How To Mix & Match Light Fixtures Properly

Lighting has always been an essential part of a home’s interior decor. It doesn’t just function as an illuminator; it also says much about the space. The idea of matching light fixtures in the home to ensure it doesn’t look scattered and out of place has been around for a while. Matching sets have made it easier to pick the lighting fixtures for your home. However, there have been questions surrounding getting matching light fixtures or mixing them. Is there a need to match your light fixture? Would mixing them instead lead to a disaster for your interiors?

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Can You Have Different Light Fixtures?

Yes, you can. Matching wall lights and ceiling lights are optional; sometimes, seeing the same matching sets around the house can become boring. This is where coordinating your lighting fixtures comes into play. Coordinating your lighting means mixing them up but still keeping within the same idea. Remember to be as artistic as you want when you mix your lighting fixtures. There are various options to choose from; the kind of material, the finish, the type of lighting (ambient, task, or accent), the type of fixture, and the style.

Alina Enache Head Design Consultant at Scotlight Direct says “If you choose to not match your light fixtures from the same product range, you do need ensure they share at least one characteristic. They might share the same shape, colour, style, or material. This keeps some design compatiblity between the items.”

Sword Collection of Similar Lighting Styles

How Do You Coordinate Light Fixtures?

Now that we have established that mixing or coordinating light fixtures is possible if you follow a few simple rules, the next question is how to proceed. Below is a step-by-step guide.

Make A Plan: You need to plan before coordinating your light; while you want to add an exciting flavour to your home, you do want to avoid a disaster. You should go around your home, from room to room, to determine what type of light fixture and lighting each part of your house needs. Decide what you want for each room, how, and where. Once you’ve done this, it is time for the next step.

Determine what style and design you want your different fixtures to take: The next thing you need to decide is what design or style you want them to be in. Do you want them to be contemporary or traditional? You can choose more than one style or stick to just one. The style or design of the fixture helps create a matching detail in your lighting. If you need more ideas on the design, Pinterest is a great place to start.

Picking your finish: This is essential to coordinating your light fixtures. If you feel confident, you can stick to one finish or choose different ones. If you decide to mix it up, then there are some rules you should keep in mind.
- Select materials with the same sheen or finish
- Nickel and chrome look very similar but are not the same. Avoid using both of them together
- If you are going for a black-themed finish, try not to mistake oil-rubbed bronze for a black metal finish.
- If you are not sure on the differences in the finish check with the manufacturer or retailer.

Align the details and choose features with a similar feel: Mixing light fixtures means that you would coordinate them to be distinct yet have at least one thing in common. This similarity is up to you and how you want to align them. This might require artistic thinking on your path, but it should be easy. If you wish for the shapes to align, then do that. You may want ceiling and wall light sets with crystal shades or squared matching ceiling and table lamps. Whatever you choose to do, keep in mind that to make sure your light fixtures are coordinated, they need at least one similar characteristic or detail.

VON4239 – Mixing a ceiling and table lamp

Conclusion

Of course, it isn’t necessary to deviate from matching light sets and mixing your light fixtures, but it does give that extra zing to your home when you switch things up. It makes your home look bolder and more exquisite. Following the steps above helps you to coordinate your light fixtures easily. Remember, matching wall and ceiling lights are good, but a diverse and coordinated set can stand out more in your home.

Author Profile

Adam Malvern

Adam is an in-house technical writer for Scotlight Direct, a website dedicated to providing the latest and most accurate information on lighting topics. With a passion for writing and a deep understanding of various lighting concepts and designs. Adam has been a valuable asset to the team since joining in 2019.