Holiday Lighting Tips for the Foyer, Guest Bath, and More
With Thanksgiving next week and December just around the corner, we’re in full holiday preparation mode here at Wolfers. We imagine you are too!
As you get ready to welcome family and friends, check out our top lighting tips and favorite fixtures to help make your guests feel at home from the moment they arrive.
Think about first impressions. What vibe do you want people to experience when they walk through the front door? Sleek and contemporary? Cozy and candlelit? Classic and sophisticated? Whatever it is, let that guide you when you select your foyer light.
Consider a dimmer. Often overlooked in a foyer, a dimmer will allow you to tune the lighting to exactly the right level to welcome your guests and adjust it as needed throughout the evening.
For example, maybe you dim the lights as guests arrive to set a warm, holiday atmosphere. But as people are leaving at the end of the night, you might opt for more brightness so guests can tell whose coat is whose. A dimmer gives you the flexibility to do both.
For ceiling lights, pay attention to the dimensions. A tall, two-story foyer with a grand staircase and picture window needs a fixture that is appropriately scaled so it doesn’t get lost. On the other hand, if your foyer is a single story, make sure your fixture isn’t too tall for your ceiling height.
- Pro Tip: Our go-to rule of thumb is to make sure the bottom of the fixture is at least 7′ from the floor.
Keep in mind that, for pendants and chandeliers, the height measurement a manufacturer provides is often the height of the fixture without any hanging hardware or chain. So if you have a lower ceiling and are considering a chandelier or pendant for your foyer, make sure to factor the length of any hanging hardware into your calculations.
Favorite Foyer Fixtures
A question we often hear in the showroom is how to find a fixture that works for a foyer with a low ceiling but still has personality and style. For that reason, we’re focusing on our favorite semi-flush and flush mount lights in this post. But don’t miss our previous post on foyer lighting for more suggestions and tips. Or stop by our Waltham showroom, and we’ll help you find the perfect fixture for your foyer.
Hidden Gems Flush Mount by George Kovacs.
In this collection (a continual favorite and bestseller in our Waltham showroom), a contemporary metal shade surrounds sparkling crystal strands and it’s all lit by energy-efficient LEDs. Find the flush mount on display in the 16″ size shown here.
Holland Flush Mount by Hudson Valley.
Eye-catching handmade glass is the focal point of this flush mount with open metalwork sides. Clocking in at only 3.75″ tall, this fixture fits a lot of style in a slim profile. See it in Waltham in the 11.25″ width and Polished Nickel finish (as pictured). It’s also available in a 15.75″ size and Aged Brass.
Harper Semi Flush by Hinkley.
Hinkley has recently introduced a seedy glass shade for their popular Harper series, and we love the look. See the 14.5″ size on display in Waltham in Chrome and Brushed Nickel. We also have this fixture in the 18″ size in Heritage Brass (as pictured here). Don’t miss it!
Powder Room & Guest Bathroom Lighting
As you continue to prepare your home for holiday guests, take a moment to consider the light fixtures in your powder rooms and guest bathrooms.
First, make sure that the lighting is sufficient and comfortable, and replace any burned-out bulbs. Second, consider a new fixture over the sink. It’s an easy and economical way to freshen up a space. And thanks to these favorites below, you don’t need to sacrifice beauty for function.
Span Linear Bath Light by Tech Lighting.
We love this fixture because it’s a perfect example of what’s possible with LED technology. An integrated LED strip beautifully illuminates the frosted acrylic “shelf,” casting light evenly over your vanity, almost as if by magic. See this fixture in person in Waltham in Satin Nickel.
Two Light Boston Bath Sconce by Visual Comfort.
This fixture is a showroom favorite thanks to its classic style and beautiful details. With five rich finishes to choose from and the option to go with or without shades, myriad possibilities exist.
Try Polished Nickel with white glass shades for a timeless traditional powder room, or opt for a Bronze fixture without shades for industrial chic!
The two light version of this fixture with glass shades is pictured here in Bronze. Find it in Waltham as pictured as well as in Hand-Rubbed Antique Brass.
Dobson Three Light Bath Sconce by Tech Lighting.
$328.19 as pictured (Standard Backplate, Chrome)
A newcomer to our Waltham showroom, the Dobson Collection offers a sleek, contemporary look. A powerful integrated LED module shines out of the optic crystal capping each cylindrical shade. Find this fixture on display in Waltham in the Chrome finish. It’s also available in Matte Black.
Kakomi Three Light Bath Sconce by Hubbardton Forge.
An intriguing composition of square shapes and planes, Kakomi is another new fixture in our Waltham showroom. The hand-forged steel bars trace and secure two-tiered glass, each of which encases a small halogen bulb. The picture here shows this fixture in Dark Smoke, and we display it in Waltham in Soft Gold. It’s also available in any of Hubbardton’s standard indoor finishes.
Lighting for Guest Rooms
If you’re expecting overnight guests this holiday season, don’t forget to check the lighting in your guest rooms. Replace any burned out bulbs, and remember to check the lights in the closet too, just in case those need to be replaced.
If there’s no light switch easily reached from the bed, make sure there is a lamp on a nearby nightstand. This way, nobody has to turn off the lights at the door and then make their way to the bed through a dark room (especially important for elderly guests).
Similarly, before your guests arrive, go into the guest room at night and turn off all of the lights. Once your eyes adjust to the dark, carefully walk the path from the bedroom to the nearest bathroom and think about the lighting along the way. Is there anywhere along the path that a nightlight might be helpful for your guests?
Think also about adding nightlights at the tops and bottoms of staircases your guests might walk by at night, or any other obstacles that could be tripping hazards in the dark for someone who is not familiar with your home.
Once you’ve done your “lighting audit,” the quickest and easiest way to improve the lighting in a guest room is by adding the right table or floor lamp. No wiring required!
Here are a few of our favorite lamps for immediate guest room lighting upgrades.
Mosso Pro Table Lamp by Koncept.
$315.00 as pictured (Silver)
This is a bestseller in our Waltham showroom, and for good reason. We love the integrated LED lamping of Koncept’s lamps. It’s energy efficient and it doesn’t get hot like halogen does.
This lamp comes with an additional bonus: you can tune the color of the light from a warm white (2700K) to a brighter white (5000K) just by holding the head of the lamp between your thumb and forefinger.
Another feature that makes it a great choice for nightstands as well as desks: it has a USB port at the back of the base. This means you can plug a phone charging cord into the lamp itself, eliminating the need to take up an additional wall outlet when you need to charge your phone.
See this multi-tasking task lamp in our Waltham showroom. We have it on display in Silver.
Pivoting Shade Floor Lamp by Origina.
$462.00 as pictured (Pewter with White Linen shade)
This transitional floor lamp fits in perfectly with many different types of décor. A pivoting shade and adjustable arm mean you can get the light exactly where you need it. And the fabric shade means that this lamp will also help to illuminate a room as well as what you’re reading.
This lamp is available in a Pewter finish with a White Linen shade or a Bronze finish with a Homespun shade. We show and stock it both ways in our Waltham showroom.
Lucas + McKearn Mardi Gras Moon & Leda Table Lamps.
Mardi Gras Moon $400.00 / Leda $330.00
These two fun lamps have just recently arrived to our showroom. We love the creative shapes and vibrant colors accented with gold and silver leaf. Don’t miss the details. For instance, the Leda table lamp is supported by little duck feet!
These beautiful lamps are sure to spice up any guest room décor. Visit our Waltham showroom to see them in person.
If you have any remaining questions about making your home lighting-ready for your holiday guests, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are always happy to help you find the perfect lighting solution for any lighting problem.
From all of us at Wolfers, we hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving.
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