I’m no Jonathan Adler, but I’ve learned a few thing about lighting a small space, ‘cuz it ain’t easy! You’d think it was no problem. A small space only needs a few lights, right? Well, yes and no. I’ve made the mistake of choosing lighting that wasn’t bright enough, was too small and was poorly made. Here’s what I’ve learned about choosing lighting for a small space.
- If you have an open concept space, like many small spaces do, lighting doesn’t have to match, but to create cohesion, choose lighting with either the same finish or the same style. Since my home is very open concept, I chose all matte black finishes. My lighting style ranges from farmhouse to modern, but what pulls the lighting together is the finish. If you want to go with different finishes, say bronze and pewter, make sure the style is the same. For example, you might choose all mid-century or all craftsman style.
An open concept space with a fan/light combo.
- Don’t think because the room is small, you need a small overhead light. In fact, even in small rooms, a dinky overhead light is still going to look dinky. The rule of thumb is this: Measure the length and width of the room. Add the two numbers together and convert the total into inches. If your room is 10 feet by 12 feet, the ceiling fixture should be 22 inches wide. That’s bigger than you thought, right? It’s bigger than I initially thought too!
This room isn’t very wide, so it doesn’t require a large light.
- Speaking of calculations, make sure you allow for enough headroom. I’m a short gal, so if it was just me, I’d probably hang all my ceiling lights too low, but here’s some guidance on that too. Make sure that you have at least 7′ of clearance between the light and the floor. So, if you’re like me and you have 8′ ceilings, you’ll probably want to choose flush mount light fixtures for most areas. And don’t worry, flush mount fixtures have gotten way better in the last few years. Say goodbye to the boob light of yesteryear!
Ceiling fan/light combos have become much more stylish in the past few years.
- If you live in a warm climate, consider a ceiling fan for both lighting and cooling. I know a lot of designers hate ceiling fans, but there’s so many good looking options these days. In a small space, items that can do double-duty are incredibly valuable. You might not have room for a floor lamp or floor fan. Additionally, according to the Department of Energy, “If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.” 4 degrees is significant! You could see a lower energy bill without sacrificing comfort or style.
A stylish flushmount
- Check out your wattage and/or lumens. Wattage of the light is the amount of energy it takes to produce a certain amount of light. The higher the wattage, the brighter the light, and the more power it requires. Lumens is the measurement of total light output, aka, the brightness of the bulb. More lumens means it’s a brighter light; fewer lumens means it’s a dimmer light. Depending on your fixture, the product information should tell you whether you’ll have a lower light fixture– 60 watts or 800 lumens or a high light fixture– 75 watts or 1,600 lumens. Now, with LED fixtures and bulbs many companies are turning to lumens, so make sure you remember an LED bulb that says it’s only 60 watts will look much brighter than an incandescent bulb. This is important because if you’re picking fixtures for an office, you’ll want a light that produces much more light than say, a bedroom, so choose wisely!
Do you have any more tips about lighting a small home? Tell me about ’em in the comments!
This post was sponsored by Lamps Expo, a family-owned company located in Los Angeles. Although sponsored, the thoughts and opinions on this post are my own.