Sconces and fixtures highlight works of art when mindfully placed on a wall. Photo by Christopher Dibble
Walk into any beautifully lit home and you can feel it instantly. Lighting sets the stage—a relaxing glow for winding down, a romantic shimmer for evenings in or bright clarity for focused tasks. Filmmakers and actors have long known the truth: Light shapes how we look, feel and even behave. The same is true for our homes. Thoughtful lighting doesn’t just brighten a space, it sets the stage for daily life.
The Shift Toward Intentional, Layered Illumination
One of the strongest lighting shifts local designers are embracing is a move away from blanket illumination and toward intentional, mood-driven layering. Kate Darden of Kate Darden Interior Design said that rather than relying on overhead recessed cans, she guides how a room feels and functions by using softer, sculptural sources.
“Where there are cans in the ceiling, there’s also a chandelier, a table lamp, an art light,” she said. “Walk into a bedroom, you want to set a mood—a light in the corner over a chair. At the bedside table, you turn on a different kind of light. And with home automation becoming more popular, it’s easier for people to do that from their phone or tablet.”
Lighting choices are becoming a foundational step in shaping a home’s look, mood and personality. “We bring lighting into the conversation right at the start,” said designer PJ Hurst of PJ Hurst DESIGN. For a recent entryway, Hurst mounted a trio of alabaster sconces on reeded white oak. This created a large sculptural object that provides a warm, welcoming glow. “They act like artwork, floating on the wall to bring softness to all the linear forms,” she said.
In the same project, Hurst used a cloudlike Artemide Logico chandelier in the dining room, which softened the modern architecture without competing with windows and views of clouds and mountains. A slim linear walnut light over the island brings a cohesive, calm feeling to the space.
Functional Art: From Sculptural Chandeliers to Jewelry-Like Sconces
Hurst and Darden also leverage lighting to add fun and interest to little powder rooms, which frequently lack windows. In one project, Hurst used a sculptural blue glass sconce for playful contrast, almost like a piece of jewelry. “The shape and color bring an energy to the room that keeps it from feeling too serious,” she said.
When lighting becomes a design conversation rather than an afterthought, rooms take on depth, personality and warmth. This turns architecture into experience—and transforms everyday spaces into environments where you feel genuinely at home.
Lighting sets the mood, but the right ceiling treatment completes the story. Click here to see how ceiling decor can add depth and warmth to any room.
