the jewelry of your house

We hardly ever think about it unless we're building a new home or moving into a new place but only then because it's empty and we actually see the effect of it.

Yes, it's LIGHTING and it matters.

Lighting fixtures have traversed a crazy broad spectrum in recent years. They run the gamut from King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table wagon wheels to Mid Century Modern sputniks, prisms of bling or ye ole drum shade and any one of those will still be totally on trend. People tend to settle on a style they fall in love with long before they actually fully consider the space where it lands.

Let's talk style, movement and scale. I say look at your cabinetry, doors and trim. They probably speak to the overall style of your home. In the end there are only a simple few styles in our box; traditional, farmhouse, mid century or contemporary modern, and throw in some Boho for the win.

Pottery Barn

Serena & Lily

MOVEMENT & SCALE: Don't get lost in space. Consider your architecture and the shapes inherent in your home. Try to compliment the other shapes you see in your architecture or even other furnishings. If you have high ceilings with lots of "space" the size of your piece should be somewhat larger. Try lighting that has a little more volume to it instead of something with fine thin lines that may get lost in the height of the ceiling.

OH SO IMPORTANT: What is behind your lighting as you are viewing it, especially if it is a chandelier.

When lighting is in front of a blank wall, it will tend to highlight the shape of the light. If there is artwork behind it, the shape could interfere with the movement of the artwork and look too busy for the area.

When lighting is in front of a window the shape or color can get lost in the objects outside. It is the same with architectural elements. Too many shapes will detract from the beauty of your lighting.

Lighting can change the overall effect of your whole home updating it with relatively little effort. It can be the crown jewel of your home adding vibrancy and dimension to your space. Who knows, you may even begin to see things in a totally different light.

Tips of the day:

Hold a picture of the lighting up to the space where you plan on using it can you can see whether it will complement your style and architecture.

Etsy has really wonderful lighting at great prices.