Last week was a strange one (isn’t that the understatement of the century?)
Instead of trying to figure out why the world has gone mad, I’m redirecting that energy towards more productive endeavors – like this blog. These strange times we’re living in make me especially grateful for the all-consuming nature of a house renovation, as it’s giving me a much-needed distraction.
Speaking of all-consuming, one of the hardest decisions in any renovation is sourcing light fixtures – at least for me, anyway. Then again, I am the most indecisive person on the planet, so I’m sure that plays a role.
In my oh-so-exciting quest to find the perfect light fixture for EVERY SINGLE ROOM OF THE HOUSE, I’ve come across so many good options that I wanted to share with you! Many times I’d find a photo on social media with a fixture I really liked – only to discover that it was far out of the budget. After a little digging, however, I’d find a nearly identical option for much, much less. Not to toot my own horn, but I feel like I discovered a real talent for this “Get the Look for Less” challenge. I’m thinking I’ll write an entire separate post of my price comparison tips and tricks – would you like that?
Today’s focus is on my favorite (affordable!) brass pendant lights.
Pendants are usually associated with the kitchen island or peninsula, and yes, they’re definitely a necessity there. But they are quite versatile. They can work in many different scenarios: over the bathroom mirror, above the bedroom nightstands, over the breakfast nook, etc.
We had number 19 installed in our old kitchen (seen in the image above); it’s currently retailing for $65!
Now, number 12 is what we’re installing in our latest reno. I first discovered this pendant light in a photo on Pinterest but couldn’t bring myself to pay nearly $600 for two kitchen pendants. Just as I was about to order the next-best option, I found nearly identical ones for half the price on Amazon! Talk about a score.
I’ve tried to include a variety of styles, and I can honestly say I like every single option. Best part? They are all under $150; in fact, nearly half are under $100, and some are even under $50! If you’ve ever shopped for light fixtures, you know just how good of a deal that is.
I hope you find what you’re looking for. Let me know if you end up ordering any of my recommendations – I’d love to see photos!
To shop, simply click on the one you like or click on the corresponding number below the graphic.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21
Any favorites? Anyone else working on any house projects at this time? Are you guys liking these roundup posts with affordable options? I shared a patterned tile roundup last week, in case you missed it.
Looking for more lighting inspiration? Check out the following posts:
- The Art of Layering Lighting in a Room – And Why You Should
- Hanging Pendants Over an Angled Peninsula
- Roundup: My Favorite Affordable Brass Pendant Lights
- Let There Be Light in My Oh-So-Sophisticated Home Office
- Designing an Inviting Foyer Around the Lighting Fixtures
- Home Renovation Progress Report: Choosing Lighting Fixtures
This is interesting, I really like the whole brass look. It adds that little bit of color and contrast. I have a quick question, I’m renovation a small 1,200 sq ft house (which by the way thanks for the other blogs for bathroom ideas – very helpful) and plan to put the house up on Airbnb versus flipping it or renting it long term and so the question is, would the brass fixtures be more for like a home or long term rental versus a weekend stay over? It’s no secret that we are starting to see a trend of the millennials and freelancers staying at Airbnb houses versus hotels, and so designing the house to attract that type of client is a challenge and so I wanted to see what your thoughts on this is.? Thanks.
Hi Mike! Thanks so much for reading and reaching out. Your Airbnb reno sounds like such a fun project – do you maybe have a budget for a local designer?! (Kidding – sort of…)
To answer your questions: Finishes are never really exclusive to a specific type of property. Brass finishes can be super trendy and appeal to a younger audience, or they can be quite timeless and traditional. It all depends on the overall aesthetic of the house rather than a specific finish. The bigger question you should be asking yourself is 1) What design style am I going for, and 2) Do brass pendants align with that specific aesthetic?
As for attracting millennials: rentals (both short- and long-term) should have mass appeal, so designing with a specific generation in mind really limits your pool of potential renters. However, mass appeal doens’t mean that you should skimp on personality. With the house being a rental property, you’ll want it to stand out from other rental listings in your area. Like you said, Airbnb users are often searching for a rental with a certain “wow factor,” so don’t shy away from a couple bold design choices. Consider how you can use design to create a really memorable experience for your guests. I immediately think of elements that most people may not have in their own homes, for example: an indoor rattan swing next to a large window in a reading nook, or an outdoor fire pit with bistro string lights and tree stumps as stools, or a fully-stocked coffee bar in the kitchen… A great frame of reference are specialty, boutique hotels – which are similar with Airbnbs in that they use certain design elements to provide a unique and very memorable stay.
Of course, like any design project, you’ll want to take into consideration the location of your rental. What is unique about it? What are people visiting for and are eager to see in this city/town? Incorporate the city’s culture into your design. For example, if your rental is in the middle of a farm, bring in that lifestyle indoors (but in a tasteful way, of course).
You also mention focusing on short-term renting, so I wanted to briefly touch on that. Unless the house is in a top tourist location, it’ll be really hard to maintain short-term tenants year-round. While certain seasons (typically spring and summer) are great for Airbnbs, chances are that in order to maximize profits you may have to switch to low-maintenance, month-to-month tenants for the rest of the year.
Ah, I could go on and on about this topic – it’s so interesting to me! But I hope I’ve addressed all your questions. Let me know if I can help with any others.