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You are here: Home / INTERIORS / Little decor ideas for big impact: decorating with feature lights in every room

July 2, 2021

Little decor ideas for big impact: decorating with feature lights in every room

black and white dining room

We all know that lighting is such an important part of every room. Yet we often treat lighting as an afterthought. So today’s little decor idea for big impact is about how you can totally transform a room by decorating with feature lights throughout the home.

By feature lights, I don’t mean just big, dramatic lights. I mean carefully chosen big and small lights of all types throughout the home. A small table lamp can be as much of a feature light as a large pendant. The one thing that all feature lights have in common is that they make a statement whether switched on or off.

I’ve included lots of pictures as they will help to inspire you to get creative with the lighting in your home. And once you do this, you may be surprised at just how much impact lights can have in transforming a room.

over dining table light scandinavian

Scandinavian living room lighting idea

off centre ceiling light idea

*disclosure: this post contains affiliate links

tips to help you choose feature lighting for your home:

break the rules

Lighting is your chance to express your personality and the personality of your home, so go for what you love. There are lots of rules out there about size and placement etc but I personally don’t recommend them.

Take the living room in the picture above, you have a very small pendant light which totally works. But according to some ‘rules’ the light should be much bigger for this space. While a bigger light would work too, the small light looks great. There is also a cleverly placed wall light so they’ve thought of function and practicality too.

Another example would be the idea that pendant lamps should always be in the centre of a space but off-centre lights can look really great and can be even more of a feature. Of course there are times where centering is necessary – say when you have 3 pendant lamps over a dining table or a kitchen island – but when it’s just one light, do whatever is most impact like that kitchen dining area above. If you are going off-centre, go for it properly as slightly off centre will look like a mistake.

statement lighting in bedroom

Scandinavian living room lighting ideas

use lighting unexpectedly

Lighting is there to create an impact and finish the room, so consider going for the unexpected. Instead of bedside lamps, think about hanging bedside pendants or a wall light. Instead of a table lamp next to a chair, consider a floor lamp or even a small pendant light hanging from the ceiling. For a dining table you don’t always have to go for pendant lights – one of the pics above shows a dining table with a swing wall light which isn’t what you’d typically think of above a dining table but it looks so dramatic!

consider texture

Think about adding texture with your lighting while sticking to neutral tones. Fabric lights look so dreamy and are great especially for a bedroom; bamboo or rattan add warmth whereas metal lights add a cooler industrial feel. Paper pendant lights add lots of texture too and are often more affordable yet very impactful. Using lighting to add texture to a room is a great way to create contrast and interest.

don’t skip feature lighting because of budget

I get it – some of these stunning feature lights can cost a small fortune. It’s easy to dismiss decorating with feature lights because it feels like it’s way above your budget. But it doesn’t have to be. Ikea is one of my favourite places to find interesting lights for every room on a budget or to make your Ikea lights more unique, you can try an Ikea lighting hack.

Alternatively you can also check out ebay for second hand versions of some fab Scandinavian lights or any other sites where you find preloved stuff. You could also DIY your lights which is what I did for my DIY bedside lights because I couldn’t find what I wanted in my budget. There are lots of budget friendly ways to get the lighting look you want so don’t dismiss feature lighting because of budget.

minimal lighting for home office Scandinavian kitchen lighting scandinavian home office dark walls

feature lighting isn’t just for living spaces

Decorating with feature lighting is something you can do in any and every room. Kitchens, bedrooms, home offices… anywhere. Every room is an opportunity to create a feature with a light whether that’s a small table lamp or a large pendant light. It’s all about picking each piece carefully while also keeping your lighting needs in mind. So don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to just the main living areas.

feature light in wooden kitchen

If you pick just one room and try decorating with feature lights you’ll see the impact lighting can make. So pick a room, find some lights and give it a go. If you’re stuck for ideas, leave me a comment or send me an email and I’ll be happy to help.

Where to find beautiful lighting?
  1. My favourite shops for gorgeous lighting (and they often have great sale prices too)
  2. The best place for budget friendly lighting
  3. Can sometimes find some lovely lights at great prices 

IMAGE CREDITS: all images via Alvhem, Stadshem    Ask Og Eng, Audo CPH and Entrance Makleri

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Filed Under: INTERIORS Tagged With: decor tips, decorating ideas, home, home decor, lighting, scandinavian decor, Scandinavian interiors

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  1. Home tour | cool grey home with warm beige accents - Your DIY Family says:
    July 13, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    […] – statement lighting has been used throughout the home as you can see from the pics.  Using lighting as a feature is a great way to transform a room and can really make a room come […]

    Reply
  2. home tour | stylish Scandinavian apartment with an olive green kitchen - Your DIY Family says:
    October 20, 2021 at 12:41 pm

    […] placed to maximise natural light too.  And of course as with nearly all Scandinavian homes, there is feature lighting not only in the dining room but in all the rooms.  Lighting is so crucial and can literally […]

    Reply
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    February 8, 2022 at 2:33 pm

    […]  It can totally transform the look of the room.  Every room should have a mix of functional and feature lights.  Together the lights will be practical but will also create a real […]

    Reply
  4. Home tour | a warm Scandi apartment with grey and green accents - Your DIY Family says:
    April 5, 2022 at 11:58 am

    […] on.  Speaking of the pendant, how dramatic does it look hanging so low above the coffee table? Feature lighting is another key feature in Scandinavian homes and this living room is no exception.  The black […]

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  5. Home tour | a warm and cosy home with black and white decor - Your DIY Family says:
    July 4, 2022 at 5:43 pm

    […] striking thing about this home (which again is always seen in Scandi interiors) is feature lighting.  This home has it in every room and it adds so much to the look of the spaces.  If you only take […]

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  6. Home tour | warm beige Scandinavian home full of texture - DIY home decor - Your DIY Family says:
    January 12, 2023 at 9:37 am

    […] which maximises the natural light even more.  Finally as with so many Scandi homes, there are beautiful feature lights in this room which look great and are functional […]

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  7. 12 of the best paper pendant lights for minimalists - Scandi Home Decor says:
    March 29, 2023 at 11:33 am

    […] paper lights that are both minimal in style yet make a statement – and we know how important feature lighting in in every room.  The lights have an organic look and feel which is what makes them so […]

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  8. Little decor ideas for big impact: add texture to your home - Your DIY Family says:
    March 22, 2024 at 12:07 pm

    […] often talk about the importance of lighting in a room and how feature lighting can transform a room. But lighting also plays a role in bringing texture in to a room. Lights come in so many different […]

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Hi! I’m Nomita.  Do you love warm minimal Scandinavian interiors?  Then you’ve come to the right place. I’m here to show you how you too can create a cosy, clutter-free home where everything you own is both beautiful and useful to you.

 

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