Have you ever found yourself looking around your house thinking, “why have I never updated that?” It’s something I think we all do from time to time. Styles change. Our taste changes. But change can be overwhelming (and costly), especially when you don’t know where to start. In this post I’ll share with you a few simple tips to get you feeling confident about picking out new accents for your home, plus a few online shopping tricks that will save you hours of time!

These days, the options are endless, especially online. Narrowing down your choices can be so overwhelming. No one wants to sit for hours and sort through that many results. Ugh. And, if you’re anything like me, you tend to ‘accidentally’ run into things that are fabulous but might be a just bit over budget. Then, everything in your price range just doesn’t compare. Familiar? Well, we will work through how to avoid all those headaches and end up with simple decor you love!

A few things to consider first:

(Regardless of whether you’re replacing lights or updating other design elements to your home).

1. Budget: I always set a spending limit for each project, be it large or small. It’s so easy to get carried away with cost, but with a budget in place, it really helps to narrow down your options. That way you can’t fall in love at items out of your price range. For larger projects, make sure to keep an itemized list so you can see just how much you’re spending.

2. Quantity: In the case of the pendant lights, how many do you need? If searching for a dining room table for example, how many seats do are you hoping to include in your space?

3. Construction details: Are you replacing existing lights or adding new ones to an existing space? This will make a big difference in your budget, unless you are friends with an electrician or your hubby is an avid YouTuber.

4. Materials: What color(s)/finish do you prefer? Or, what finishes are currently being utiliized in your kitchen? What color are your drawer/cabinet handles? Your faucet? Your appliances? Chrome, oil rubbed bronze, brushed brass…

5. Style: Is there a certain style you’re looking for? Modern, traditional, industrial, rustic…

6. Color scheme: Is there a particular color you’d like to accent with? Or a color scheme you’re trying to adhere to?

7. Look:: Do you want a statement piece, something that stands out or something that is less noticeable? For example: if you have a white kitchen (white cabinets, white countertop, etc.) any white lights you choose will blend in. On the contrary, if you want a little more of a contrast, maybe choose a color that mimics your hardware (like oil rubbed bronze, chrome, brass). Take a minute to think about what look you’re trying to achieve before you move forward.
   

   Each of these points are applicable to all forms of design and decorating. Once you ask yourself a few questions you can narrow down your options and create a clear vision.

A few important pendant light measurements:

1) The distance from the counter height to the bottom of the fixture should be approximately 32 to 38 inches.

2) Allow a minimum of 18 inches between lights. A width of 22 to 26 inches is ideal.

3) Be sure the fixture is at least 12 to 16 inches from the edge of the island or countertop

TIP * If you’re a visual person like me, you can blow a balloon up to the approx. size of the fixture’s measurements and hang it from the ceiling with a piece of painters tape. It will give you a good visual of the space, how much space the light takes up and it’s height relative to the island or counter.

Take a peek at the graph below for more detailed info.

Next up, utilizing online shopping filters. I always use filters to narrow down my product options. It’s a perfect way to find exactly what you need without wasting a ton of time doing so. Nearly every site shopping has them, and once you learn how to use them you’ll save yourself hours of time!!

Here’s an example: When looking for home decor and lighting, I often turn to wayfair.com. They have a huge selection of products at competitive prices, great shopping filters for easy decision making, awesome customer service and FREE SHIPPING!

Here’s what I knew I was looking for:

• 3 single pendant lights

• industrial style

• less than 12” in diameter each (based on the length of my island)

  
  

What I hadn't yet decided on:

• fixture finish (material and color)

• fixture shape (cone, bell, dome, square, etc.)

Keeping in mind what I knew I was looking for, and what hadn’t decided on yet, I clicked on each section in the filters on the left side of the page to narrow down my options. The more specific you can be, the less you’ll have to dig through unwanted products. After imputing my requirements in the filter categories, I narrowed my options down from 35,640 to 1,800. I know what you’re thinking: 1800 is still a ton, and yes, you’re right. But, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can get through that many options. Or, if you prefer, implement more filters to narrow your choices down even more.

For me there’s a fine line between too many options and not enough. I always leave a little wiggle room on the things I can budge on in case I find something that I wasn’t expecting but really love. For example, I knew I wanted to add a touch of black in my lights, but was open to a pop of color, so I didn’t filter out any colors. Also, I wasn’t sure what shape of pendants I was looking for initially, so I left that section open as well. 

There will be a huge number of products you’ll see right away and know aren’t right. Any that interest you, throw them in your cart and keep scrolling. Once you’ve warn yourself out, click on your cart and filter through your chosen selections. 

This is where budget comes into play. If you’re stuck between two or three great options, do the math and see which fit best within your budget. Or, if you see one option that stands out above the rest, there’s your easy answer!

Below are a few of my runners-up from various websites. For a direct link to any of them, simply click on the photo and it will take you directly to the website for more information or purchasing.

So what did I pick?

Ultimately, I fell in love with this set of vintage inspired schoolhouse lights in a matte rosemary color. I love the simplicity of black and white in my kitchen but I was really looking for a fresh pop of color. I couldn’t be happier with my choice, and I’m so glad I did my research before finally deciding.

There are so many options out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But, if you utilize filters and trust your gut, you’re bound to end up with something you absolutely love that’s well within your price range!

Hopefully you can use some of the tips I’ve provided to help make your design decisions a little easier!

Happy updating!!