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Choosing Lights for Your Space

Aug 26

4 Tips to help make choosing lights for your space less of a stress. Especially helpful for open floor plans with multiple style of fixtures in the same sight lines!

4 things to consider when choosing lights for your space... especially open floor plans!

Choosing lights is one of my favourite parts of transforming a space but it’s not something that I’ve always felt confident in… especially when there’s multiple styles of lights in an area. Today I want to chat allll about what I look for and consider when I’m choosing lights for a space so that they coordinate… but maybe aren’t all identical. I’m excited to be partnering with Mitzi and my Modern Handmade Home girls (you can see all their posts linked at the bottom of this) to share this post.

Modern Entry Way Makeover with new door, railing, and flooring

Did you catch my Entryway makeover last week? I’m SO in love with this space, you guys. But I totally chose the wrong light for it at first. You can jump back and see my original design board for this space. It included a smaller light and we bought it and installed it and stared at it for a couple weeks before I told Shane we had to change it again. I was surprised that he totally agreed with me.

Love this light and railing to modernize a stairway

This light we got from Mitzi though? It’s perfect here. What’s the difference? Here’s 4 things I should have considered better before ordering the first time around.

semi flush mount light turned on

HOW MUCH LIGHT DO YOU NEED

First off… what is the purpose of the light you’re putting in? Is it to light a space? Of course, but really is it the ONLY light for a space that needs to be bright? In our kitchen, we have pot lights and then the other lights are really for mood lighting or decorative lighting. In the entryway… this light needs to light the space. Some sconces let off very little light as they’re more directional. Is this you’re only light in a stairway? If you’re looking for light- clear glass, more than one bulb… these are things that can help a light be effective.

Modern Entryway Makeover- love the giant map over the stairs wall... those big walls are so hard to decorate!

THINK SCALE

Okay, this was our biggest problem. The entryway is small. But it has stairs in that same space and everything is white and open and one small tiny light looked way too small in all the bright white and we realized that it needed to balance the whole space- not just the doorway side of the entry. Getting a bigger light, like this Margot semi-flush mount from Mitzi made such a big difference in how balanced the space looks.

I once read that you can almost always go bigger than you think when it comes to lights in a room. I’ve only ever heard of one person buying a light and installing it only to decide it was too big. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen… but I’ve definitely known people to say that they’re disappointed their light looks so small.

4 things to consider when choosing lights for your space... especially open floor plans!

WHAT ELSE IS IN SIGHT?

One of the reasons that the old light looked so freaking small is that the dining room light is so big and in the same sight lines. But beyond the size… the dining room light (and most all the lights we’ve chosen in our main living space) has a dark black or rubbed oil bronze finish and clear glass. I wanted to have similar elements in whatever light I chose for the entry. Your lights don’t need to MATCH. But I think it’s important for them to coordinate/not compete if they’re in the same sight line. I like to mirror at least one of the elements (whether that’s the finish or the style of glass or the shape) when lights are in the same space.

I chose to go with the matching light in our stairway (also open to the entry right here) for ease. I love how Mitzi has whole suites of lights within a style– it makes coordinating in a space without being identical so easy.

Modern semi flush mount light fixture- love the three glass globes on this one!

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS

When you’re choosing lights, it’s so important to know what’s possible. Is a flush mount necessary? I know so many homes that go with clip lights because they’re easy and because that’s what they’ve had before… that’s what everyone has everywhere. But is it necessary? Have you looked at other flush mount options? What about semi-flush mount lights (like this one)?

Or if you’re putting it on a wall (sconce) like the one on my stairs, how high can it be? Does it need to be up facing or down facing? Just a few things to consider!

Alright, I hope that those tips are helpful if you are having a hard time choosing lights! And I hope that you’re not like me and end up with no entry light for months because you gave your one you didn’t like to a friend before deciding what new one to get- ha! If you’re looking for more beautiful lighting options and inspiration, make sure to hop around and check out the other three posts in our Modern Handmade Home series this month!

4 great articles about choosing lights! Love these spaces too

Left to Right / Top to Bottom:

  • Finding the Right Kitchen Pendants by The Learner Observer
  • Choosing Lights for Your Space by Lemon Thistle
  • Five Wall Sconces for the Kitchen by Harlow and Thistle
  • How to Choose a Chandelier by Love Create Celebrate
Category: Home DecorTag: Design, Entry Way, Handmade Modern Home, Modern Handmade Home, Renovation, Sponsored, Tips and Tricks
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Previous Post: ← Bright white entry way makeover with black door and metal railing... plus that storage bench! Modern Entryway Makeover
Next Post: Fall DIY Acrylic Sign Fall DIY Acrylic Sign... love this hand painted look! 'Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall' →

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I’m Colleen: wife; mom to 4 wild ones; and DIY blogger behind Lemon Thistle. You can expect to see rad DIY, modern home decor, renovations, hand lettering and the occasional party on Lemon Thistle. Read More…

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colleenpastoor

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DIY + Home Decor Blogger
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Renovating our 🏠 the DIY way
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colleen pastoor/lemon thistle
The hallway is finally finished and I’m so stink The hallway is finally finished and I’m so stinking happy! 

It’s felt like such a long time coming for such a small space. Since we moved in 2.5 years ago, this space has seen new doors and hardware, new trim, new floors... twice😅, we changed the boob light to a pot light and I hated it and now it’s got the most beautiful flush mount fixture I’m in love with (thanks @mymitzi!). It finally got some fresh paint and now frames on walls and last but not least... After this weekend, the new floors look like they were here all along (no door jamb gaps!) which was the last thing really bugging me since our flood last year. 

All this to say that home takes time and sometimes getting it right might take a couple tries. Also- the spaces we don’t really think about (hallways) can totally help a house feel like home with some love (and family photos 🥰)
ps. I partnered with #mymitzi to create a tiktok for This makeover... are you following me over there yet?! I’d love if you popped over and said hi!
It’s done! It works! And I’m calling it a grea It’s done! It works! And I’m calling it a great use of my afternoon the other day. Did you catch the stories? These projects both cost me under $10 by using pieces I already had in my home (yay for scraps!) and one package of drawer slides).
You can find the full video about these two kitchen organization projects over on YouTube in collaboration with my friend @love_create_celebrate and her #scrapsmademodern challenge! But for now... I’m rejoicing this coffee maker is off my counter for good 🎉
How’s your January going? Full speed or are you How’s your January going? Full speed or are you taking it a bit slow too? 

I’m not going to lie, I’m easing into this new year thing pretty slowly. All my decorations are still up (we always leave them up til Ukrainian Christmas which is later this week) and I I’ve yet to respond to my emails since before Christmas 😅
I’m enjoying the slowness of it all.
Happy Christmas Eve from our fam to yours 🥰 Happy Christmas Eve from our fam to yours 🥰
Yes, I made the paper bag snowflakes too. Have you Yes, I made the paper bag snowflakes too. Have you? 😅
This year has been one of a kind and I know so man This year has been one of a kind and I know so many people who are taking this year as the push they’ve been waiting for to start a side hustle, start an new career altogether or to just get creative about how they’re making money. So today I’m excited to partner with @kregjig to share some rad projects to make and sell this year! 
Like this rolling storage system I made for my office, that rad dollhouse and the gorgeous bath toy storage. All of these projects are things that I’d personally love to buy for our family and look like they’d be a great return on your time making them! And yes, all of them use #Kreg tools to make them easy to assemble and quick to make! Plus, they’re having a great sale on right now with deals on their K4 and K5 jigs, Rip-Cut and even a hardware jig bundle! There’s never been a better time to get your workshop set up!  #sponsored
Just a peaceful moment and then a real life moment Just a peaceful moment and then a real life moment for ya 🙃 
My #holidayhometour is on the blog and YouTube (I’ll put links in my stories) as part of the #seasonalsimplicity holiday home tour series. I’ll share those too so you don’t miss any!
My holiday home tour will be up tomorrow, but for My holiday home tour will be up tomorrow, but for tonight... I’m just enjoying the lights. And possibly a hallmark movie with some more custom order lettering 😅 what are your plans?
#christmasdecor #christmastree #holidaylights
We finished decorating yesterday and I’m just si We finished decorating yesterday and I’m just sitting here enjoying every minute of it 🤩 have you decorated yet?
Ps... talking more about hand lettering in my stories tonight!
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