Wondering how to choose cohesive lighting for your home? I’m giving away all the secrets for getting your lighting right!
Thank you to Kichler for being a part of this project. All content, ideas and words are always my own. Thanks so much for supporting the brands that make FOXYOXIE.com possible!
Last week we finished installing new light fixtures at the Cape Cod Rental. The task to choose cohesive lighting for an entire house is always a daunting one, but this is the fifth time I’ve had to do it, so I’ve learned a thing or two in the process.
Whether you have an open concept floorplan where you can see multiple light fixtures from one vantage point, or you’re simply trying to make sure all the lighting in one room of your home feels cohesive, today’s post is for you. If you remember only one takeaway from today’s post, let it be this: Make sure your light fixtures relate in one of the following elements: 1) style, 2) shape or 3) finish.
In most cases, as long as one of the elements, above, is repeated, your lighting will feel cohesive room to room.
To take the idea even further, you can find a way to repeat a design element from the room within your lighting. For example, the black trim of the “Heddle” chandelier in the living room, below, is a callback of the black stair balusters.
Continuing with the “Heddle” chandelier, above: Note its drum shape. The same shape is repeated in several other light fixtures throughout the house.
For example, the “Ali” sconce in the kids’ bathroom, below, has the same drum shape. It’s a nice callback to the living room chandelier, without being too matchy-matchy.
Another example of coordinating a light fixture with something else in the room can be found in the master bathroom, below. The ribbed glass of the “Azores” sconce coordinates with the paneled sides of the master bathroom vanity. The lined texture is repeated, making the two items feel cohesive without being too forced.
A third example of a design callback is the arched arm of the “Tollis” sconce, below, coordinating with the arched mirror in the powder room. Again, repeating the same element – in this case, the arched shape – makes the two items feel related.
This sconce also has the same ribbed glass as the master bathroom sconces. So once again, you have that callback to another fixture.
Another element you can choose to repeat is the style of a light fixture. For example, the style of the “Tollis” sconce is a fresh take on the nautical style. With this rental property being Cape Cod style, the nautical theme is quite appropriate. You’ll notice a similar nautical style in several of the fixtures throughout the house.
The “Tollis” flush mount, from the same collection as the “Tollis” sconces, hangs in the laundry room, below.
The laundry room is across the hall from the powder room. Using fixtures from the same collection throughout the house is not necessarily a no-no, as some might think. The key is to not use them so close together, where you can see both from one vantage point. Because of the house layout, there is not one single vantage point where you can see the “Tollis” sconces and the “Tollis” flush mount at the same time.
Let’s talk further about choosing light fixtures that can seen from one vantage point.
Going back to the living room, the “Heddle” chandelier features six curved arms. You can see the same geometric detail – but flipped – in the “Edmar” pendant hanging over the dining table in the adjoining dining space. So although the curve of one fixture is slightly more pronounced than the other, the repetition of six curved arms helps make the two light fixtures feel cohesive when viewed from the same vantage point.
Moving on to the kitchen, the “Serca” flush mount fixture, below, coordinates with the brass of the dining room pendant while repeating the drum shape of the living room chandelier. So, although all three light fixtures are from different collections, they relate because of the repeating elements. So when you sit at the dining room table where you can see all three fixtures, they all feel cohesive.
A smaller “Serca” flush mount fixture is in the small hallway leading to the garage, below, as well as the master closet. Again, the matching fixtures reinforce the overall cohesiveness of the house, as long as they aren’t located right next to each other and cannot be seen from one vantage point.
Did you follow all that?
To sum it up, always consider your line of sight when choosing lighting. When you’re standing in a certain spot in your home, take into account all of the fixtures that you can see at one time. Make sure they have a repeating element to feel cohesive, but stay away from identical matches.
When lighting fixtures do not have a repeating element, it breaks the natural flow of your home, because the fixtures compete for your attention.
Even if you are choosing lighting for just one room, you still have to think about cohesiveness.
Take the master bedroom above, for example. The “Brahm” ceiling fan should not only coordinate with the nightstand lamps, but also the master bathroom sconces. Because when you stand in the master bathroom, you can see all three fixtures at one time.
The commonalities between the ceiling fan and nightstand lamps are the white and gold color palette and the drum shape. The master bathroom sconces repeat the ribbed texture found on the ceiling fan. The drum shape of the nightstand lamps are a callback to the living room chandelier, as well as the kids’ bathroom sconces.
Side note on the “Brahm” ceiling fan: Have you seen a more aesthetically pleasing ceiling fan?! I think not. I love how beautiful and modern it looks – so much so, in fact, that I put one in every bedroom at the Cape Cod Rental.
Lighting in the Cape Cod Rental
Now, let’s analyze all of the lighting I chose for the Cape Cod Rental, and how they all look together. Do you see the callbacks, similarities and commonalities?
You can definitely see the details that appealed to me most. These details are repeated throughout the entire house: brass finish, drum shapes, white shades, ribbed texture and textured glass.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Key Takeaways
- Make sure your light fixtures relate in one of the following elements: 1) style, 2) shape or 3) finish.
- Repeating a design element from the room within your lighting reinforces cohesiveness. If you can find a way to repeat a design element from the room within your lighting, that’s a major bonus.
- Using fixtures from the same collection throughout the house reinforces cohesiveness. The key is to not use them so close together, where you can see both from one vantage point.
- Always consider your line of sight when choosing lighting. When you’re standing in a certain spot, take into account all the fixtures that you can see at one time. Make sure they have a repeating element to feel cohesive, but stay away from identical matches.
Now, tell me: Did you learn something new about choosing cohesive lighting for your home? Which Kichler fixture was your favorite from our Cape Cod Rental lighting tour?