Lighting Guide
The Lighting Guide
A short, practical guide to sizing, choosing and installing the right light for every room. No jargon, just the numbers that matter.
Start with three layers
One ceiling light almost never makes a room feel finished. Every well-lit space combines these three, layered rather than switched on all at once.
Ambient
Your base layer. A chandelier, flush mount or pendant that lights the whole room evenly.
Task
Focused light for doing something specific, reading, cooking, working. Table and floor lamps do most of this job.
Accent
Mood and depth. Wall sconces or a dimmed secondary source, added once the base layer is sorted.
Find your fixture
Tap a category for the sizing rule, then shop the collection.
Chandeliers ï¹€
= diameter in inches Keep 7ft+ clearance from the fixture's lowest point to the floor
The classic ambient centerpiece, equally at home in a living room, dining room or entryway. Size it to the room first, then check the ceiling height leaves enough drop clearance.
Shop Chandeliers →Pendant Lighting ﹀
Over a table: pendants total 1/2 to 2/3 of table width
Hang 30–36in above the surface either way 6in clearance at each end of an island run. Over 6ft: use 2–3 smaller pendants, evenly spaced, instead of one oversized piece
Pendants are task lighting first, decoration second, ideal over a kitchen island or dining table. Keep them high enough that they don't block sightlines across the counter or table.
Shop Pendant Lighting →Flush Mount Lights ﹀
= diameter in inches The low-profile option, best when ceiling height is under 8ft or clearance is tight
Same sizing rule as a chandelier, but sits close to the ceiling. The right call for hallways, bedrooms and entryways, or anywhere a hanging fixture would sit too low.
Shop Flush Mount Lights →Table Lamps ﹀
with your shoulder, sitting up Too tall and it glares, too low and you're reading in your own shadow
The easiest way to add task lighting anywhere, a nightstand, a side table, a reading chair. Pair with a floor lamp on the opposite side of a room so it isn't lit from one source only.
Shop Table Lamps →Bathroom Wall & Vanity Lights ﹀
at roughly eye level A single downlight overhead casts hard shadows across the face, side light avoids it
Check the fixture's damp or wet rating before it goes anywhere near a shower zone, more on that in the Outdoor section below, the same ratings apply here.
Shop Bathroom Lighting →Outdoor Wall Lighting ﹀
Driveway/security: 700–1,300lm
Large areas: 2,000lm+ Full detail on ratings and voltage below
Outdoor gets its own full section below, weather rating and low-voltage runs matter more here than sizing does.
Shop Outdoor Lighting →Bulbs & dimming
The fixture is half the decision. Color temperature and dimmability change how a room actually feels once it's installed.
Warm White · 2700–3000K
The safe, flattering default for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and most exteriors. Reads as cozy rather than clinical.
Cool White · 4000K+
Reserve this for garages, workshops or task-heavy spaces. Above 4000K indoors or out tends to read harsh rather than bright.
Weather rating, explained
The two ratings that actually matter when a fixture is going outside.
Installation & compatibility
Hardwired
Connects directly to your home's wiring at a fixed point. Needs an existing ceiling or wall connection, or an electrician if you're adding a new one.
Plug-in
Works from any wall outlet, no electrician required. The trade-off is a visible cord, which some fixtures are designed to hide better than others.
Still not sure what you need?
Tell us about your space and we'll help you find the right fit.
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