One of the most impactful (and honestly most fun!) parts of designing a room is choosing the lighting. From statement pendants over a kitchen island to the cozy glow of bedside lamps, each fixture adds its own personality to the space.
Today I’m taking you on a full tour of the lighting throughout both our current and previous homes, sharing all the fixtures I chose along the way. My hope is that you’ll find it helpful if you’re on the hunt for the perfect light for your own home! (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})
I thought it would be most helpful to share my lighting choices by the type of light fixture. Read the entire post for my full lighting tour or jump straight to a particular light fixture type through these links:
Let’s get going with our lighting tour…
Pendants
The kitchen in our previous home didn’t have any overhead lighting other than recessed can lights, so when we did our kitchen renovation (check that out {here} if you missed it), I had the electrician add wiring for two pendants over our island. I went with a pair of {these pendants} in the 12.5″ size – having short ceilings, their open design is perfect for not taking up too much visual space. Also check out {this designer-inspired, budget-friendly version}!

Sources: Counter Stools | See my Kitchen Remodel post for other sources
I also added overhead lighting where there was none before over our kitchen table – I went with {this capiz honeycomb pendant} (the 22.5″ size) and love the touch of glam it adds to our space!

Sources: Dining table | Capiz pendant (22.5″) | Geometric gray rug | Large blush abstract framed art | Blue floral framed art | Pink floral framed art | Slipcovered dining chairs (similar)
I also love rattan pendants and have used them in both our previous and current homes. In our previous home, I hung {this large rattan pendant} over our bathtub as part of our bathroom remodel:

Sources: Wood & rattan double vanity | Vanity knobs | Bathroom faucets (similar) | Vanity lights | Vanity mirrors (gold) | Round seagrass tray on vanity | Soap & lotion sink set with tray | Freestanding bathtub | Tub filler | Dipped leg stool | Striped towel
Also in our previous home, I chose {these quatrefoil pendants} for both of my daughters’ bedrooms:

They added so much style compared to the simple flush mount dome lights that they replaced! I selected the brushed gold finish, but they’re also available in antique silver. Also check out {this similar pendant} that has a lower price point.
In our current home, I recently added a pair of {these rattan bell pendants} (21.5″ size) over the island as part of our kitchen remodel:

In the dining room of our current home, I chose {this beaded pendant} (which is called a chandelier but seems more like a pendant to me!):

Other Sources: Blue & white rug | Upholstered side chairs | Upholstered end chairs | Dining table | Scalloped table runner | Round white vase on table | Faux cherry blossoms in vase | White cane sideboard | White vase on sideboard (medium) | Faux leafy branches | Canvas art print | Woven tray (similar) | Blue gourd lamp
I lucked into it at a great price years ago at a local store, but it’s unfortunately skyrocketed in price since then! You can see why it’s a pricey sucker when you look up close at the intricacy of the beadwork:

Chandeliers
In our previous home, the space we used as a family room originally served as a home office for the former owners, and the only overhead lighting was outdated track lighting. We had an electrician rewire the space to accommodate an overhead fixture and installed {this satin bronze two-tier chandelier}, which made a huge difference (you can see the full “before” and “after” makeover in my post on family room ideas)!

Sources: TV console (similar) | Faux fiddle leaf fig tree | Rug | Art prints (details in {this post} | Acrylic coffee table (similar) | Coffee table tray (28″ square) | Textured neutral poufs | Rattan chair
I also replaced the dining room chandelier in our previous home, choosing {this round beaded chandelier} with rope accents. I love the style of it, it’s reasonably priced, and it’s neutral enough to work with just about anything:

In our current home, we have {this chandelier} in the china white finish in our bedroom and LOVE it:

Sources: Upholstered bed (Zuma white fabric) | Blush table lamps | Gray dragon pillow covers | Other bedding – no longer available | Stools (similar) | White drapes
My sister has the same chandelier in her home office and it looks great there too!
In our sunroom (aka circus room) I added {this vertical chandelier} that has some similarities to our bedroom chandelier but takes up a lot more vertical space, which is perfect for the tall ceilings in this room:

I had been eyeing it for this space for quite some time, but it was out of my budget until one day One Kings Lane had a 40% off one item coupon that worked on all Visual Comfort light fixtures, including this one! Visual Comfort is always excluded from discounts, so I think it was a glitch, but it was a happy accident for me!
In our kitchen breakfast nook, I chose {this matte white chandelier with shades} for above our kitchen table:


It’s a beautiful light fixture as-is, but I also think it could be fun to swap out the shades for ones in a pretty color or pattern to give it a custom look.
Flush Mount Light Fixtures
With 7½-foot ceilings throughout most of our previous home, flush mount ceiling lights were a staple – I used them in almost every room! {This scalloped flush mount} in our primary bedroom was one of my favorites. I love the scalloped design and contrasting trim:

Sources: Upholstered bed (similar) | Gray nightstands | Camp stools (similar)| Gray & white duvet – no longer available | Gray & white dragon/floral pillows | White drapes (blackout lined) | Diamond jute rug
Want to see more options for bedroom light fixtures? Check out my Complete Guide to Bedroom Light Fixtures.
In our home office, we installed {this gold semi-flush mount fixture} that has a classic design:

Sources: Desk (similar) | Wingback chair | Rug | Acrylic curtain rods
In my girls’ hangout space on our upstairs landing, I replaced the dated light fixture with a modern sputnik fixture similar to {this one} for a fun, playful vibe!

Sources: Herringbone wallpaper (color: denim) | Daybed | Blue & white block print pillow covers (similar) | Cozy pom pom throw (similar) | Roman shades with ribbon trim | White Moroccan leather poufs
Another flush mount light fixture I used in our previous home was one I actually chose for two different spaces, our laundry room and guest bathroom. It was such a great budget-friendly find that I couldn’t resist using it more than once! It’s {this simple flush mount light} that comes in four finish options (I chose the warm brass finish):

Sources: Tangerine wall decals | Butcher block counter (similar) | Brass & Acrylic Cabinet pulls (Golden Champagne finish) | IKEA Cabinets details
In the laundry room of our current home, I chose {this star flush mount fixture} and totally adore it:

For other great flush mount light options, check out my post on flush mount lighting that details all of my favorites!
Table Lamps
I’ve had a pair of {these crystal urn lamps} for over ten years now and have used them in so many different spaces. They have a timeless, neutral look that works beautifully on nightstands as a pair or as a solo statement on a dresser or console:

Sources: Dresser knobs | Round mirror | Abstract art print
If you love budget-friendly buys, {this small acrylic lamp} that we had in the craft room of our previous home is super cute! It’s more petite than your typical table lamp, so it’s perfect on top of a dresser, in a bookcase, or on a desk:

Want a table lamp with a more modern vibe? My youngest daughter had a modern bedside lamp similar to {this lamp} in the bedroom of our previous home. I love its very clean lines and marble base:

In our current home, my favorite table lamps are {these beautiful round blush table lamps} that we have bedside:


The wall that our bed sits on will only accommodate narrow nightstands, which is far from ideal. To make up for our small nightstands, I wanted statement-making lamps that were full of style, and these 100% fit the bill!
In our guest room we have a pair of {these table lamps} that have the prettiest scalloped woven shades:

Sources: Queen beadboard bed (weathered white) | Nightstand | Tissue box cover | Cane box
It’s available in two sizes (mine is the taller 22″ size) and multiple base colors and shade options. The other lamp we have in our guest room is {this blue and white brushstroke lamp} on top of the dresser:

Sources: Dresser | Dresser knobs (1 ⅝″) | Round bamboo mirror | Marble chain links | Beach print | Faux cherry blossoms
Another favorite table lamp is {this triple gourd lamp} that’s on the sideboard in our dining room – it’s such a beauty!

I chose the French blue color, but it’s also available in cream and sage.
We have {this textured table lamp} on our entryway console that’s the perfect pop of white to contrast with {this colorful canvas art print}:


While I chose the combo of a white base with a white shade, this lamp comes in beige and black base options as well as the option of a woven shade.
Floor Lamps
In our current bedroom, we have {this floor lamp} that I LOVE next to our cozy corner swivel chair:

and {this wood floor lamp} next to the sectional in our family room:

Sconces
In our old house, the wall behind our bed was so narrow that we had no choice but to use skinny nightstands with just enough space for a lamp and not much else. To free up extra nightstand space, I decided to buy {these swing arm lamps} that mount on the wall:

They ended up being the perfect solution! “Installation” was as simple as plugging the lamp in (there was no wiring behind the backplate like with most sconces) and I loved that you could swing the arm of the light over toward the bed for reading.
When we did our major bathroom remodel in our previous home, I chose two of {these aged brass double sconces} to use above our bathroom mirrors and was really happy with that choice:

I also used a pair of sconces in our powder room, choosing two of {these gorgeous sconces} flanking our medicine cabinet mirror above {this pedestal sink}:

In our current home, we installed two sets of sconces as part of our kitchen remodel. They include a pair of {these budget-friendly sconces} over {these floating shelves} flanking our range:

and a pair of {these hinged, rattan wrapped sconces} over our kitchen coffee bar:

When we did our girls’ Jack and Jill bathroom remodel, I chose {these double sconces} with more modern lines for above the bathroom medicine cabinet mirrors:

Sources: Wallpaper | Medicine cabinet mirror
And lastly, we have {this double sconce} over the bathroom in our powder room:

Sources: Wallpaper | Rattan mirror
Outdoor Lights
The lights flanking the front door of our previous home were totally undersized, so I swapped them out for {these much larger wall lanterns} in the 23″ size. I love that they have a traditional lantern style with a more updated, modern design. They were perfect for our Cape Cod-style home:

In our current home, I replaced our rusted outdoor porch lights with {these clean-lined, budget-friendly wall lights}:

I’ve since changed out the lightbulb to a more traditional bulb that gives it a less modern vibe than the Edison bulb I had in it when I took this pic.
Want to see my choices in ceiling fans? Check out my post on the best bedroom ceiling fans to see the ones that we have in our home!
Phew… that was a long one! I always think it helps to see real-life pics of lighting fixtures to help decide if they’re a good fit for your own space, so hopefully this post was a helpful one for you guys. I’m now working on the lighting plan for our new build (which was FINALLY approved by our neighborhood architectural review committee), so stay tuned for that!
XO,





Jennifer says
Your home is full of such beautiful lighting, Kris! I think your scallop flush mount is my fave. 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Karen! I’m so excited about the USB lamps – such a cool thing!
Kris Jarrett says
Jennifer I don’t love any of the lighting in our master bathroom or my girls room – those are two of the last spaces I need to swap out! So unfortunately I don’t have any go-tos to share just yet!
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Sue, I actually love mixing metals! I just limit it to two metal finishes per space and have each finish in more than one place. In our guest bathroom, our vanity knobs are gold so that helps tie the finish in. I did the same in my kitchen with gold pendants and hardware but silver appliances and faucet.
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Lisa!!
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Mandy! Yes, my linked pendants on Houzz are the exact ones that I have. The Amazon ones are a cheaper knock-off!
Donna says
Can you share information on your kitchen flooring ?
Kris Jarrett says
Sure, you can find the details and more pics in this post: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/hallmark-wood-floors-review/
Marla says
Tell me about your pretty wood floors! Husband won’t do engineered. Trying to achieve that pretty, natural vibe in solid hardwood. Help!
Kris Jarrett says
They’re engineered hardwoods so might not work for you but I love them – the details are in this post: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/hallmark-wood-floors-review/