Quick answer
Swapping builder-grade lighting for fixtures that match your style and ceiling height is one of the fastest ways to transform a room's personality. We used black modern-farmhouse chandeliers throughout our main floor to create flow, choosing sizes based on ceiling height and table or room dimensions.
Key takeaways
- Use a consistent finish — like black — across all rooms to create visual flow, especially when you have varied ceiling heights and room sizes.
- Scale matters: in our 9ft dining room we went 24" square over a 60" table, and in our 8ft kitchen we chose a fixture only 16" wide x 25" tall to keep proportions right.
- Lighting changes can feel permanent, but they make a huge difference — even Sarah, who has helped countless customers choose lighting, took two years to decide on her own home, so take your time.
Deciding on lighting was one of the hardest & drawn out decision that I made in my house. It felt so permanent and I wanted every room to flow perfectly. In fact, although I own a lighting shop and have helped so many people decide on lighting for their own homes, it took me two years before I could decide on mine! Today I'll walk you through a few rooms on our main floor and show you some before and after photos.
When we purchased our home in 2011, the entire house had been updated and there was the same builder grade lighting in every single room. It wasn't horrible in 2011, but it wasn't my style and I couldn't wait to change it out.
ENTRY: When you walk through the front door, you are welcomed in by this grand 20ft ceiling and a beautiful shiplap wall, but this wasn't always the case. Originally, there was an overwhelming area of blank walls and builder grade lights. I wish I would have taken more before photos.
Above: There's the finished product! We swapped out two builder grade pendants for these beautiful round wood and black chandeliers.
Above: Here is a photo of the process of adding the faux shiplap and swapping out the lights.
Dining Room: Our dining room is on the right hand side when you walk through the front doors and it is the first room that you see when you step inside. I wanted all of our lights to carry the modern farmhouse theme and decided to use black as a common element with all of our lighting. Because we have a lot of shiplap and light paint throughout, the black lighting really pops.
Above: This room as seen a lot of changes. I always say that decorating our homes is a work in progress, especially when working on a budget. It took me a while to get this room the way I wanted it. This chandelier is black, even though the lighting makes it look lighter. It hangs over a 60" table in a room with 9ft ceilings. It is 24" square and I wouldn't recommend going any larger than this over a 60" table.
Above: This is our dining room before I switched out the light and found our rug, chairs and furniture. The chairs shown above were found on Craigslist. I used a driftwood milk paint and did a wash on the wood and then had a friend make these slipcovers for the seat cushions.
Kitchen: The kitchen is no doubt the heart of the home and the place where our family spends the most time. It's a fairly small kitchen and only has 8ft ceilings. I had to choose lights that were smaller in scale for this room because of the lower ceilings. I chose this black geometric chandelier because it has 4 bulbs with gives plenty of light and it is only 16" wide x 25" tall. I love that it coordinates all of our other lights and has a modern look.
Above: As you can see, switching out the light completely changes the personality of the room. It's a quick update that make's a huge difference.
Living Room: Our living room is right off of the kitchen and off of the entry. Because you see this room from so many different angles, it was important that there was a good flow. We also needed to choose a light that wasn't too large because the ceilings were 9ft and we needed to be able to walk under it.
This Spring we'll be moving into a a fixer-upper that we've been working on for several months! I know I have to option to bring in all new lighting, but I think I'll be bringing some of these same lights into the new home. When you find something you love, it's hard to change! I hope this has been helpful & inspiring for you if you are trying to make your own lighting decisions.
Frequently asked
How do I choose the right chandelier size for my dining room?
Ceiling height and table size are your two biggest guides. In our dining room with 9ft ceilings and a 60" table, we used a 24" square chandelier and wouldn't recommend going larger than that over a 60" table. When in doubt, size down rather than up.
What lighting style works best with a modern farmhouse or shiplap interior?
We found that using black as a common element across all fixtures ties the look together beautifully, especially against shiplap and light-colored paint. Black fixtures pop without competing with the texture and warmth of the walls.
Can I shop for home lighting at Interior Delights?
Yes! We carry curated ceiling lighting and home accessories at our boutique in Parker, Colorado and through our online store, so you can find pieces that fit your style whether you shop locally or nationwide.