Lighting 101

Purchasing light fixtures can be so tricky and I won’t lie I’ve struggled finding light fixtures for clients that meet all their wants and needs! I’ve created a quick and easy checklist that helps ensure you’re making the right purchase and making sure it’s the best fit for your lifestyle and wallet.

Light fixtures can vary a lot in cost, so before purchasing anything I always recommend shopping around. There are so many stores selling fixtures and a lot of them are different “grades”. So, always check out the specs on the fixtures before purchasing because there is nothing worse than looking at the light fixture you love and then comparing one to it, purchasing the budget saving option and getting it home only to realize the beautiful brass is not actually brass but instead it’s spray-painted plastic…We’ve all been duped into buying something inferior, so no shame there!

For my checklist I figured I would break it down into bullet points with a small explanation so this is something you can reference quickly before purchasing any lighting. So my friends, let’s get started on reviewing the checklist;

1. Size and scale – You want to find lights that fit your space. For hanging fixtures, I make sure the light is not going to be hitting you in the face or is going to look too tiny over a surface. I usually follow this rule – a light should sit back 12” from the edge of a table or countertop. For example, you have a 72” wide x 40” deep table, you want to buy an 48” wide x 18” deep. These measurements can always adjust slightly if you can’t find the perfect fit but this is a good rule of thumb for sizing and scale. Putting a light over a bathroom mirror? Aim to be either the same size as your mirror or 3/4’s of the width of your mirror. Height wise, aim for at least half the height of the mirror (if you don’t have the space you can always find a slim style fixture that will do the job).

2. Hanging Height – Super important and I have an easy way to calculate whether a specific light is going to work. Over a Dining table = 60”-72” from floor (assuming it’s a 30” tall table). Over an Island = 66”-72” from floor (assuming it’s a 36” counter-height). Over a bar area = 72”-84” from floor (assuming it’s a 42” counter-height). Do some basic math by taking the ceiling height, subtracting your hanging height off it and then subtract the fixtures height. You will always typically be given chain length to hang or different size rods to hang, so you just want to determine the light is going to have enough room to hang and I always recommend at least a 12” rod or chain length for the fixture to look adequate.

3. Finishes – Most lights are made up of metal and glass components. I make sure that whatever you’re choosing it fits your lifestyle and cleaning habits. For example, you have a mudroom that’s cluttered with outerwear and doesn’t have a lot of windows. I would pick something that is easy to keep clean and can take heavy wear. So, I probably wouldn’t put a clear glass fixture in there because you will be cleaning it so often and I also wouldn’t hang a dainty chandelier because cleaning crystals can be complicated, I would more aim for an open style like a carriage style semi-flush light or a flush mount milk glass light.

4. Bulb types and cost – Before I purchase lights as well, I always check bulb cost so you’re not having to spend $500 to outfit your fixture with bulbs or so you’re not stuck scouring for bulbs only to find out the bulbs aren’t made in Canada. An easy way to check this is to go on a home renovation supply website and quickly research bulb type and cost. LED’s are the most popular style bulb because they don’t get hot like halogen bulbs do and they save more money when in use than incandescent bulbs and don’t just emit a yellow hue, and don’t buzz/hum or emit ultra- violet rays like fluorescent bulbs. I typically recommend LED bulbs for the following reasons; energy efficient, hue range (can be warm, white, or cool looking), longer lifespan, don’t heat up as bad or emit UV emissions, can withstand frequent switching, can be dimmable, operable in cold conditions, and last but not least they are more environmentally friendly. If you have existing fixtures and just want to update your bulbs just ensure your fixtures accept an LED bulb.

5. One-piece fixtures – these are VERY popular because they have a unique look, but I always mention this buyer beware… When you purchase a one-piece light that has the light portion built-in, your risking buying a fixture that could very well die in 2 years. When that fixture dies, you typically cannot replace a portion of it, you must replace the whole damn fixture which can be very costly and not to mention annoying. So, I always recommend aiming for something that has bulbs that can be replaced so you’re not dropping money every other year on fixtures.

6. Style and trends – Lighting trends are always changing and evolving. Do you remember when dainty crystal chandeliers were all the rage and now people have gravitated towards mid-century modern fixtures and carriage style pendants? I always suggest buying something you love and have loved for a bit because lighting can really add up on a reno budget and if you’re purchasing something you love now but didn’t really like before you may be replacing that item in under a year when trends change… which isn’t a problem if you have an unlimited lighting budget.

7. Brightness – decorative lights are decorative lights. They are not meant to be task lighting or general lighting. So if you have a home that has pot lights throughout and under-cabinet lighting in your kitchen, you can go with something that doesn’t provide a lot of light but instead just looks pretty. If you have no overhead lights and no under-cabinet lights, don’t pick something for your space that only has one candelabra style bulb. Maybe go for something that has multiple LED bulbs and/or even swap it for a directional track light. Now, I know this was supposed to be a quick read but since you’ve read this once you can just come back to this checklist whenever you’re making your next purchase and just go through the bold points and ask yourself the important questions around these points and hopefully you will be set to make the right decision.

Anyways – I hope this was helpful and you’re confident in making your home brighter and more beautiful!

Cheers,

Markie.

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