TIPS TO UPDATE LIGHT FIXTURES

Before you read these light fixture tips will you tilt your head to the ceiling? What do you notice about your light fixtures (besides the unexplained elastic hair tie)?

The only time people comment on light fixtures is when they look amazing.

Do you know what buyers say when they see a gorgeous light fixture suspended over the dining room table, foyer, or kitchen island?

Let’s make sure to ask for the light fixture in the inclusions.

Buyers rarely ask for the 1990 hot tub on the back patio with a cover that looks like it went through the shredder.

Our entry builder grade chandelier included a Nerf bullet from a decade ago. Kind of like when I found a Nerf bullet in the manger.

My boys thought baby Jesus might want to play Nerf guns with the cattle and the sheep.

I shared our new light fixtures here and I wanted to share a few tips for replacing light fixtures.

So back to the light fixture above your head.

Is the fixture original to the house? Is it a builder-grade fixture where every fourth house has the same lighting package unless the new buyers upgrade? If you are in the mood for a home upgrade or just want to crawl out of your decor funk, light fixtures are a relatively budget-friendly investment.

And unlike flooring, you don’t have to update all of the fixtures at once. Sconces and hallway lighting can be replaced at the pace of any budget.

LOCATION:

I suggest to my clients when deciding on home improvement projects, to start with the room(s) used the most. Home improvements, like the holidays, should be shared with family and friends.

Entry

The entry is the first hint at what neighbors or potential buyers (sometimes they fall into both categories) see when they step into a home.

• is the space too dark?
• is the chandelier or light fixture too small or not centered?

Kitchen:

The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home so I suggest the entry and kitchen. Often times friends and family don’t quite know what is different but they know something is up. Ba dum bum.

Bathrooms

For kids’ bathrooms, I suggest an update more than an upgrade. The big box stores offer updated fixtures and designs that make sense in rooms that do not get as much traffic as the living rooms on the main or lower levels.

We replaced the light fixtures in our bathroom even though we have yet to remodel our primary bathroom. Our budget allowed for paint and new lighting and gave the space a little lift above our builder-grade vanities.

We replaced several light fixtures during our main floor and this kitchen remodel.

If you are on the fence about the costs to replace light fixtures these tips to replace the lighting might answer some of your questions.

TIPS FOR REPLACING LIGHT FIXTURES

1. PHOTOGRAPH EXISTING LIGHT FIXTURES.

Photographs provide a neutral opinion of the chandelier or light in a room. Try it… it works.

Tip: It also works for room layouts.

2. G0 BIG AND BRING IT HOME

When we met with the lighting designer she encouraged us to purchase a larger light fixture. If we hated it we could return the light fixture for a smaller one.

When we returned home we climbed onto the counter, above the corner sink, with our new light in hand, to visualize the kitchen sink light and space.

We knew immediately the larger size filled the space. And, that same light is now a kitchen conversation starter.

3. TASK VS. MOOD LIGHTING

We made a costly mistake when we replaced our builder-grade dining room lighting with these Pottery Barn light fixtures. We assumed we wanted the light to shine down on the dining room table, but what we needed was a well-lit dining room.

Ironically, the opposite was true when we installed a light fixture above our kitchen island. We needed task lighting for the island whereas we preferred mood lighting in the dining room. We purchased this light fixture online, but Pottery Barn sells a similar one here.

4. GLASS WOOD AND METAL

I loved the idea of glass chandeliers and purchased two similar to these glass pendants several years ago when I saw them in a friend’s house.

However, I did not anticipate the layers of dust, in full view, every time we sat or walked by the dining room. There was not enough Windex to keep those lights smudge and dust free.

We recently upgraded to this dining room chandelier and love the mix of wood and iron.

5. INSTALLATION

For a nominal fee, our electrician removed our original light fixture (the one with the Nerf bullet) and installed our new one.

The light fixture required a two-story ladder and nimble hands to balance and install simultaneously. Make sure to tell your electrician if the installation requires an oversized ladder.

We love our new light fixtures. We staggered the purchases to manage the college cash flow expenses. The wood and metal chandeliers were purchased from Urban Lights in Denver.

If you enjoy tips and one-hour projects please sign up for The Weekend Edit. The free newsletter appears in your inbox on Saturday mornings and is an easy-breezy read over coffee, tea, or Rice Krispies.

Share on Facebook

Post on X

Follow us

Save