Lighting

Two adjustable floor lamps with white shades on a blue tarp near white doors.
Before & After: $15 IKEA Hack Turns These Floor Lamps From Drab to Fab
Amit had been using these two IKEA floor lamps for TEN YEARS — ever since senior year of college. From dorm room, to first apartment, to the first home, which Amit moved into about a year ago. But while they functioned great, they were drab — boring office gray with a plain white plastic shade that disappeared against the new house’s gray walls.
Adrienne Breaux
May 4, 2019
Before & After: ’80s Pendant Goes Cagey
DeaAnna really wanted a caged geometric pendant, and she saw potential in this ’80s brass fixture. See how she made it modern: From DeaAnna: Over the past year I have been obsessing over the open metal geometric shaped chandeliers that are popping up just about everywhere. I love the modern yet classic look they give a space and I have been wanting a more interesting light for our eat-in nook in the kitchen.
Tara Bellucci
May 4, 2019
Fancy Bath Lighting: Inspiration and Tips for Hanging a Chandelier Over the Bathtub
There’s something really decadent about a pretty chandelier in a small powder room. It makes the bathroom look less like a bathroom, somehow, and a little more like a place where you’d want to spend a bunch of time reading and drinking and soaking away the day. Your tub might just become your favorite place in the house.
Taryn Williford
May 4, 2019
Say Goodbye to Dated Track Lighting With This Easy & Clever DIY
There’s no denying that lighting is a vitally important aspect of any space, yet it’s often the most overlooked. Once you flip the switch to illuminate your interior, it’s easy to get distracted by all the other things that need tending to, and lighting falls by the wayside. When visiting Lauren and Danny’s Mount Washington home, we were reminded that, whether you rent or own, you can take control of your own lighting situation.
Jessica Isaac
May 4, 2019
What’s the Right Height for Hanging a Light Fixture Above a Table?
When it comes to any job that involves drilling holes, you want to get it right the first time. Just as you do when hanging art, you have to figure out the sweet spot when hanging light fixtures. Today’s Frequently Asked Home question: What’s the right height for hanging a light above a table? For fixtures hanging over a kitchen island or a dining room table: Hang it low enough so that it brings light to the surface (but not so low that it obscures eyelines).
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
How to Choose The Right Bathroom Lighting
All this week we’re talking about bathroom renovations, starting with Ashley’s recent remodel, and following up with tons of helpful posts about the process! Lighting is one of the best things about a bathroom renovation. Since the bathroom is where we get ready for the day ahead, the lighting can make or break our look. Here’s how you can marry beauty and function when choosing what you need for your newly renovated bathroom.
Audrey Bauer
May 3, 2019
Home Game Changers: 10 Mundane-But-Awesome Amazon Finds
We all have those unassuming, everyday things we buy that become game changers for our homes, right? They might not be the flashiest most stylish finds, but they are products that just make adult life easier (or at the very least, more bearable). These are the items we tell our friends/family/anyone that will listen about. (For instance, a really good hair unclogging tool.
Arlyn Hernandez
May 3, 2019
Two Savvy Solutions for Ugly Rental Kitchen Lights
Considering the amount of spectacularly hideous light fixtures in rental kitchens around the country, it’s almost as if installing the ugliest, most unflattering light fixture was at one time the law. That’s of course not true, but for anyone who’s ever walked into their rental kitchen, looked up at their light fixture and wondered “why that?,” this post’s for you.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
Get The Vintage Schoolhouse Lighting Look You Love, For Less
As much as we love schoolhouse-style lighting, it isn’t always the best idea to buy something truly vintage and hope it works. There are stores — such as Schoolhouse Electric or Barn Light Electric — who sell absolutely beautiful fixtures in this style, but they are often out of financial reach. To help you stay on budget, and get the look you want, we’ve rounded up some of the best lighting options out there, all well under $100.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
Design Master Class: How to Get Lit Lighting
Without lighting, our homes would pretty much be out of commission once the sun sets. So not only is lighting practical from a standpoint of needing to see and do things at home, but a strong lighting game can also take your house’s design from average to exceptional. That’s because people tend to notice the things that literally brighten up a space. Each fixture in your home then is an opportunity to make a decorative statement, so seize it.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
Before and After: A Quick $15 Rental Kitchen Cabinet Lighting Hack
This project is a great example of how a few dollars and a few minutes can make a dramatic change in your home—and your mood. As Anne described her situation, “Cooking and baking make me happy, but seeing my workspace sulking in the shadows was putting a damper on my spirit.” Let’s see her cheap, quick, renter-friendly, and reversible solution to the baking blues! So much better!
Tess Wilson
May 3, 2019
Is It Time to Reconsider Track Lighting?
I don’t know about you, but when I hear “track lighting,” I picture a sad ’80s sitcom bachelor pad. But what do I know? Even the most precision-dated trends can make a comeback once nostalgia gets the best of us. Denim jackets, leg warmers, big blazers — all have seen a resurgence in the past few years. I’ve even heard teenagers singing Phil Collins without irony.
Jon Gorey
May 3, 2019
24 Modern & Unique Lighting Ideas for Your Kitchen
Bye bye, bad track lighting.
Caroline Biggs
May 3, 2019
Renter-Friendly Budget DIYs You Can Do This Long Weekend (That Actually Look Good)
Faced with a long weekend ahead of you, if you’ve got the itch to do a little DIY project to improve the way your rental home looks, this post’s for you. All from the same insanely stylish rental apartment in a basement, these two projects are fast, affordable and most of all… attractive enough you’d actually like to display. Hello trendy grid-patterned curtains that look like pricey versions you can buy at Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie. Well guess what?
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
A Surprising IKEA Hack for High-End Lights on a Budget
This $15 IKEA kitchen product is powering this ultra luxe lighting DIY.
Adrienne Breaux
May 3, 2019
The “Upper Third” Never Gets Enough Cleaning Attention—Here’s What to Do
With Spring Cleaning for Your Mood, we’re helping you get your housekeeping done no matter what state of mind you’re in. For 20 weekdays in April, we’ll focus on cleaning a new area of your space, with three different ways to get it done—so it’s easy to stay on track even when you’re busy, tired, or away from home. Sign up with your email now and enjoy a better space by the end of the month.
Taryn Williford
May 3, 2019
These IKEA Hacks Solve One of This Season’s Biggest Problems
It’s that time of year, when days get shorter and shorter, and sunlight noticeably diminishes. Soon, many of us will be trudging to and from school and work in near darkness, and—I’ll venture a guess here—we will not be happy about it. Once we’re home, we’ll also have to turn our indoor lamps and overheads on sooner in the evening. These IKEA hacks help us do it in style, and on the cheap.
Dabney Frake
May 3, 2019
8 Lighting Trends You’ll be Seeing Everywhere in 2019
Lighting can totally make or break a room, and it can be easier to change out than you think, even in a rental. Take it from me—I’ve swapped out three fixtures in my space and brought in my own special bulbs for the recessed cans in my living room and the strip above my medicine cabinet. Don’t be that person that lets a crappy builder’s grade fixture bring down your otherwise awesome room. You can find something cool without spending a fortune, I promise.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
This Lighting Trend is Whimsical and Just a Little Bit Wild
Lighting doesn’t have to be so serious all the time. I mean, don’t get it twisted. Lamps, pendants, sconces—they all still need to be functional, but if you can find something that looks cute and might get a chuckle or two from a houseguest, while still dutifully illuminating an area, I’m sold. And so, I bring you the latest trend to check all of those boxes: Animal lamps.
Danielle Blundell
May 3, 2019
How To Hack a $10 IKEA MELODI Pendant Lamp
IKEA’s MELODI pendant lamp is a really great blank slate — there are a million ways to tweak and hack one to make it yours. Weave the plastic shade with natural round reed get a contrasting mix of materials that’s both organic and modern. IKEA MELODI Pendant Lamp Natural Round Reed Scotch Tape Spray Paint (optional) Tools Drill & Bits X-Acto Knife Measuring Tape Pen 1. Wrap the tape measure around the diameter of the lamp and put an odd number of pen marks on the shade.
Dabney Frake
Apr 30, 2019
A $30 IKEA Lighting Hack You’ll Want To Make Right Now
I’ve been on a lighting kick lately. Maybe it’s because I just re-read The Little Book of Hygge. To me, light — whether it’s natural or created — is king when it comes to your home. Not all of us have floor-to-ceiling windows or an expansive budget for beautiful light fixtures. And many DIY lighting projects require at least a little bit of electrical wiring. Not in the case of this Paper & Stitch IKEA globe light hack, though.
Amelia Lawrence
Apr 30, 2019
Love Bread? Prove It With These Baked Goods Lamps
Do you love bread? Now you can—ahem—prove it, not just with a GIF of Oprah or by obsessively watching and rewatching every Bread Week episode of the Great British Bake Off, but with a lamp that’s actually made from baked goods. This glutinous carbo load of design decadence is the brainchild of Japanese artist Yukiko Morita, a former baker who has turned her love of yeasted dough into a design object.
Tara Bellucci
Apr 30, 2019
Riihitie 20: The Aalto Family Home, Studio & Laboratory
Name: Alvar Aalto & family Location: Munkkiniemi neighborhood of Helsinki, Finland Size: approximately 2,200 square feet Years lived in: 40 years Alvar Aalto’s first building built in Helsinki was his own home and architecture studio.
Aaron Able
Apr 18, 2019
House Tour: Laura’s Pared Down Perfection
Name: LauraLocation: Boerum Hill, BrooklynSize: 450 sqft, one bdrm rentalYears lived in: 7.5 years “I’ll show you the closet, it’s really nice!” When Laura said this, I knew this house tour was going to be different than nearly any other from the past 3 years.That’s because Laura is a professional organizer and she puts her money where her mouth is….
Jill Slater
Apr 14, 2019
It’s Official: 2019 is All About Globe Lighting
We pay special attention to lighting. The glitzy chandelier featured in that historic house tour. Those coastal-inspired pendants along the bar at that airport restaurant. The single Edison bulb that illuminates your favorite hotel’s bedroom. “Lighting is one of the most important parts of a design—both the physical fixtures, as well as the quality of lighting,” says Dan Mazzarini of BHDM Design.
Kelsey Mulvey
Mar 24, 2019
I Keep My Holiday Lights Up All Year Long—Here’s Why You Should, Too
I wish I could tell you about the first time I realized that holiday lights look great as year-round interior decor, but I don’t remember a specific incident that acted as a catalyst here. Perhaps—in fact, most likely—it was when I was still in high school, living with my parents in the woods of Appalachia. Without much to do as a byproduct of living in a remote place and being a teenager, my bedroom became my sanctuary, just as it is for other teenagers across the world.
Elizabeth Seward
Dec 30, 2018
Don’t Make Vanity Lighting an Afterthought in Your Bathroom
There's nothing spa-like about squinting in the dark.
Jamie Wiebe
Nov 28, 2018
5 Side Table and Lamp Pairings to Try in Your Home
The right accessories can really make or break your living room. Sure, the big ticket items—your sofa, rug, chairs, etc—are what set the tone in the space, but it’s the littler pieces that really make it feel like you. Your side table and its accompanying lamp may not feel like the centerpiece of the room, but that doesn’t mean you should sideline this important design aspect.
Bridget Mallon
Jul 31, 2018
Anyone Can Make This Cool Wall Light for Under $20
The project is super easy to complete.
Adrienne Breaux
Jun 21, 2018
Why We’re Stealing the Pendant Lights from Mandy Moore’s Bedroom
And just like that, you can reclaim your nightstand.
Arlyn Hernandez
Feb 1, 2018
Real Life Rental Challenge: A Genius Update For A Bad ’80s Bathroom Light
There’s nothing worse than those builder grade vanity strips in bathrooms, the ones that absolutely scream “HI, I’M CHROME AND WAS SENT FROM THE ’80s TO DATE YOU!!” As a renter your options are limited, but I came up with a smart way to deal with these common eyesores. Instead of swapping it out with a new light fixture, I decided to instead embrace the challenge and work with what I had. I couldn’t paint it, because that was permanent.
Diana Paulson
Nov 9, 2017
How To Light Up Boring Lampshades: 12 DIY Ideas
I love lamp, but now I can love my lampshades too!
Tess Wilson
Aug 17, 2017
Decor Superhero: A Perfect Lighting Solution for the Bedroom
Never underestimate the power of a good wall sconce. Not only will these beauties save you tons of space, they allow you to customize a unique lighting scheme to suit your specific needs. Unlike bulky table lamps, a properly placed sconce or two can offer loads of reading light without taking up any valuable nightstand space. Because we believe in showing and telling, here are nine of the chicest bedroom wall sconce scenes we could find on the web.
Caroline Biggs
Jul 19, 2017
One of a Kind Style: A DIY Tree Branch Floor Lamp
Numerous studies support the fact that being surrounded by nature is good for your health, but who knew that getting out into the wild and foraging about could also up your home decor game? In a Chicago home brought to life by two artists, we saw homeowner Caroline Robe design this genius foraged-turned-functional floor lamp out of an untouched tree branch, causing us to wonder, “why didn’t I think of that?”.
Jessica Isaac
Jul 16, 2017
8 DIY Ways to Upgrade Ceiling Lights
There's even one trick that gives you a whole new look for free.
Brie Dyas
Jun 20, 2017
Instantly Cozier: 9 Ways to Warm Up Your Winter Lighting
If the long, dark winter days have got you down, it may be time to warm up your home’s lighting. While adjusting your lighting may not be something you think about on a daily basis, you’ll be surprised how much adding an extra table lamp or switching lightbulbs can alter the mood of a room. Don’t believe it? Take the challenge: Try one of these nine lighting tips, and we’re willing to bet you’ll find the results to be illuminating. Nothing screams “dorm!
Katie Holdefehr
Jan 12, 2017
3 Small Effort/Big Impact DIY Ideas to Steal from this Small Providence Condo
Sometimes it’s not the wall knocked down or the whole room painted that’s the visual impact your room needs — a small detail can pack a decor punch, too! The proof is in Erin and Tobin’s cute Providence condo: I spotted three small but mighty mini DIY projects in Erin and Tobin’s home — the kind of ideas you can do without a lot of time, tools or money. See if they’re small DIY details that could add personality to one of your rooms.
Anna Spaller
Oct 20, 2016
How To Make Your Outdoor Space Feel Like Another Room In Your Home (for Less than $100)
As soon as summer hits, you may feel the urge to move everything you own outside so you can live under the sun and stars. Utilizing whatever outdoor area you have is especially important when you call a small space home, because it can give you the dining room, living room, or reading nook your place typically lacks. Whether you have a balcony, a rooftop, or an entire backyard to work with, these $100-or-less details will make it feel like an extension of your home. Give your space a glow up.
Katie Holdefehr
Jul 4, 2016
The Bedside Bare-Bulb Pendant: Get the Look
Somewhere along the way, the trend of hanging, bare-bulb light fixtures went from being a new trend in the bedroom to a look that’s here to stay. Read the reasons why this look has gotten so popular, see inspiration from gorgeous bedsides and find ways you can buy or DIY this look. For one, the bare-bulb look is incredibly versatile; it’s a simple look that works with a lot of very different decor styles.
Adrienne Breaux
May 10, 2016
Real Life Design Lessons: Creative Ways to Use Lighting
Light fixtures are great in the home for illuminating things, of course, but they can also be used successfully to inject drama and boldness in a room, too. Consider these novel ways to use lighting in your home to make a bold design statement. You can use lighting in your home to illuminate areas that you need to see better and to highlight interesting design elements. Nothing quite catches the eye in a space like something that’s lit up.
Adrienne Breaux
Apr 7, 2016
Lighting Problems Renters Can Relate To (And What To Do About Them)
Rental apartments aren’t known for crystal chandeliers and beautiful statement lighting. Instead you get (almost always) awful and (frequently) unflattering light with shadows that turn even the prettiest people into Bela Lugosi — not to mention dated fixtures desperately in need of an aesthetic upgrade. Learn how to improve your lighting situation with one of these solutions.
Dabney Frake
Jan 29, 2016
Before & After: Overhead Light Gets Luxe Starburst Treatment for $13
In terms of basic overhead lighting, Alison’s fixtures were unoffensive and unobtrusive. But that didn’t mean she didn’t want more style from them.
Tara Bellucci
Jun 22, 2015
IKEA Hacks: Eket Stackable Side Table
IKEA Hacks: Eket Stackable Side Table
Apr 7, 2017