Choosing a new lighting fixture can be a somewhat daunting process. Even if you have a good idea of the style or type of light you want, the sheer number of options available can be a tad overwhelming. A good way to start narrowing down your options is to look for brands that offer large collections of lighting fixtures in the same style. Having the choice of several fixtures in different sizes, shapes, or installation types that all come in the same style not only makes it easier to get the perfect light you want in the style you want, but also makes it easier to decorate larger spaces or even the whole house.
Lighting Scale
When you’re shopping for a new lighting fixture – particularly if you’re shopping online, but also if you’re staring at dozens of lighting fixtures lined up on a wall – it can be hard to match the scale of the light you’re looking at to the size of the room you want to put it in. All too often, you might find a light that looks just right, but isn’t quite the right size. Shopping brands, like Triarch International, that offer large collections means being able to size up or down, often in very small increments, to make sure you get a light that’s exactly the right size for your space and exactly the design you fell in love with, rather than a close substitution.
Layered Lighting
If you’re re-imagining the lighting in a larger space, like a large living room, greatroom, or a big, open kitchen, you don’t want to rely on a single fixture to get the job done. Having multiple different types of lights that fulfill different purposes – like task lighting, ambient lighting, accent lighting, and so on – is crucial to getting effective overall lighting. One light that’s bright enough to illuminate the whole room will be too stark, while a few small lights might set the mood, but might not provide enough light to see by. Layering several different types of lighting fixtures allows you to make the most of the strengths of each – sconces for lighting the corners, a chandelier for show, island lighting for an island, a swing arm lamp by a reading chair, and so on. Choosing lighting fixtures that are all from the same design collection will also help keep the space looking coordinated and visually unified in a way that mis-matched lights simply won’t.
Matching Lighting
Buying fixtures from a larger collection is also a good idea if you plan on redoing the lighting in more than just a single room.While having matched (or mismatched) lighting fixtures throughout your home isn’t quite as obvious as it is in a single room, it is a great, subtle, almost subliminal way to unite your decor. In the same way coordinating finishes in one room helps create a visual unity, having matching lighting fixtures in every room of your home is a great way to establish a distinctive style and give your decor a nice, subtle sense of polish. The more extensive the design collection, the easier this is to do, as you’ll be able to find lights in different sizes and types to fit a variety of different spaces, from a grand entrance to a small hallway, bedroom, or bathroom.
Theme Lighting
If you’re looking for a really distinctive lighting theme – whether it’s medieval style wrought iron chandeliers with candle-styled lights or just lighting fixtures with a very distinct style (like antlers, thorny vines, birds or small animals, or so on) – it’s particularly worthwhile to seek out manufacturers that produce a wide variety of types of lights in the same style. If matching regular lights is difficult, coordinating a very unusual look across multiple brands is almost impossible. The drawback, of course, is that companies that offer very extensive design collections often have fewer base designs to choose from, so you might have to do a bit more hunting to get the exact style light you want.
What type of lighting fixtures are you in the market for, and what room’s lighting are you planning on upgrading? Let me know in the comments!
