Visual Comfort: Designer Lighting Worth the Investment
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When it comes to home design, lighting is often an afterthought, yet it plays a crucial role in creating the ambiance and aesthetic of a space. Investing in high-quality lighting fixtures can elevate your home’s style and functionality. In this post, I’m sharing the Visual Comfort fixtures I’ve chosen for my home and why I believe they are worth the splurge. I’ll also suggest an affordable alternative for each fixture for those looking to achieve a similar look on a budget.
Vendome Double Sconce
The Vendome Double Sconce is a stunning piece that adds a touch of elegance to any room. With its clean lines and antique brass finish, it’s a perfect blend of traditional and modern design.
The double fixture provides ample light while maintaining a sophisticated style. What makes it unique is its versatility; it works beautifully in a hallway, flanking a bathroom mirror, or as accent lighting in a dining room.
You’ll find both the single and double-arm versions of the Vendome sconce in my primary bathroom.
The most noticeable difference between the Visual Comfort fixtures and the inexpensive versions is the tone of the brass. The cheaper ones have a bit of an orange hue.
Affordable Alternative to the Vendome Double Sconce:
For a similar look at a lower price point, consider the PERMO Vintage Double Sconce Antique Lights from AMAZON. It offers a comparable design and finish, making it a great alternative.
More about my Primary Bathroom finishes here!
Phoebe Stacked Table Lamp
The Phoebe Stacked Table Lamp stands out with its unique design and crisp linen shade. The combination of materials, including the brass base and the antiqued white ceramic, makes it a chic addition to any modern or transitional space. It is one of the most recognizable pieces from Visual Comfort.
It’s perfect for a bedside table or a console table, offering both style and function.
Affordable Alternative to the Phoebe Stacked Table Lamp:
This Resin Table Lamp from WAYFAIR provides a similar stacked silhouette and neutral color palette, making it a budget-friendly option for those seeking modern sophistication.
18″ Cabinet Maker’s Picture Light
The 18″ Cabinet Maker’s Picture Light is a beautiful piece designed to highlight your artwork or photographs. Its sleek, adjustable design allows for precise lighting, ensuring your art is displayed in the best possible way.
The aged brass finish adds a touch of vintage charm, making it not only functional but also a beautiful addition to your home decor.
My living room features a fireplace wall with built-in shelves. Here I use the picture lights above each side to highlight the shelf decor.
In the images below, you can see how I also used picture lights over artwork in my home office and my son’s bedroom.
Affordable Alternative to the 18″ Cabinet Maker’s Picture Light:
Consider the Battery Operated Picture Light from AMAZON as an affordable option. It offers an adjustable arm and a classic finish that complements various decor styles, perfect for highlighting your favorite pieces. It’s dimmable!
Read about my HOME OFFICE CABINETS and BOYS SHARED BEDROOM!
Boston Functional Single Arm Library Light
The Boston Functional Single Arm Library Light combines classic design with modern functionality. Its adjustable arm allows for focused task lighting, making it ideal for a reading nook, home office, or library.
The antiqued brass finish gives it a timeless appeal, while the clean lines keep it contemporary.
When I replaced my polished nickel cabinet hardware with unlacquered brass, I also swapped the pewter fixtures to brass.
To be honest, we don’t turn these on often, but I love how they dress up the space above the kitchen sink.
Affordable Alternative to the Boston Functional Single Arm Library Light:
The Industrial Adjustable Arm Wall Sconce from AMAZON offers similar functionality and design elements at a fraction of the cost, making it a great alternative for task lighting.
Check out this post about my CLASSIC WHITE KITCHEN!
Darlana Lantern
The Darlana Lantern is a statement piece that adds elegance to any room. Its open-frame design and geometric shape create a bold yet airy look. It comes in several different finishes that completely change the look of your home.
The polished nickel finish gave my white kitchen that classic coastal look while the gilded iron finish added a rustic touch. It’s perfect for entryways, kitchens, or even as an unexpected element in a bathroom or hallway.
Affordable Alternative to the Darlana Lantern:
The 4-Light Lantern Chandelier from AMAZON provides a similar open-frame design with a geometric touch, offering a stylish alternative that won’t break the bank.
Talia Large Chandelier
The Talia Large Chandelier is a dramatic centerpiece that exudes luxury. With its intricate metalwork and clear swirled glass details, it brings a refined elegance to any room. The chandelier’s scale makes it ideal for grand spaces like dining rooms or entryways, where it can truly shine.
I hung this statement-making chandelier in my home office and love the jaw-dropping effect it has on the design of this room.
Affordable Alternative to the Talia Large Chandelier:
The Bubble Ball Swirled Glass Chandelier from AMAZON offers a comparable dramatic effect with a refined design, making it a beautiful and budget-friendly option.
Piatto Large Pendant
The Piatto Large Pendant is all about sleek, minimalist design. Its large, shallow dome provides broad illumination and has a unique look that is perfect for a kitchen island.
The hand-rubbed antique brass and black finishes add a little drama.
These are my favorite kitchen island lights I’ve had so far. They contrast with my white kitchen and make a statement without overwhelming the sightline into the kitchen.
Affordable Alternative to the Piatto Large Pendant:
The Dianolite 1-Light Black and Brass Pendant from AMAZON offers a similar sleek design and wide illumination, making it an excellent alternative for modern spaces. It’s on the smaller side but has the same style as the more expensive version.
Learn how to DECORATE A KITCHEN ISLAND!
AERIN Arabelle Flush Mount
The AERIN Arabelle Flush Mount is a perfect blend of subtlety and luxury. Its intricate detailing and soft, diffused light make it an elegant choice for bedrooms, hallways, or any space where you want to add a touch of glamour without overpowering the room.
The flush mount design ensures it fits seamlessly into spaces with lower ceilings and the floral design adds an unexpected element to the design.
To be honest, this fixture was a bit of a bear to install, but I couldn’t be happier with how it gave my loft space an updated look.
Affordable Alternative to the AERIN Arabelle Flush Mount:
This Flush Mount Ceiling Light from AMAZON offers a similar shape with a simpler design making it a stylish alternative.
Details on how to get that NANCY MEYERS STYLE!
Talia Semi-Flush Mount
The Julie Neill Talia LED Semi-Flush Mount is a glamorous fixture that brings modern elegance to any space. Like the large chandelier version, the combination of its glass details and the warm glow of LED lights creates a striking visual effect. It’s perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, or hallways where you want to make a statement with lighting.
This fixture hangs in our primary bedroom and adds complementary glamour to the other upscale design elements.
Affordable Alternative to the Julie Neill Talia LED Semi-Flush Mount:
The Semi-Flush Mount version of this fixture from AMAZON offers a similarly modern and glamorous look, with a design that complements a range of contemporary interiors.
Get all the details about my PRIMARY BEDROOM!
More Popular Visual Comfort Lighting
If you are into interior design and decorating, I’m certain you’ve come across these other popular Visual Comfort fixtures. If not, let this be an introduction to beautiful and high-quality lighting options that you will cherish.
- Hampton Semi-Flush Mount
- Hicks Pendant
- Morton Table Lamp
- Linden Table Lamp
- Elliot Pendant
- Rosehill Semi-Flush Mount
- Casey Table Lamp
- Reed Wall Sconce
I have the affordable version of the Hicks pendant and a similar version of the Casey table lamp in my basement and they both add so much to the space.
Conclusion: The Importance of Lighting in Home Design
Investing in high-quality lighting like the fixtures from Visual Comfort can truly transform your home, adding both style and functionality. While these pieces are worth the splurge, there are also plenty of affordable alternatives that can help you achieve a similar look. Lighting is an essential element of home design, and choosing the right fixtures can make all the difference in creating a space that feels cohesive, elegant, and inviting.
