6 Times Changing Out Lighting Made a Big Difference

1. Butler’s Pantry

The butler’s pantry is (kind of) out of the way and it isn’t really a spot you spend time in. But, with its small size, there’s also not a whole lot you can do to accessorize or switch things up. That makes things easier and immediately makes a big difference when it comes to lighting, since the light fixture takes up more real estate and visual space than most any other room. Here’s where it started…

Sources: Decanter | Apothecary Jar

And here’s what it looked like after a mini facelift!

Sources: Capiz Flush Mount Light | Grass Cloth Wall Covering | Mother of Pearl Cabinet Pulls 

Along with the light, I added a grasscloth remnant I had on hand (quick fix) and changed up the cabinet hardware.

Since it’s located as a pass-through space between the kitchen and dining room, I wanted to change to a light fixture that was a bit dressier than the previous light. I also wanted to stay with a flush mount light since a hanging light would interfere with the pass-through view. The result was THIS capiz flush mount light. It adds just the right amount of interest, without being too fussy. Such a simple switch! Since then, we made some more changes — note the more sleek look of our quartz countertops (LG Viatera in Soprano)…

And then since then, we’ve made a few more updates! I’ll be sharing all that when the kitchen is finished but namely, in the past year, we added THIS tile to the backsplash in the space. If it looks familiar, it’s the same marble mosaic tile we used in our shower on the floor and in the niche.

2. Breakfast Nook

When we moved in, I really thought we were going to have a cute, understated country moment happening in the breakfast nook. Along with the walls that appeared darker than they should have because the back of the house receives little light, the small, black metal pendant-sized chandelier wasn’t doing much. We kept it a while while the space had gradual cosmetic improvements over time, but when we changed this light, the entire space changed.

Sources: Dining Table (similar) | Dining Chairs | White Curtains | Curtain Rod | Gallery Wall Frames

It lightened up, looked more updated, and the larger scale of the light made the nook overall look more expensive than it was.

Sources: Wood Bead Chandelier |Dining Table (similar) | Dining Chairs | White Curtains | Curtain Rod | Round Mirror (currently on sale!) | Sideboard (similar) | Woven Bar Stools

I mentioned in the breakfast nook design plan post (HERE), but I’m actually changing up this light again. You can see the light that I ordered HERE.

3. Upstairs Cat Walk (& Other Lights in View)

Speaking of those “boob” lights…our upstairs catwalk actually had three of them. I searched and searched and couldn’t find a photo — I think I intentionally hid them when I shared photos! Starting with the entry, I started making changes.

I changed that semi-flush to THIS lantern and converted the downstairs flush-mounts to can lights. There were a LOT of lighting fixtures in view so I wanted to minimize it a little– converting to can lights was easy for Dave to do. Lastly, I switched the upstairs catwalk fixtures — all three of them — to THESE flush mount lights.

Granted, there’s been a LOT of changes in the living room since we started, from paint to furnishings, but lighting was one of the first upgrades we made. Here’s what it looked like most recently.

Sources:Flush Mount Light on the cat walk (oil-rubbed bronze finish) | Chandelier (aged iron finish, size is large) | Jute Rug (natural) | Sofa | Coffee Table | Leather X Bench | Large Wooden Wall Art | Fireplace Screen | Brass Party Bucket on Hearth | Large Stoneware Vase on Hearth | Faux Magnolia Stems | Bronze Linen Pillow Covers | Green Textured Linen Pillow Covers | Rattan Tray | Wood Bead Garland | Texas Foil Art | Georgia Foil Art | Round Black Cabinet Pulls

I love the linen drum shade and the fixture comes in three different finishes. Ours is the oil-rubbed bronze finish. I don’t often look up, when I’m on the catwalk, but I do look up from the living room and the new fixtures are visible from that vantage point and complement the decor in our living room. Mine is the 13″ (HERE), but it also comes in 18″ (HERE), and 24″ (HERE). If you plan to use this fixture (or any flush-mount) in an actual room, I’d try to go as big as possible.

If you have a similar setup and have a hard time picking something out, even changing more dated fixtures to can lights will make everything feel a little more sleek!

Sources: Flush Mount Light (oil-rubbed bronze finish)

4. Living Room

So, we kind of touched on the living room in Number 3, but it’s the center of the house, you can see it from almost anywhere, and there’s a lot of lighting in there! One of the last fixtures I changed out was the main overhead light — formerly a more Tuscan-style fan that didn’t fit the style of our home. I waited and waited to change this light for a few reasons…

1. I knew it would need to be fairly large in scale, likely meaning more $$$
2. It was a big decision since you can see it from everywhere and it had to work with all the other lights you can see from the downstairs
3. The ceiling is tall — two stories high — and I anticipated a difficult (and expensive) electrician job. I imagined scaffolding, several men, and danger.

Here’s how it was…

Sources: Hand-Tufted Rug (gray) | Sofa | Coffee Table | Leather X Bench | Round Accent Table | Floor Lamp | Lidded Tulip Basket | Wingback Chairs | Cane Side Table (similar) | Rolling Sorting Basket | Large Wooden Wall Art | Fireplace Screen | Brass Party Bucket on Hearth | Blue Linen Pillow Covers | White Textured Linen Pillow Covers | Cozy Throw | Rattan Tray | Pocket Watch Clock

Well, it was far from all that drama. I ordered THIS two-tiered light fixture (in the large size) and had electricians hang it as a punch-list job while they were working on the bathroom. A pair of electricians brought in a single ladder and had the original fan down and the new light up within the hour with no disruption. Totally anticlimactic and totally relieved.

Sources: Chandelier (aged iron finish, size is large) | Jute Rug (natural) | Sofa | Coffee Table | Leather X Bench | Round Accent Table | Floor Lamp | Lidded Tulip Basket | Wingback Chairs | Cane Side Table (similar) | Rolling Sorting Basket | Large Wooden Wall Art | Fireplace Screen | Brass Party Bucket on Hearth | Large Stoneware Vase on Hearth | Faux Magnolia Stems | Salt Linen Pillow Covers | Charcoal Textured Linen Pillow Covers | Cozy Fringed Throw | Teddy Bear Throw | Large Round Vase | Rattan Tray | Pocket Watch Clock

The ceiling fan was rarely used and who would ever want to dust the fan blades on that thing? We added a dimmer switch when the new chandelier was installed and also invested in light bulbs that are advertised to last for twenty years. Again, due to the two-story height of our ceiling, we didn’t want to have to change our burned out light bulbs. Our chandelier comes in four different sizes (ours is the large) and three different finishes (ours is the aged iron) HERE.

5. Primary Bedroom

The living room fan wasn’t the only fan we had. We intentionally had the builder install lots of fans before we moved in (namely in the bedrooms). But, we just went with something affordable for functionality at the time. As our house came together, those fans were the pain in my side and sore in my eye. I started switching them in favor of prettier light fixtures and bringing in tower fans where needed. Let me say — we still use this practice and it works perfectly well for us. (Read about that HERE). But, ceiling fans have also come a long way and there are some attractive ones now. Plus, they go better with that more casual, minimal, simplistic style we’re gravitating toward these days. Regardless, the fixture we started with — the fan with (again) the Tuscan style light kit — wasn’t great.  I used to make sure it was cropped from photos but found this one from when we “did” our bedroom…

That winter, the bedroom looked like this. The brass modern fixture was fun and totally different from the fan, but it may have been a little too clean for me in our cozy bedroom.

Sources: Brass Chandelier | Bed | Padded Bench | Ivory Braided Rug | Night Stand | Glass Lamp | Linen Quilt & Shams (flagstone) | Linen Duvet Cover | Upholstered Chair (similar)| Bird Art Print 1 | Bird Art Print 2 

So, last year, at the same time I had the electricians switch the living room fixture, I had them hang a new beaded chandelier — my dream light over the past few years. I can’t believe this is still the only photo I have of it, buried in this past year’s Christmas home tour. Taking a mental note now to document updates soon!

Sources: White Bead Chandelier (antique brass finish) | Bed | Padded Bench | Ivory Braided Rug | Night Stand | Glass Lamp | Linen Quilt & Shams (white) | Linen Duvet Cover | Bronze Linen Pillow Covers | Teddy Pillow Cover | Teddy Bear Throw | Cozy Chic Throw Blanket | Fringed Cozy Throw | Lidded Baskets (set of 2) | Bird Art Print 1 | Bird Art Print 2 

THIS chandelier also comes in a smaller size. Both sizes are available in two different finishes and in a clear bead version.

6. Kitchen Bar

Believe it or not, when our home was built, we paid a premium for lighting. Most of the choices weren’t the most expensive, but from the builder, they were a good bit more than the base package. That was a tough lesson learned when I slowly and systematically started changing all the lighting. If it isn’t in the budget at the time or you aren’t sure, I would 100% go with the cheapest option if you’re planning to update the lighting in the near future. When our kitchen underwent a mini makeover several years ago HERE, those original over the bar pendants were among the first to go. I first went with a glass lantern pendant with a champagne finish, but they looked simply too heavy once the quartz countertops were installed. Here’s a look back shortly after we moved in — again, this spot is right next to the breakfast nook which also had a small iron chandelier.

And here’s the kitchen after it’s last mini-makeover!

Sources: Pendant Lights (medium, antique nickel finish)  | Woven Bar Stools 

If you’re a regular, you know since then, we switched our backsplash and as a result, are in a part II (happening any day/week/month now??) so this will be altering a bit. However, countertops, lighting, barstools, etc. will remain in tact!

I made one of my favorite discoveries during the kitchen makeover. I found THIS lighting company which sells open box Visual Comfort and other designer lighting through an eBay storefront. I have since bought multiple pieces and they each arrive in new packaging, looking brand new and untouched, in perfect condition. But, for a fraction of the cost. For our bar pendants, I was able to find one through my go-to lighting company (HERE) for a steal. I purchased the other via a regular retailer (HERE) where it comes in multiple sizes and finishes.

The room where the lighting did not change…

On the flip side, while lighting can change an entire look with a simple switch in style, color, or scale, it can also be the constant, even as a space evolves. Our dining room aesthetic is traditional. So is the crystal chandelier it’s always had. But when I decided to take that room to a bolder look, I intentionally left a few classic statements in place… including the chandelier.

Here’s the lighter before:

Sources: Chandelier | Dining Table (similar) | Dining Chairs | Sideboard (similar)  | White Curtains | Brass Candle Holders 

And here’s the moody after. You can see the full makeover in THIS reveal post.

Sources: Chandelier | Dining Table (similar) | Dining Chairs | Sideboard (similar) | Lemon and Blueberry Wreath |  Wool Jute Rug | Cement Lamps | Faux Green Leaf Tree | Tree Basket | Moss | White Fluted Planters

I think my bedroom light would also look great in here, as would my soon-to-be breakfast nook chandelier. But (for now at least), I love the timeless elegance and contrast my traditional crystal chandelier gives to the room.

There are so many other lighting changes I’ve  made in recent years, from bathroom sconces to stairway lighting, to outdoor lighting. As a matter of fact, my new office light — a woven basket-style Serena and Lily pendant — is on sale for $200 off today HERE. And throughout the years, and the many updates we’ve made to our house, it’s easy to see — no matter how big or small the “makeover”, a change in lighting can give some of the greatest impact on the entire space. If it’s a detail you’ve ignored in the past or haven’t prioritized, try it — it can work wonders!

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Other Lighting Posts You May Be Interested In

• 16 Best Woven Basket Pendant Lights
• 16 Beaded Chandeliers at Different Budgets
• Affordable Flush-Mounts
• Designer Lighting for Less — Look-Alikes Throughout Our House