate which is currently still in development/testing.

That is a good question about the bulbs. I would have to look around. I am picturing beautiful antique light fixtures with "pigtail" bulbs... haha :) I would be interested to find out what you come up with. Create a space at StyleEstate and upload some pics of the space if you would like to share.

[Patinas Light Ltd]

Classic and modern lamp families.