7 Basic Rules for Selecting the Right Home Lighting Fixture

7 Basic Rules for Selecting the Right Home Lighting Fixture

The primary purpose of lighting is to illuminate our interiors. But they can do so much more! They are indispensable in our homes as a decorative focal point and the perfect tools for creating the right ambiance.


Do you feel like you’re always picking the wrong one? Follow these rules to shed some light on the situation! 

Rule 1: Think About the Proportions

Respecting a room’s proportions is one of the keys of a successful decor. This includes the rugs, the furniture, the canvases on the wall, and — you guessed it — the lights. In a large open-concept space, an imposing suspended light will be majestic; in a tiny powder room, opt for a bulb-type model. Have you fallen in love with a fixture that is too small for the room? Buy and install several in a row or as a group.

Rule 2: Don’t Be Afraid to Mix It Up

Each room deserves more than one light source; each activity has its corresponding lamp. For example, bright recessed bulbs should be placed where you need good lighting. Floor lamps, pendant lamps and sconces will create a softer atmosphere.

Rule 3: Focus on the Right Style of Lighting Fixture

How would you describe your home’s overall interior decor style: chic, classic, rustic, contemporary? This should be your jumping off point when selecting suitable lighting fixtures. Be warned, though: while mixing looks can sometimes be a great idea, you need to have a keen eye to pull it off. Fortune doesn’t always favour the bold! 

Rule 4: Avoid Conflicting Styles

Too great a variety of lighting styles in the same house can be displeasing to the eye. This creates visual chaos (unless you have closed rooms). To make a conservative choice, buy a model that will not stand apart from the fixtures you already have.

Rule 5: Don’t Be Boring

It is a mistake to think that lighting should be purely functional or inconspicuous. Use it to add some pizzazz to the room! For example, select a model with original lines, in a bright colour or featuring an eye-catching pattern. Even when turned off, your lighting fixture should enhance your interior.

Rule 6: Centre Ceiling Lamps

A ceiling light should be mounted in the middle of the area it is meant to illuminate, such as above a table, a desk, a kitchen island or other surface. If the electrical box is off centre to where the fixture needs to be, you can buy a hook and cord and hang it in the right spot. By the way, the light should be about 35 inches above a dining table.

Rule 7: Don’t Forget the Lamps!

It makes sense to create zones in the rooms by grouping together certain items. For example, you can’t have a reading nook in the bedroom without a chair, a rug and a floor lamp. Place a large work surface, a table lamp and a bookshelf in one area of the living room to easily set up an office space. And don’t push the floor lamp to the corner of the room all alone!


Now that you know how to design with lighting, go shopping and let there be light!

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.