OUR TOP 3 TIPS FOR CHOOSING STATEMENT LIGHTING

As the New Year begins, we can’t think of another item that can add more beauty to your home than a *statement* lighting fixture.

The fixture shown above in this room designed by NYC based interior designer, Sophie Metz, is an example.

Today, dear readers, you will find below our Top 3 Tips for using statement lighting fixtures in your own home.

Ready?

TIP #1
Consider the proportions and architectural features of a room when thinking about a statement lighting fixture.
Screen Shot 2016-01-06 at 12.19.03 PM In the room above, designed by Hamptons based interior designer Tamara Magel, her use of a *Sputnik* chandelier lighting fixture over this dining table immediately brings your eye up to the center of the room, taking your eye off of the fact that the room has asymmetrical architectural features.

Also, her use of the double panels for wainscotting on only one side of the room + the small scale framed prints above them balanced the windows on the other side of the room. This smart design concept created the symmetry in this room necessary to showcase the *Sputnik* statement lighting fixture.

When your designer is considering whether or not a statement lighting fixture is right for your room, they will be thinking about things like whether or not there are ceiling beams to be considered that will add their own strong graphic impact, too, or if there are window mullions that create a strong grid or if there is a landscape feature that you’ve told them want to be able to view, outside the windows.

For instance, in another room designed by Ms. Metz, she had to carefully consider the proportions of these ceiling beams before specifying the size of the glass bubbles in this statement chandelier she had made for her clients.
In another example, this golden *bubble* chandelier works perfectly to add softness and a dramatic focal point to the rectilinear architecture of the bathtub, glass, marble and windows in this bathroom designed by Encino, CA based designer, Danya Kaitlin.
When a room is lacking in architectural features, using statement fixtures like the beautiful coral-like sconces in this room and the two floor lamps , which are different but of equal visual weight as well as creating a special ceiling treatment to highlight the mirror used on the ceiling in place of a fixture, works wonders.

The room below was designed by Los Angeles designer, Elizabeth Gordon.
TIP #2
If you are planning on statement lighting fixtures, consider the color palette carefully, including how your room will look in both day and evening light.

As you can see in the room below, designed by Tamara Magel, the entire room has a soft flowing color palette during the daytime.

However at night, when the draperies might be closed { or not } and the windows would appear black, the ivory and gold Lindsay Alderman statement lighting fixture on the ceiling will provide just the dramatic focal point this large room needs against the black skies outside.

{ Note: if there is going to be landscape lighting that you can see outside windows like this, and if you are going to leave the window treatments open at night, you would want to consider the impact of the landscape lighting, too, before selecting a statement fixture like this }

TIP #3
Consider what kind of lighting the room really needs for the comfort of the occupants when deciding whether or not to use a statement lighting fixture.

Statement lighting fixtures are always beautiful, but they are not always practical.

If you are going to use one, thinking through carefully whether or not that fixture will give you enough lighting for the activities that you do in the room is important, especially in the kitchen.

As you can see in the photo below, New England based designer, Lisa Tharp, did that beautifully in this kitchen she designed that used two statement pendants lined in antique brass.
In addition to the pendants, you can see how she added additional lighting with the extendable, adjustable fixtures over the cabinets.
And lastly, we leave you with this beautiful example of a statement chandelier, made by Jonquil Lemaster, for this room designed by California based designer, Ann Lowengart.
We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s post and if you have additional ideas to contribute regarding what to consider, we’d love for you to add them in the comments!