Decorators Address Book is a monthly series in which our Interior Design team finds out where designers like to browse and shop for their projects. Each edition focuses on a different element of home decor to bring you the best expert-recommended stores.
For our July edition of Decorator’s Address Book, we’re focusing on lighting ideas. Whether you’re looking for light fixtures to make a dramatic statement with the latest lighting trends or want something understated and timeless, lighting hugely affects how every room in our homes looks and feels. And so, knowing which brands offer the best lighting is important to ensure you have the right options to best suit your space and cater to your design style.
We spoke to interior designers to get their recommendations on the best places to shop for lighting, which we’ve rounded up below. Tried and tested by experts throughout interior design projects, these brands and stores have become firm favorites for designers, who rely on them for their unique designs and high quality. Read on to take a deep dive into the best places to shop for lighting.
1. The Urban Electric Co.
(Image credit: Betsy Wentz Interior Design, photography Carmel Brantley)
Betsy Wentz, interior designer and founder of Betsy Wentz Interior Design
‘To me, lighting can make or break a room. It is one place where I think it’s worth it to splurge. My favorite place to source lighting is Urban Electric. You can customize the finishes and add paint colors. This lighting is like adding a piece of artwork to your room.’
Nadia Watts, interior designer and founder of Nadia Watts Interior Design
‘Urban Electric has a bit of something for everyone. They offer a huge selection of lighting in an even bigger selection of colors and finishes. Whether I am shopping for a historical preservation, a modern new build, or a cozy remodel, Urban Electric has options for it all.’
2. Visual Comfort & Co.
(Image credit: Carrier and Company, photography Thomas Loof)
Kristina Khersonsky, interior designer and founder of STUDIO KEETA
‘Visual Comfort has been one of our go-to’s recently. Besides having representatives who are invested in helping find a solution for our projects, their selection of fixtures stretches near and far supporting any lighting needs.’
‘In regards to decorative fixtures, our studio’s designs vary from client to client. Some days we are sourcing a more eclectic piece, whereas other days we have a need for a traditional silhouette. The array of styles and designers that Visual Comfort carries is unparalleled.’
Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller, founding principals of Carrier and Co.
‘Our favorite place to buy lighting is Visual Comfort. Their assortment is unlike any other retailer or manufacturer and the quality and customer service are equally impressive. The wide offering by Visual Comfort allows us to specify lighting for any project. We have also partnered with Visual Comfort to design our own collection of Carrier and Company pieces. We were thrilled to include our Hastings pendants in the kitchen of this recent project.’
Jennifer Davis, founder and principal designer at Davis Interiors
‘I love sourcing lighting from Visual Comfort because they offer the best range of styles and price points, making it a breeze to find the perfect pieces for our projects. The quality and design of their products consistently exceed my expectations. Whether I need a statement chandelier or subtle accent lighting, Visual Comfort is always my go-to source.’
Soledad Alzaga, interior designer and founder of Soledad Alzaga Interior Design
‘My favorite place to shop for lights is Visual Comfort. They have a great selection of brands and designers and a beautiful showroom and website. They have great customer service that helps you find alternatives if something you want is not in stock or works better for what you need.’
3. 1stDibs
(Image credit: Caroline Kopp Interior Design, photography Laura Moss)
Caroline Kopp, founder and principal designer at Caroline Kopp Interior Design
‘I like to buy lighting on 1stDibs. They have a huge selection of both vintage lighting and unique artisan lighting that is made-to-order and customizable. This way you get lighting that is individual to your home and I’ve found very good colored fixtures there as well.’
4. Porta Romana
(Image credit: Jenny Luck Interiors, photographer Darren Chung)
Jenny Luck, interior designer and founder of Jenny Luck Interiors
‘Porta Romana is a favorite of mine, the light fittings exude luxury with their sculptural designs and often feel like a piece of art rather than a light fitting which really elevates my interior schemes.’
5. Quittner
(Image credit: Quittner/photo Phil Mansfield)
Nadia Watts, interior designer and founder of Nadia Watts Interior Design
‘Quittner offers historically informed lighting with a focus on proportions and special attention to detail. They source and manufacture locally and prioritize renewable materials. The lighting is designed to last a century, right alongside the antiques that inspire the lighting design.’
6. Build.com
(Image credit: Draper Grey Interiors, photography Polina Pigulevsky)
Kelly Challberg, principal designer at Draper Grey Interiors
‘Build.com has such a wide array of gorgeous light fixtures, and their website makes it easy to filter down to exactly what you need. These sconce lights from Savoy House completely change the mood of the space.’
7. Apparatus Studio
(Image credit: r.a.d. Interiors/Bismark project, photography Kristin Karch)
Ryan Austin Hagood, Principal Designer at r.a.d. Interiors
‘My go-to high-end lighting showroom is Apparatus Studio in New York. They create some of the most stunning and ethereal lighting fixtures that truly qualify as works of art.’
8. Etsy
Ashley Ferguson, owner and principal designer at Ashley Ferguson Interiors
‘My favorite place to buy lighting currently is Etsy. You can get some great-looking, unique pieces at a great price. Lighting is historically really important to create great design and is typically very expensive. Etsy can help fill that void between being super expensive and a great look.’
9. Arteriors Home
(Image credit: Smith Home Studios, photography Raquel Langworthy)
Jamie Lyn Smith of Smith Home Studios
‘Arteriors Home has a fantastic and unique array of lighting to meet almost any decor style. I particularly love their bohemian-inspired chandeliers that add natural elements to a space. We used the Tilda Small Chandelier in the entry hall of our Lloyd Project. The curving form and irregular wood dowels provided the perfect sense of lightness and whimsy to this charming home.’
10. Hudson Valley Lighting Group
(Image credit: Bethany Adams Interiors, J.L. Jordan Photography)
Bethany Adams, interior designer and founder of Bethany Adams Interiors
‘One of my favorite lighting sources is Hudson Valley Lighting Group. They have a wide variety of styles but tend to hit the transitional nail on the head, which is what I’m looking for. The price points are accessible and they’re great to work with too.’
11. Luke Lamp Co.
(Image credit: Kyle Dutton Homes, photography Molly Culver)
Kyle Dutton of Kyle Dutton Homes
‘A favorite of mine is Luke Lamp Co. in New York. When looking for something unique and a true statement piece, Luke Lamp Co. does not disappoint. In a recent kitchen remodel, we installed a one-of-a-kind Tracer Bar over the kitchen island. The client loved the modern look of the chandelier and was able to make it their own by draping the rope light in their own unique design. In addition to great quality, Luke Lamp Co. also provides stellar customer service and support.’
12. Sourced by Janet Wiebe
Kyle Dutton of Kyle Dutton Homes
‘Another favorite would be Janet Wiebe of @sourcedbyjanetwiebe. I love the colorful and whimsical fixtures she sells via Instagram and vintage pieces that she finds on her travels in Europe at various design shows across the country. I love incorporating vintage pieces and always find something that is fun and fresh.’
13. Collier Webb
(Image credit: Lucinda Sanford Design, photographer Astrid Templier)
Lucinda Sanford, interior designer and founder of Lucinda Sanford Design
‘The metal finishes of Collier Webb really are impeccable, or if you want a more rustic finish they can offer this. Collier Webb can offer a bespoke experience and deliver on interesting designs and quality of pieces.’
14. David Hunt
(Image credit: Lucinda Sanford Design, photographer Astrid Templier)
Lucinda Sanford, interior designer and founder of Lucinda Sanford Design
‘David Hunt has some wonderful colors and designs that make a statement. The quality is excellent you feel that there is a connection between those who are selling, making, and designing.’
15. Blu Dot
(Image credit: Amanda Wiss/Steph Everett)
Amanda Wiss, founder and CEO of Urban Staging
‘I turn to Blu Dot for lighting. We love little pops of color, and so much of their inventory gives us a muted flash of color in every room. Their lights have a modern sensibility that is sophisticated and playful.’
Whether you’re in the early stages of a home remodel or are looking to refresh your home’s decor with furnishings, lighting is one of the most important parts of the decorating process. Not only will lighting create ambiance in a room, but the right light fixtures will reflect your interior design style, from farmhouse decor to traditional decorating ideas.
With these expert-suggested places to shop for lighting, you’ll be on track to incorporate the most stylish options into your home, whatever your budget.
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