You’ve chosen your flooring, your wall colors, and your furniture but when it comes to picking out the right lighting, you’re stuck. Don’t fret–we’ve all been there! With so many types of lighting, it can feel extremely overwhelming to choose the right fixtures for your specific room and personal style. There are some key things to consider when purchasing lighting for your space and today, we’re breaking them all down to make things easier!

Types of light fixtures

First things first, it’s important to understand the wide range of lighting options you have to incorporate in your home. While there are many fixtures to choose from, here are some of the more popular options:

1. Recessed lighting: One of the most popular indoor lighting options is recessed lighting. Recessed lighting is installed directly into the ceiling or wall. This option is great for people who only want their lighting for function and not for design as they are not highly visible. Because they free up ceiling space, recessed lighting does make the room appear bigger and brighter. With that said, you do usually need a decent amount of lights to light up the room which is something to consider.

2. Wall sconces: While wall sconces are definitely not everyone’s style, they do serve a major purpose in design which is to dimly illuminate smaller spaces or walls. Sconces are great in bathrooms, hallways, and corners. They are functional yet stylish and can add a bit of character to the space without taking up too much room.

3. Floor and Table Lamps: If you’ve been on the interior design side of social media recently, then you know that floor and table lamps are the biggest lighting trend right now, particularly among millennials and gen-zers. Currently, people are into softer, almost mood lighting instead of overhead lights as it creates a cozy feel. Not only are lamps functional, but they can also be incredibly stylish and add to the decor of your space. Particularly trendy right now are vintage lamp finds. Designer Cameron Jones shares:

“Due to rise in demand and prices thanks to COVID-19, more and more people are turning to vintage because of the uniqueness, affordability, and timely access.”

Floor and table lamps can work with any interior design style and can also be moved from room to room when you need a change!

4. Track lighting: Track lighting is definitely a less popular option nowadays but it is ideal for some rooms where you want to highlight certain features of the space.This is because you are able to reposition each light to point in any direction of the room which is nice if you have art pieces or decorations you’d like to be a focal point. Track lighting is also great to have in your kitchen to illuminate your cabinets and create a bright, open space.

5. Chandeliers: Looking for a stand-out fixture that will be sure to make an impression? A chandelier is definitely the option for you. While chandeliers don’t necessarily work in every room, they are a great option for a dining room, foyer, or bedroom. Many people think of chandeliers as these huge crystal fixtures but nowadays there are so many options–whether your home is modern, contemporary, minimalist, maximalist, and any other design style.

6. Task Lighting: These types of fixtures are pretty much what they sound like: lighting that helps you complete certain tasks easier. Think desk lamps, a pendant light above a dining table, under cabinet strip lights, and more. There are a ton of options when it comes to task lighting and the majority of them are less about style and more about function. Most fixtures are made with LED bulbs which are easier on the eyes and reduce straining when working or doing chores. Many task lighting options are also adjustable to fit your needs and move with you.

Tips for choosing your indoor lighting

Now that you know some of the most popular lighting options, it’s time to choose which ones are right for your space.

●      You need to consider the size of the room. If you’re working with a very small room that will feel cluttered easily, you will want lighting that brightens up the space while also making it feel bigger. Recessed lighting is perfect for this and offers a sleek look. If you’re looking to fill up a large space, chandeliers and lamps are always great accent pieces.

●      Function, fashion, or both? What is the reason you want a lighting fixture in your room? Is it solely to illuminate the room? Does your design style lend itself to fashionable fixtures? Or is it a mix of both? If you’re looking only for function, try opting for task lighting, recessed lighting, or track lighting. If you want something just for the look, sconces and accent lighting are your best bet. If you want both function and style, table and floor lamps are the perfect combination!

●      Don’t forget to mix and match! Just because you’re designing one space doesn't mean you need to only use one type of lighting fixture. Play around with different levels of lighting from recessed to chandeliers to lamps. This not only makes things interesting, but it also lights up any dark areas or corners of your room.

●      Less is better. Although it’s a good idea to play with different levels of lighting in your space, it’s also key to know when to stop. You’ll know when it’s getting too much if you’re installing fixtures that you won’t actually ever turn on!

●      Natural lighting is also a factor. If your room has windows, take that into consideration! This can help with the placement of your fixtures if there are dark corners that need to be illuminated.

●      Think about the bulb. There are four main types of bulbs that all have different attributes and appeals. Incandescent lights are the most typical and provide warm light, halogen also provides a warm tone but lasts longer than incandescent bulbs, LED last the longest and conserves the most energy, and fluorescent lights are also energy-saving but only provide a cool toned light.

There are many factors to consider when choosing lighting for your space but the most important one is how it makes you feel! The lighting in your space can quite literally affect how you feel everyday so make sure that you’re happy with it.