Western Chandelier

Styles & Trends

12 Simple Bathroom Updates You Can Do Yourself

12 Simple Bathroom Updates You Can Do Yourself

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Bathrooms are spaces that often go overlooked, but when they’re spruced up, they add some serious value to your home! Remodeling can take loads of time and effort (not to mention money), but giving your bathroom a facelift doesn’t have to. These simple tips can give you the bathroom of your dreams.

1. Organize

The last thing you want to deal with at the beginning and end of your day is CLUTTER. Give yourself the gift of a good system! Containers may seem unnecessary, but when you’re rushing out the door, it saves you a headache to just have an easy home for all your toiletries.

2. Add Greenery

Plants bring life, peace, and tranquility into a space. This bathroom would be the perfect escape from the stress of everyday life. The warm tones mixed with the green tell you to relax and take a break. Who are you to tell them no?

3. Change the Hardware

Arguably one of the easiest ways to take your bathroom from the early 2000s to today without spending a fortune is changing the hardware on your cabinets. Finish options are endless! The bathroom above uses gold accents to create a cohesive look with a modern feel.

4. Spruce Up the Walls

If you’re looking for a simple way to make a big impact in your bathroom and have a free weekend coming up, a fresh coat of paint and some elbow grease will make your bathroom feel like a brand new space with just a few hours of work! 

Want to take it to the next level? Bold wallpapers are in, and they really let you show off your personality! This bathroom incorporates the best of both worlds with a simple, painted board and batten wall on the bottom and wallpaper on top! It’s not as hard as it looks – check out this quick tutorial!

Renter-friendly option: Removable peel and stick wallpaper will give you the same look without having to commit long-term. Love the board and batten? There’s a renter-friendly tutorial for that too!

5. Update Mirrors

Bathroom mirrors are often neglected, but they totally change the feel of the room – don’t leave them out! These wood-framed mirrors bring warmth to this bathroom’s design and help to balance out all of the cool tones and polished finishes. 

Renter-friendly option: If replacing your mirror is out of the budget or you’re renting, adding a wood frame to an existing mirror is an easy one-weekend DIY project – just make sure you can easily remove it if you’re renting!

6. Paint Your Cabinets

Painting your bathroom cabinets may take a little effort, but it’s a great way to unify your space or to add a fun pop of color your bathroom. With just a small can of paint and some time, you can take your bathroom from basic to beautiful, even with a low budget. This bathroom’s painted cabinets help to ground the space, and provide much-needed contrast that takes the design from bland to balanced.

7. Replace Old Light Fixtures

Replacing a ceiling or wall light in your bathroom with a modern fixture that’s more your style will give the entire room an instant style boost! You don’t have to play it safe here – find a fixture you love and jump in! We love the way this bathroom shows some serious creativity with these pendant lights that highlight this AMAZING wood accent wall. 

Many homeowners are wary of swapping out light fixtures, but it’s usually a pretty simple DIY. We recommend starting with your vanity light first if you’re on a budget – great front-facing light by the mirror will make the biggest impact on your morning routine!

8. Layer Your Light

Every room in your house should have several light sources to make it feel more comfortable and eliminate harsh shadows and dark corners. In a living room, that’s as easy as tossing in a few lamps, but layering light in a bathroom can be a little trickier.

This bathroom uses a combination of pendant lights and recessed lights to make the whole space feel bright and airy. If your bathroom lighting isn’t working for you, installing an extra wall or ceiling light is the best way to go from dark and dingy to light and bright. 

If your bathroom’s already finished and rewiring isn’t in the cards – don’t worry! Fortunately, there are a lot of easy do-it-yourself options out there. 

LED light strips like the ones in this bathroom are inexpensive and as easy to install as a sticker! They’re usually used behind the mirror or under cabinets, but they can go anywhere you want some extra light. 

You can also replace a light switch or outlet cover with one that has a built-in light – no more blind fumbling for a switch in the middle of the night.

Renter-friendly option: Get a motion-sensing plug-in outlet light or a rechargeable countertop light! These are both non-permanent ways to add a layer of light and keep yourself from bumping into the counter in the dark.

9. Update Faucets

Another way to update the look of your bathroom and conserve water is by switching out your faucets. Look for a faucet with a WaterSense label to reduce your sink’s water flow by 30 percent or more. Less water flow means a lower water bill. With a lower water bill, you’ll have some extra change in your pocket to take your family out for dinner (or yourself–you deserve it!).

10. Dim the Lights

The lights in this bathroom make it a retreat from chaos. When you want a calming bath, dim the lights for optimal relaxation. Dimmable lights give you the flexibility to turn your bathroom into a spa.

Bonus points: Since dimmable lights are more energy-efficient, installing a dimmer switch will leave you with extra money to do more with your bathroom!

Renter-friendly option: Use other lower-light options like strip lights, countertop lights, or LED candles like in the bathroom above.

11. Add a Backsplash

The metallic accents and painted vanity in this bathroom are to die for, but what really makes this space magic is that classic backsplash. Not only does it breathe new life into this space, but it also protects the wall from moisture and staining, so you won’t have to worry about mold or mildew. With a little DIY magic, this bathroom feels complete!

Renter-friendly option: Use a peel and stick backsplash instead! It’ll look like tile without actually being permanent.

12. Update Your Tile Floor

While tile may be a bigger time or money investment, this bathroom clearly shows that it pays off. If you’re wanting to update the floor, choosing a unique tile like this is the way to go. Pro tip: while real tile will give you the best result, you can actually use a stencil to paint your floor. It will give it the same look for a fraction of the cost!

Renter-friendly option: Use removable flooring (peel and stick) to look like custom tile, or cut a vinyl piece to fit the size of any existing tile.

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Don’t let your bathroom fall between the cracks any longer! When you’re ready to take it to the next level, give our experts at Western Chandelier a call. We’d love to help you get started and give you more tips like these.

7 Things You Should Know About Organic Modern Interior Design

7 Things You Should Know About Organic Modern Interior Design

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Organic Modern – also called contemporary rustic or transitional rustic – is an interior design style that’s become very popular in the last year as people have fallen in and out of love with sleek minimalist and farmhouse chic interiors. Organic Modern interior design is a natural next step – it incorporates the best of the minimalist design aesthetic with the warmth of natural materials. The result is an open and airy space that oozes comfort. 

If you’re looking for a way to simplify your farmhouse aesthetic or add some comfort to your minimalist space, we have good news! The shift into Organic Modern is as natural and effortless as these interiors feel.

So what is Organic Modern, exactly? We’ve put together a quick cheat sheet to help you identify the core elements of Organic Modern and find ways to incorporate it into your home.

1. Neutral colors and earthy accents

Organic Modern design is rooted in minimalist design, so keep your color palette neutral – think beige, white, tan, and gray. Keep walls and flooring light and bright to create an airy, clean feeling.

Keep in mind – a neutral palette does NOT mean monotone! Organic Modern design aims to warm up classic minimalist styling, so you’ll often see warm, deep accent colors in natural hues, like green, blue, terracotta, or orange. 

Keep in mind that your lighting can change the way your colors look. Organic Modern’s inviting neutral colors often look best in soft, warm light. We recommend buying 2-3 different colors of light bulbs and trying them in your space. You’ll be surprised at how much the colors change! 

2. Balance 

Organic Modern design strives to strike the perfect balance between sleek and streamlined minimalism and natural shapes and textures. 

Achieving this balance isn’t easy, but it’s very important. Be mindful of how many sleek versus organic pieces you incorporate. Pay attention to scale. Scatter organic shapes and textures around your space, but don’t fill it to the brim. Leave plenty of open space to keep that light, airy minimal feel. 

In this attic, they’ve artfully balanced the clean lines of the architectural details with an organic, flowy pendant light, lots of comfy blankets and pillows, and a handful of plants. 

Many homeowners forget to budget for lighting when they’re redesigning and end up with something cookie-cutter they can “hide” – but well-thought-out light fixtures are absolutely essential to creating a balanced design. 

Finding a jaw-dropping fixture that’s perfect for your space can be a challenge if you limit yourself to what you can find at your local hardware stores. If you stop by our lighting showroom, we have access to thousands of lighting options – and we’d love to help you find that unique fixture that makes your space.

3. Use natural materials

The crowning element of Organic Modern design is the consistent use of natural elements, such as stone, wood, and ceramics… and the shape, finish, and mix of pieces you choose will have a significant impact on how your room feels. Organic Modern design looks best with a mix of shapes, finishes, and materials – just like you’d find on a walk in the woods.

Balance is important here too. Natural materials tend to feel more rustic, so balance them out with modern pieces, like combining a raw-edge wooden dining table with modern seating. Stone vases and lamps introduce an earthy element, but stick to organic shapes over more ornate, traditional styles.

This living room showcases natural materials in all the right ways! The rounded, wooden elements bring the “organic” while the minimalist shape of the sofa and sleek stone fireplace bring the “modern” – married perfectly together to make a cozy Organic Modern space.

4. Bring the outside in with plants

Besides using natural elements in furniture and shapes, one of the best ways to bring Organic Modern design into your home is with plants! You’ll often see many of the same kinds of plants used in mid-century modern design (like palms, figs, and grasses) with a variety of sizes ranging from small shelf plants to larger trees and shrubs on the floor.

Plants clean your air, lift your mood, and brighten up the space. This homeowner took full advantage of their large windows and really made their plants the star of the design. They’re all in a similar color tone to the design and offer plenty of beautiful organic shapes and textures to balance out the clean lines of the furniture and architecture. 

5. Make it yours with unique and handmade pieces

Styling is one of the last steps when designing a space, and it’s the most fun because you can start making it your own! It’s an excellent opportunity to go thrifting, hit up the local flea market, or finally make that unique Etsy art purchase. 

We love how the unique shapes of the vases, prints, and light fixture here give this space so much visual interest without filling it to the brim.

Handmade pieces give your room personality, and they provide new textures and colors that are hard to find in a mass-produced decor store. When you’re looking, stay focused on finding colors and shapes that will highlight the unique balance of clean, modern, and earthy rustic pieces in your space. 

Make sure your lighting highlights your unique style! Light a cozy reading nook with your curated novel collection with a modern, organic lamp or pendant light made from natural materials. If you’re displaying your favorite finds on a bookshelf, consider adding a row of LED strip lights on the shelf above them!

6. Prioritize comfort 

Organic Modern design is minimalism made comfy. When considering your options, make sure that whatever you choose is comfortable and practical over anything else. 

What “comfortable and practical” means will vary from person to person, but here are some suggestions to get you started. 

  • Low Maintenance – Choose materials that are durable, low-maintenance, and easy to clean. There are plenty of natural materials that fit in this category, like clay, copper, finished wood, and stone.
  • Smooth Finishes – Choose materials that are “nice to the touch” – raw, natural edges are beautiful, but make sure they’re in places that won’t snag on guests’ clothes or skin. 
  • Pillows, Cushions, and Blankets – Create cozy spaces with plenty of soft textures. They’ll create an aesthetic balance against the harder natural materials while making your space so comfortable you’ll want to spend all your time there.

7. A Well-lit Space is a Comfortable Space

Proper lighting is a crucial element of any design project, but it often gets added in as an afterthought. This can cause significant problems for your space. If your finished room has dark corners, it won’t look right or feel inviting. A builders-grade traditional ceiling fixture can throw off the feel of a beautifully curated Organic Modern space. 

In the space below, this stunning light fixture brings Organic Modern design to a whole new level. But how do you replicate this in your home? We recommend considering two things when picking out a light fixture: the material choice and breaking tradition. 

Material Choice

Most default lighting includes stainless steel or brushed nickel and frosted white glass shades. Instead, play with finding fixtures with natural materials for the base or the shade. 

You might have a hard time finding anything else at a hardware store, but if you stop by a lighting showroom, they’ll be able to show you a wider selection of modern fixtures. 

Consider things like stone lamps that introduce texture, wicker pendants that soften the room, or colored shades that dimension.

Breaking Tradition

Traditional fixtures and placements work, and they’re always a safe bet. But with Organic Modern design, it’s okay to bend the rules to get a less structured look.

Don’t let the fear of a mistake stop you from trying something new. Get that funky fixture you love. Be bold with finishes and colors – great design moments happen when you choose something you love rather than playing it safe.

It’s okay to experiment with unconventional placements too! Try hanging pendant lights over your end tables instead of using lamps. Play with scale and get an oversized fixture (remember to balance your design!). 

Just give it a go – you’ll create a more interesting space. Remember – nothing in design is permanent, and your design can grow organically (right along with your houseplants) as you trade things in and out over time.

Just remember – the elements of Organic Modern are there to help guide you to a feeling more than anything, and there are no absolutes. So whether your take on Organic Modern borders on eclectic boho or modern with an emphasis on wood and stone, if you feel relaxed and connected, then you’ve created the perfect space for you.

It’s quite the balancing act! We don’t doubt that you’re up for the adventure, but if you’d like to skip the “hours of googling” phase of your lighting selection, let the experts at Western Chandelier do the heavy lifting and help you find what you need!

How to Decorate Your Front Porch for Every Season

How to Decorate Your Front Porch for Every Season

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20 Beautiful Front Porch Pictures to Inspire Your Seasonal Project

Your front porch is the perfect place for a seasonal refresh when you get the itch to redecorate! With some classic furniture and lighting and a few simple decor swaps, you’ll have a front porch that’ll make you want to celebrate every season.

Spring

The earth feels brand new when the last bits of winter finally melt away. It’s the best time to breathe some life into your porch. Exercise that green thumb, or fake it with some faux plants. Either way, flowers and greenery are the way to go when spring is in the air. 

This picture is a florist’s dream. Hanging many garlands may be a bit unrealistic, but adding a few flowery garlands (possibly on a railing) and a matching wreath would give a similar result without all the effort!

Flower beds are a foolproof way to add some seasonal color. These tulips and daffodils are spring staples. They’re perfectly positioned for height and dimension. Plus, a black pendant light like this is a classic element that’ll work regardless of the season! For proof, check out the same porch in our fall and winter section!

Window boxes are another simple way to liven up your porch. If your green thumb has turned a bit brown, pick some faux plants or flowers instead. Some faux plants look so realistic nobody will know the difference!

Hello yellow! The neutral green and white wreath make this yellow door POP! If your door is neutral, pick a wreath with bold colors to provide a stunning focal point. When the seasons change, simply swap out the wreath and replace the matching greenery.

A vibrant door and warm-toned wreath combo are the perfect spring-summer tie-in. With this pretty pendant light hanging above the door, this porch won’t go unnoticed no matter when you’re decorating!

Summer

Summer nights spent on the porch evoke the nostalgia of simpler days. Sprucing up your porch to fit the season will make you want to grab your favorite drink, cozy up with a book, and pass the time. No deadlines or stress will get in your way when your porch feels like summer!

Nothing says comfort like a porch swing, and this one is to die for. The warm wood tones of the ceiling and swing compliment the black paint and greenery beautifully. This homeowner also gets bonus points for the recessed lighting – a great choice! They blend in nicely without detracting from that gorgeous wood ceiling.

This All-American porch is what summer dreams are made of. The rocking chair is a classic piece of furniture the sconces will fit any season. With a porch lacking a roof overhang, they fit nicely and highlight seasonal decor. Throw in an American Flag for Independence Day and you’ve got a simple summer porch you’ll want to enjoy immediately!

Remember those window boxes full of flowers that died last season? It’s time to say goodbye. Head over to your local plant nursery and find some new flowers that’ll last in your climate. These cute flowers with the amazing green shutters are all the inspiration you need to get to work!

Every cozy porch has one thing in common – comfortable furniture! If you’re still using the stiff, sun-worn furniture you inherited from your Great Aunt Susan 10 years ago, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Pick something you’ll be making excuses to go outside and sit in!

Summer porch decor is all about the plants! These rosebushes over the architectural awning give a minimal touch of color that whispers summer. A dainty pendant is the cherry on top of this charming design. It’ll illuminate this gorgeous porch on summer nights and will transition to every season seamlessly.

Fall

These porches make us want to don our best sweaters, grab some apple cider, and head to the pumpkin patch! The crisp air and flavors of autumn are tough to beat, but these fall-inspired porches make it a close call.

Meet your new best friends this autumn: buffalo plaid, mums, and pumpkins! Throw in some subtle lanterns to tie in the sconces and a neutral wreath that coordinates with the gray pumpkins, and your porch is dressed and ready for sweater weather!

More is more on this porch. Give me all the pumpkins, hay, wheat, and leaves! Adding some lanterns with with candles was a great call here too. Instead of choosing candles that will burn out and need to be replaced, consider solar lighting that’ll charge during the day and light your way at night!

This porch is a mood. The dead hydrangeas that this homeowner somehow worked into their decor are a stroke of genius! The candles in jars add just the right touch of elegance. We’re ready for Halloween.

Speaking of Halloween, how can you not love this decor? This porch has just a touch of spooky season, but it can easily be switched out once October ends. Just tuck the jack-o-lantern away and replace the Halloween railing decor with a leafy fall garland, and you’ll have a Thanksgiving-ready porch in no time. The classic black finishes on the stairs, sconce, and door make this house easy to transition between moods and seasons.

The decor on this porch will have you heading to the pumpkin patch to get lost in a hay maze. This porch proves decorating doesn’t have to be complex. Use what you have! A watering can, a few pumpkins, and a hay bale are all great decor ideas for your fall-inspired porch.

Winter

Bring on the red and green, holiday music, and peppermint hot chocolate! The holiday spirit is alive and well on these porches. Nothing brings more joy to this season than a festive front porch.

Winter may be our favorite time of year to decorate for, but I guess we’re a bit biased. The twinkle lights hanging everywhere fill the whole neighborhood with magic. This porch is no exception! The potted and lit trees and walkway lights lead you to the door. The hanging pendant welcomes you in. You can’t help but feel the holiday spirit!

Pillars like these deserve to be wrapped in red and green. Garlands are a simple piece of winter decor anyone can find a use for! Adding in the red ribbon and festive wreaths dress this porch up for the holiday season.

This porch’s over-the-top creativity has us swooning. Hanging ornaments from ribbons next to the pendants is brilliant! Lights are incorporated throughout this design – from the coordinating pendants, the sconces, and walkway light to the Christmas lights and string of globe lights, this porch is a holiday masterpiece. Planted poinsettias bring the look together and have us dreaming of winter all year.

Decorating for the holiday season doesn’t have to be time-consuming or break the bank. Red ribbons on some existing potted plants (faux or real), an elegant wreath, and a garland turn this house into a cozy holiday home without having to battle with your attic storage year after year. This porch is just missing some sconces next to the windows with red ribbons to tie together the look!

Holiday decor is done right on this styled porch! If you don’t have evergreens in your yard to dress up, a few potted trees like these do the trick. Garlands and wreaths are holiday classics, but we love how even the smallest detail is accounted for. The chopped wood reminds us of a cozy fireplace ready to be lit. Even Santa’s burlap sack is ready for Christmas! As always, lighting is the icing on the cake. With some globe string lights and a white sconce that blends so your decor can be at the forefront, this porch is complete.

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No matter the time of year, your porch can be a safe haven from the chaos of the everyday. Seasonal decorating can help you feel at home as you move through the year, but don’t forget to invest in decor staples, furniture, and functional pieces that’ll last the whole year. Light fixtures with a black finish, for example, will look good and stand out no matter what season you’re decorating for! For some expert advice on creating a front porch that’ll illuminate your decor, give Western Chandelier a call!

2023 Interior Design Trend: Creating a Cozy House that Feels Like Home

2023 Interior Design Trend: Creating a Cozy House that Feels Like Home

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It’s 2023 and this is your wake-up call! Your home needs you – it’s ready for a refresh! This year, we’re all looking for a respite from the stress that always seems to work its way in. Designing a comfortable home will make you feel the extra happiness and productivity you’ve been in desperate need of. These 3 expert tips will make your home a haven you’ll be itching to get back to at the end of the day!

1. Choose a Soft Color Palette

It’s no secret that colors have a huge effect on your mood and the feel of a room. These rooms knock the color palette out of the park without sacrificing personal style or comfort. Achieving a soft color palette doesn’t have to be difficult – go with neutrals, a pop of color, or choose a monochromatic color scheme and you’re set!

Neutrals

A neutral color palette seems like an obvious choice when you’re going for comfort, but it can be tough to pull off – without color, other elements like texture or shapes will have to do the heavy lifting.

The heavyweight champions here are definitely the plants! Adding some green to an otherwise neutral-heavy space brings some life and vibrance without destroying the tranquility you desperately need. Finishing this look with a variety of textures and shapes from the hard wood edges to the pair of round tables to the woven area rug makes this space feel comfortable, creative, and cozy.

This neutral bedroom incorporates beige and white with black accents to ground the space. The night stands with pendants hanging above elevate the space, giving you lighting and a gorgeous focal point! We love how this space feels lived-in without looking cluttery. With neutral tones, the soft textures of the rug and blankets are what make this room feel comfortable and cozy.

Picking a neutral color palette for this sitting area really make the shapes shine. We love how arches are carried throughout the design from the furniture to the architecture. This chair looks like a cloud and with the gorgeous light above it, anyone sitting here would feel like they’re in the heavens!

Pop of Color

A cozy home doesn’t have to be colorless! If neutrals don’t speak to you, try mixing them with a pop of color. It’ll give your room some excitement, but not so much that it’ll feel busy or chaotic.

This living room took a bold color and ran with it. The navy blue is a stunning contrast to this cozy tan leather couch. If we could copy and paste this look into our homes, we would! The neutrals pop against the accent wall and we couldn’t be more obsessed.

These red velvet pillows and drapes contrast with the neutral room and bring in some cozy texture. The bright colors spice up what might otherwise feel like a bland living room.

Monochromatic 

Choosing a monochromatic color scheme is a 2023 trend we love. It’s bold, but still soft. In a true monochromatic space, there isn’t extra visual stimuli for your brain to process. This gives your brain a sense of peace and calm you may not feel in a room with more going on in terms of color. These rooms use a simple color palette and the effect is cozy with a touch of elegance. 

Green is one of the most soothing colors. It can bring a sense of peace and harmony to your home. This couch and wall combo is no exception! Choosing to pair them with beautiful browns makes this sitting room look like it was plucked straight from nature, then given a facelift.

This kitchen uses the monochromatic color scheme to make it look bigger than it is. We especially love that extra wood cabinet with accent lighting both for functionality to store more and for decorative purposes. The calming blues make this a space you’d want to do some stress-baking in!

2. Add Soft Textures

Texture is a vital tool in an expert’s tool belt, especially when comfort is your end-goal. A space can be gorgeous, but if it feels like a place your grandma will yell at you for touching anything in, it won’t really feel comfortable. Texture is what takes a space from formal and austere to a beautiful, cozy space you can actually live in.

There’s no question this bedroom is gorgeous, but it also feels like a space you could spend time in without completely messing it up. The intentionally unkempt linens on this corner of the bed add simulated texture that makes it feel like home. We also love the green velvet accent pillow and floor pillows for an extra cozy touch! A lamp and pendant allows you to have dimmer or brighter lighting to accommodate your changing needs.

There is no world where a chunky-knit blanket and lots of pillows won’t scream comfort. The touches of fur on the rug and the side bench give it an extra dose of coziness. Anyone would love to curl up and hibernate here all winter! Light a few candles in the lanterns and switch on the pendant for the perfect reading spot at night.

This feminine bedroom is a corner of paradise! The colors are soft and gorgeous, but the textures are what really make this space magical. The velvet headboard brings delicate softness to the space. The textured pouf and cane-detailed night stand here are working overtime – and they should get paid for it! They bring elements of texture and give some seating and storage space. The blanket and soft rug are the finishing touches that would have anyone making excuses to retreat here for peace and quiet.

3. Soften Your Lighting

Harsh lighting is the opposite of comfortable! It’ll leave you with a headache and can actually make it harder for you to sleep at night. To bring in some much-needed comfort, you’ll need to soften up your lighting. In a room with soft lighting, the transition from light to dark is gradual and easy on the eyes. Avoid harsh shadows and balance your lights out using these three tips and your eyes and mood will thank you!

Dimmable Lighting

Switching to dimmable lights is a relatively simple way to soften your lights and make your lighting customizable. This cozy room is the perfect place to recharge your batteries. Dim the lights 2 hours before bed to help yourself sleep better, then brighten them in the morning to jump start your mood and your day!

Layer Your Lights

Layering your lighting is a fool-proof way to give you adjustable light. Every room in your house should have at least a few light sources to make it feel more comfortable and eliminate any dark corners. Adding a few lamps across a room and some pendants will give you flexibility to have more or less light depending on your need and mood.

Accent Lighting

Accent lights are the finishing touches that make a room feel complete. They’re the piping on top of the icing on the cake! Adding them makes a room instantly feel warmer and more comfortable. Plus, they soften up your lighting by eliminating harsh shadows in areas that might otherwise go overlooked. Put sconces on an empty wall, strip lighting under cabinets like in this kitchen, or pendants above conversation areas. A room with warm, balanced lighting is a guaranteed ticket to having the relaxing ambiance you need for comfort.

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Listen, it’s 2023 and it’s time you started living your life in comfort! Choosing to design a cozy home is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about overall wellness! You deserve to live in a home you love, so it’s time to get started. With a little inspiration, the expert tips above, and help from Western Chandelier you’ll be set! Give us a call and we’ll help you soften your lighting and give your home the extra relaxing boost it needs.

Top Tips to Lighting Every Room of Your Home

Top Tips to Lighting Every Room of Your Home

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Many homeowners fall into the trap of relying on paint and mirrors to lighten up a room. While these are tricks that work, they’re just bandaid fixes that ultimately limit your design options. One of the best ways to make your house a home is to have great lighting in each room. And just as every room has a different function, and they all have their own lighting needs. 

Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds! Getting the best lighting set up is almost always a simple undertaking, and this is something that can be done on any budget.

Set aside some time to do a tour of your home, looking specifically for places where your lighting just isn’t doing you any favors. To help you out, we created a checklist you can use to find what’s missing. 

  • Front Exterior
  • Entry
  • Living Room
  • Kitchen
  • Dining
  • Bathrooms
  • Office
  • Bedroom
  • Backyard

Front Exterior

The front of your house carries a lot of weight. It’s what you drive up to, what your friends and family see first, and plays a big role in your relationship with your neighbors. It also is the first line of defense against intruders. If your curb appeal is lacking, look for these things:

  • A well-lit door: What’s better than coming home to warm, golden light washing over your front door? If your exterior feels dim or dingy, you’d be surprised at how dramatic a transformation you’ll get when you replace the fixtures by your door.
  • Sidewalk lights: Keep you and your visitors safe with sidewalk lights leading to and from your home. They also add a little fairy light magic to your home!
  • Motion sensor flood light: Any motion sensing light is a great way to increase your home’s safety. Flood lights are an added bonus, as sudden bright light usually scares off intruders – whether human or pest.

Entryway

Crossing the threshold is an important moment. When you walk through the door, you’re looking for a place to relax and be yourself after work, running errands, or shuffling the kids to activities. Your entryway sets the tone for your home for you and your for your guests – don’t skip out on the lighting in here! 

  • Buffet table catch-all: Use a lamp on a buffet table to make it easier to take off shoes after a late night. Small space? Use reflective finishes to add some extra light.
  • Smart lighting for smooth entry: Smart bulbs can be set to a schedule to keep your entryway ready at all times. Some can even turn on automatically when you arrive, or respond to voice commands when your hands are full.
  • Wall/Ceiling Lights: If your entryway feels to dim or too harsh, try swapping out the bulbs in your fixtures with LEDs with a different lumen count (measures brightness) or a different light “temperature”. (Warm/soft white bulbs make you feel cozy and comfortable, and bright/daylight bulbs will make you feel alert.) Some smart bulbs can even switch back and forth with the help of a small remote or a smart home hub.

Living Room

Your living room is the hub for comfy entertaining and family relaxing. You need it to be well-lit but still cozy. Consider these:. 

  • Ditch boring fixtures: You living room is a great place to choose more decorative fixtures. Find something that speaks to your soul and swap it out. It’ll instantly boost your mood every time you walk into the room! 
  • Mood lighting: Nail mood lighting by making sure you have light coming from more than just a single overhead light. Lamps and sconces shine a quiet, cozy light when the main light is off – perfect for a relaxing evening at home.
  • Media lighting: Movie nights are core memories – but staring at a screen in a dark room is hard on your eyes. For the film aficionados and gamers alike, we recommend either backlighting your TV with an LED strip light or keeping a couple of dim lamps around.

Kitchen

Your kitchen is the heart of the home, used for both focused work and for entertaining. That means you need to pay close attention to light layering so you can quickly flip from one function to another. 

    • Task lighting: Bright lights are necessary for safe cooking! Light your countertops with island pendants and LEDs under cabinets lights to improve your accuracy while dicing and sauteing. 
    • Dimmable lights: Late night snack turned heartfelt conversation with cocoa? Install dimmable lights so you can create a space for more intimate moments that’s away from harsh lighting. 
  • Light up your cabinets: Want to make your cabinets look high-end without high-end work? Use LED strip lights inside glass-fronted cabinets for a curated look, or put LED pucks on top of the cabinets to reflect light upwards and make the room feel bigger. 

Dining Room

Have you ever noticed that most restaurants are pretty dark? That’s because people talk more, eat slower, and stay longer in a relaxed atmosphere. Recreating this ambiance in your home is sure to make your meals more enjoyable. 

  • Comfy Cozy: Use warm bulbs in your fixtures to create a cozy vibe. Look for bulbs that say “soft white” or that are less than 3000K. If it’s in the budget, swap out that flush mount light with a chandelier or pendants light-filtering shades to wash your space with soft, warm light.
  • Try candles: Adding candles is a quick and easy way to soften the space and increase the feeling of closeness. For apartment dwellers or those with young children, battery-powered candles are a great flameless alternative.
  • Keep it separate: If your dining room is close to your kitchen, turn off the kitchen lights once you’re ready to eat so that your dining table is the center of attention. 

Bathrooms

Bathrooms play multiple roles, so they need to have clever lighting. On the one hand, they are “get ready central,” where true light is critical to having great makeup and a clean shave. But, on the other hand, they are also a relaxation hub, where harsh lights won’t help. 

  • Bright lights for mirrors: Replacing the light above your mirror is a fast and simple project that will make a huge impact on both the functionality and overall appearance of your bathroom. Use bright, cool lights for the best makeup application and cleanest shave.
  • Warm light for relaxation: Use warm light over tubs or showers to help you relax in the water after a long week. No lights over the tub? A warm night-light or set of LED candles will give you the same feeling!
  • Use multiple light switches: You can easily custom control the lights for each activity. 

Home Office

Spending a lot time in the home office these days? Your office lighting impacts the quality of your work, so take a minute to assess what you need to do your best.

  • Update your overhead lighting: Get rid of that builder-grade light and put in a cool chandelier or pendant to jumpstart your creativity. 
  • Modern deks lamps: Make sure you have plenty of light for your workspace with a great lamp. If you’re on video calls often, try shining the light on the wall in front of you rather than directly on your face – it’ll bounce back and give a softer light that’s easier on your eyes.
  • Create a designated recharge area: Set aside a corner in your office to take a few breaks during the day. Get a comfy chair and soft lighting so your brain can rest and recharge between meetings. 

Bedrooms

Your bedroom is your place to relax, unwind, and get a full night’s rest. However, the lighting in your room will significantly impact your ability to shut off your brain and get deep into that REM sleep. 

  • Prepare for rest: Blue light (like the light from daylight LEDs and from phone or TV screens) will keep your brain awake, so avoid blue light sources for 1-2 hours before bed.  Use soft, warm light bulbs only in your room! 
  • Be careful with tech: We’re strong believers in mood lighting – but those tiny LED lights on power cables, alarm clocks, speakers, etc. are not it. Remove what you can, and cover the rest with dimming stickers.
  • Lighting you feel: Focus on how you feel. Swap out old fixtures or lamps that you don’t love with something that you’ll enjoy seeing every night. Too warm? Replace your overhead light with a ceiling fan so you can rest comfortably.  

Pro tip: It’s okay to use brighter, whiter lights in your closet so you have a place to check the true colors of your outfit before you head out for the day. 

Backyard

Once you’ve walked through each room, don’t forget to check your outdoor space! Whether it’s a big suburban yard or a small 5th floor balcony, it should be a great place to spend long summer nights while keeping you and your family safe. 

  • Bring the magic: Fairy lights or string lights feel like a luxury, but they’re actually really affordable and easy to hang. They’ll bring a little bit of magic to your nights whether it’s an evening party with friends or a backyard campout with the kids.
  • Proper lighting for activities: Make sure your yard has adequate lighting for all of the ways you use it. Install flood lights in active areas like basketball hoops. Put in a row of solar path lights along walkways.
  • Exterior lights: If your patio is too dim, it might be an easier fix than you realize. Replace that tiny, old wall sconce light with a modern fixture. If you need lots of light – opt for a fixture with multiple bulbs and/or clear glass. 

Don’t Stress It

Great lighting is an essential part of a well-designed and a fully functioning home – but it can be challenging to nail balanced brightness, great fixtures, and a budget! The biggest thing to remember, TL;DR of it all is that you need to have multiple sources of light in each room. Lamps and smart bulbs are your friend! 

If you want some help getting it right, contact the experts at Western Chandelier for advice on your project! Lighting is what we do – so we’re not going to toss you the closest box off a shelf and say “have at it!” If you’re not happy with your home’s lighting, we’ll help you find what’s right for you. 

Home Lighting and Interior Design 101: Top Interior Design Tips From The Lighting Experts

Home Lighting and Interior Design 101: Top Interior Design Tips From The Lighting Experts

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Have you ever walked through your home and wondered, “why did my stuff look cuter online/in-store?” If you have, there’s a decent chance the problem is your home lighting. Product images and store displays always have excellent lighting, showing you the best possible version of their decor, paint samples, art, and furniture. 

But if you buy that gorgeous piece or perfect paint color and put it under poor lighting, you’re bound to feel like you got duped.

Luckily, the rules to great lighting aren’t very complicated! You can start updating your home lighting for relatively low cost, low skill, and low tools. 

Consider this post a free course on home lighting essentials, including practical interior design tips from lighting experts. Answer quiz questions along the way to see if you’ve got it, then apply what you learn to make your interior design shine!

The Basics

Let’s start with a few basic terms and ideas– including five layers of great lighting and why the bulbs you use significantly impact how your home reads.

Layers of Light

You can break up your home lighting into five different categories. Once you understand how the categories work, you can mix and match them to fit your needs. Here are the five layers you should consider in each of your rooms:

  1. General/Ambient: the primary light source for the entire room.
  2. Task:  more focused light over a workspace, like a kitchen island or desk.
  3. Accent: think mood lighting; creates an atmosphere rather than light up the whole room.
  4. Decorative: it’s more about what the fixture adds to the overall design than the light it gives.
  5. Natural: working with windows (and firelight) to maximize color and space.

We’ll break down tips for working with each of these layers later on. For now, keep in mind that a well-lit room typically has five to seven light sources spread across these categories.

Question 1: Which type of lighting is most responsible for setting the mood in your space?

Warmth of Bulbs

There is so much information available on bulb temperature. The truth is you can get started with just a few pieces of information. First, bulb temperature refers to the color and brightness of the light. So let’s break it down.

Cool light will wake you up, help you focus, and is best for showing the true colors of paint, makeup, and clothing. These are the bulbs in the bottom row of the image above. Cool bulbs are great for offices, kitchens, and vanities.

Warm light has the opposite effect– it relaxes and casts a yellow or orange glow on your walls and furniture. Warm light is perfect for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining areas.

Both ends of the spectrum are important for different areas. And sometimes you might need to combine them in the same room so you can control the activity you’re doing. 

Now, let’s get into some specifics about how to work with each of our five light categories.

Question 2: Which light temperature is best for relaxing, cool or warm?

General or Ambient Light

As stated earlier, general or ambient lighting is your primary source of light for your space. It’s often centered in the ceiling so it can cast a bright, even light across the room. Your light fixture will greatly impact how the light casts. For example, flush mount domes offer little resistance to light, while metal shades will concentrate light downwards.

Since general lighting gives the most light, it will set the tone for your space. Here are a few top tips for nailing the general lighting in your home:

  • Use cool ambient lighting for kitchens, offices, and bathrooms.
  • Use warm light for living rooms, dining, and bedrooms. 
  • Swap out your builder-grade flush mount for an immediate (not to mention cheap and easy) upgrade. 

Question 3: Where should you position your general light source?

Task Lighting

Task lighting concentrates light (and your focus) on important tasks, like homework, dicing up vegetables, and filling out expense reports. They are also more obvious choices in your design since they often hang down or sit close to the action. 

Top tips:

  • Hanging pendants often look best in odd numbers, so stick to one, three, or five pendants where possible.
  • Strip lights or spotlights tap into task lighting fixtures to highlight art or displays to create design focus. 
  • Don’t forget LED strips as a versatile option! Place them around mirrors and under cabinets for steady, bright light.

Question 4: How do you know what areas need task lighting?

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting covers mood lighting and rounds out the lightscape. From reading lamps to LED strips behind TVs, they land closer to decorative lighting than really focusing on function. 

But don’t underestimate what they deliver! Accent lighting easily becomes general lighting during movies, date nights, and intimate gatherings with friends and family. 

Top tips:

  • Warm light is usually best for accent lighting. Scatter a few accent light sources around gathering places to have enough light to fill the room without the general light source.
  • Sconces are a great way to switch up typical lamps. And some come with plug-in cords– no hard wiring needed!
  • Color-changing bulbs and LEDs are a great option for accent lights. Then they are versatile for task lighting or mood lighting as the situation requires!

Question 5: True or false? If I want to add accent lights to my home, I have to hire an electrician.

Decorative Lighting

The final category is sometimes lumped in with accent lighting since they both have more to do with aesthetics than functionality. But we pulled this out to give special attention. 

Decorative lighting is about adding a super cool fixture, with the provided light taking a backseat. For example, using a chandelier for general lighting offers general light for the room, but its top priority is providing a visual “wow.”

  • Try mixing up the expected, like using pendants or sconces where you’d normally use a lamp. 
  • Get creative and turn a statue or other thrift finds into a one-of-a-kind light source.
  • Work with a local light showroom for designer-level pieces for a fraction of the price– plus top tips on installation and more!

Question 6: What is the purpose of decorative lighting?

Natural Light

Natural light is the final component of your lightscape. While manipulating natural light isn’t as easy as shopping for a great light fixture, it’s still critical to the overall feel of your home. 

For example, when shopping for paint, check the swatches day and night to see if there’s a dramatic change in appearance. This will also inform your decision on what kind of bulbs you use. And if your room’s color changes a lot from day to night, you can use cooler “daylight bulbs” to keep your color from changing as much. 

Top tips:

  • To get an airy feeling, use light curtains and hang them as close to the ceiling as you can, regardless of where your window stops. 
  • Which way do your windows face? You’ll get very different glows north versus south, as north-facing windows tend to get cooler light, with south-facing windows giving warmer light. Work with the natural light temperature when picking paint colors and decor!
  • Remember, dark colors absorb light, and lighter colors reflect it. So if you want a dark, moody space, dark paint will help to suck in extra light while still getting to keep the windows open. 

Question 7: True or false? Paint colors always look the same, no matter the time or the way windows face.

Summary

With a basic understanding of these simple lighting and interior design principles, you’re ready to convert your home from predictable and dull to vibrant and glowing! Remember:

  • You need all five layers of light to pull off a great room design.
    • General: main light source.
    • Task: focused light on important activities.
    • Accent: set the mood.
    • Decorative: dress it up, make it unexpected.
    • Natural: work the windows.
  • Bulb temperature affects concentration and color interpretation. 
    • Cool light for true colors and enhanced focus. 
    • Warm light for cozy relaxation and a golden touch to color. 
  • Updating your lighting doesn’t have to be complicated. Work with local professionals to get a leg up with great selections, expert advice, and affordable prices.

Need Help?

Proper lighting is essential to a fully functioning home– but it can be challenging to nail balanced brightness, great fixtures, and a budget! Contact the experts at Western Chandelier for advice on your project!

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Quiz Answers:

Question 1: Which type of lighting is most responsible for setting the mood in your space?

General (ambient) lighting is a room’s main light source, so it’s the primary contributor to the mood.

Question 2: Which light temperature is best for relaxing, cool or warm?

Warm light naturally relaxes your brain and helps you to fall asleep. Cool light wakes up your brain for detailed work.

Question 3: Where should you position your general light source?

General lighting should come from as high and centered as possible for even light distribution.

Question 4: How do you know what areas need task lighting?

If you have an area where you perform detailed work, you should check to see if you need task lighting! Ambient lighting can provide enough light, but focused work often requires focused lighting.

Question 5: True or false? If I want to add accent lights to my home, I have to hire an electrician. 

False! There are many options for battery-operated and plug-in accent lighting.

Question 6: What is the purpose of decorative lighting?

Decorative lighting works with your decor as art, giving a unique lift to your design. It’s one more detail that helps you show off your style!

Question 7: True or false? Changing your lighting will change your paint colors.

True! All colors change with the quality of the light shining on them. Window position, time of day, and bulb temperature will all change how your paint reads.

5 Easy Steps to Create a Modern Minimalist Interior

5 Easy Steps to Create a Modern Minimalist Interior

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With an intentional lack of furniture and decorations, minimalist design can sometimes come off as cold and uncomfortable. Over the past few years, as we’ve spent more time in our homes than ever before, the need for comfort in a home design has been made crystal clear.

Today’s modern minimalism prioritizes simplicity with a decluttered and uncomplicated aesthetic, while also emphasizing the need for comfort in a space. You’ll see more color and accessories than the minimalist interiors of the past had, but they’ll be thoughtfully chosen extras that provide warmth and life to the space without going overboard. 

Whether you’re interested in adopting a minimalist lifestyle or just love the simple yet dramatic design aesthetic, modern minimalism is an achievable aesthetic for just about anyone! 

To help you get started, we broke down the basics of modern minimalist interior design into a handful of easy steps you can use to confidently focus on the right essentials. 

1. Create an Open Floor Plan

Focus on creating as much connected open space as possible. Obviously, taking out walls is the easiest way to create an open floor plan. But if you’re not in a place where you can tear down walls, there are some simple and subtle tricks you can use to make adjoining spaces feel more connected. 

One way to connect spaces in your home is to use the same flooring and wall paint colors for the entire space. This will make rooms look like they belong together, even through a doorway. 

A unique accent, like this minimalist pendant light, grabs your attention through the doorway from across the way, which helps your brain perceive the two spaces as one.

Finally, play around with your furniture placement to maximize your space. In smaller spaces, this often means keeping large furniture close to the walls to keep open pathways throughout but don’t underestimate the power of a simple, low-profile, floating sofa used to define a space.

2. Choose a Small Color Palette

A classic hallmark of minimalist design is a neutral monochromatic color palette, typically in warm grey, white, or beige tones. Contrast is important – add dimension and balance with a mix of darker and lighter shades within your color palette.

If an all-neutral color palette just isn’t your thing, you can still get a modern minimalist look with color – you just need to stick to a small palette. Keep most of the colors you use very light, to increase the feeling of airiness and reflect light best. 

3. Functional Design is Key

It doesn’t matter how pretty a room is, if it’s inconvenient or difficult to use you’re not going to be happy with it. When you’re trying to adopt modern minimalism, understanding how to pare down to only the essentials can be hard. When you’re going through your room, ask yourself:

 “Does this serve a purpose?”   “Do I already have something that serves this purpose?”   “Is there a multipurpose option that will serve this purpose and others?” 

Just remember, there’s no hard and fast rule for what it means to be “functional” – and you don’t need to justify every item you love to keep it in your home. A funky decorative pillow that makes you smile when you see it is serving a purpose (and it’s making your couch more comfortable – so it’s multifunctional!) 

A huge part of functional design is organization. Decluttering for a modern minimalist space involves reducing “visual clutter” too! Things not actively being used should have a home where they can be tucked away until they’re needed. 

Opt for storage options that have doors that will hide the things you’re not using.  When styling open shelving, choose items that match your color palette, leave plenty of open space, and use boxes or baskets to organize and hide loose items.

Don’t be surprised if you get down to the basics and you aren’t in love with what you have left. You’ll likely need to start making smart trades here and there to end up with a set of basics that you love.

4. Add Light – Lots of It

Like most modern design aesthetics, modern minimalism focuses on filling the space with light. Where possible, introduce as much natural light as you can. The light colors on your walls and floors will reflect it – making your room feel open and airy. 

In addition to natural light, a modern minimalist space needs a well-thought-out interior lightscape. Make sure your general ambient light is bright without being harsh, and add extra lighting in dark corners and over workspaces. Hidden lights, like LED strips under a cabinet, are an inexpensive DIY trick with a big payoff! 

Because minimalism is all about doing less with more, it’s okay to be choosy about how you add light to your space – you don’t want to clutter up your home with a floor lamp in every dark spot! When you’re shopping for fixtures, stick to simple shapes that can double as design elements.

5. Finish it Off with Thoughtful Accents

Little pops of color and texture are what take a modern minimalist space from blah to wow. You can do this in a number of ways, but remember to keep it simple. Start with just one color or texture and see how it feels before committing to more. 

When possible, look for ways to upgrade your existing decor rather than adding extra items. Look for functional pieces that you need in your space, but feel a little lackluster, and find a more interesting alternative. Replace an old, overstuffed sofa with a simpler version in a deep color (as long as it’s in your color palette!) or give an old end table new life with a coat of paint.

Pro Tip: If you have a hard time committing to color, consider using houseplants! They introduce a vibrant green color and soft, organic textures, which can balance out a minimalist design quite nicely.

By far, one of the most effective ways to accent a modern minimalist design is with an interesting light fixture. Your room will always need light, so it might as well be an integrated part of the design! 

A stunning ceiling light with a simple shape will stand out as a piece of art against a minimalist backdrop and elevate the entire design of the space. 

Pendant lamps are popular in modern minimalist design because they come in simple shapes with lots of finish options, so it’s easy to find something that will match your aesthetic. 

If replacing a ceiling fixture isn’t an option, you can get a similar impact with a carefully chosen floor lamp! Lamps are the MVP of accent lighting for a reason – they’re easy to move, replace, and rearrange, and come in a HUGE variety of styles. You can go for something small that blends in, but we also love the way a large, yet simple, lamp like this one makes a statement without taking over. 

That’s all there is to it! Just to recap, here are the 5 easy steps to create a modern minimalist interior: 

  1. Create an open floor plan – Tie separate spaces together with color and materials and rearrange furniture to maximize your space.
  2. Choose a small color palette – Neutrals are your friend, but it’s okay to add in a little bit of color to make your space feel like you.
  3. Remember functionality – Use multipurpose furniture, and organize, organize, organize. Store things that aren’t being used so that they’re not cluttering up your space.
  4. Add light – Having lots of natural and indoor lighting is what makes your space feel open and airy. Light up dark corners and workspaces.
  5. Finish it off with thoughtful accents – Don’t over-accessorize. Pops of color and texture give life to a space, but try to incorporate these add-ons with the functional elements of your space – like a colored sofa or an upgraded light fixture.

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Modern minimalist design can be a difficult concept to balance, but it’s very forgiving and so beautiful when done correctly. If you need help finding the right lighting for your modern minimalist home, our experts at Western Chandelier can help!