Last fall I was in the middle of a home renovation project, and doom scrolled through thousands of light fixtures in search of clean, modern designs I didn't hate. Although normally I would consult my Edge colleagues looking for the best Black Friday TV and laptop deals, it didn't initially occur to me to look for seasonal deals in the more contractor-oriented category of wired LED light fixtures. In fact, many large lighting companies hold significant Black Friday sales.
Luckily, I finalized our lighting picks just before Black Friday 2023 and then saved hundreds of dollars by ordering almost all of the pendant, recessed, outdoor sconces, and track lights we needed by the end of Cyber Monday. If you're embarking on your home renovation, let this be your public service announcement to save a few bucks when you place your lighting order this weekend!
Lighting is a very subjective interior design decision, so this is not a definitive guide to the best light fixtures in the world. But these are all the accessories that I installed in my house, that I used for several months and the like. In general, I was looking for hardwired LED fixtures with a modern design, dimmer compatibility, and a color temperature of 2700K (the warmer, flattering end of the spectrum; don't make your home feel like an operating room with 3000K or higher! ). I also generally prefer fixtures that give off softer, more diffuse light rather than harsh directional spotlights.
Typically, these are all in the $100 to $500 range; You can get cheaper accessories at your hardware store, but I plan to live in my house until I die. I've also included some of West Elm's contract fixtures on this list, which aren't on sale this weekend, but I think they still offer a good value. If you're in the middle of a renovation, you should already be getting used to the impact of stickers on all materials, including lighting. Hopefully, shopping this weekend can help you score beautiful accessories while staying on budget.
Offers on beautiful hanging lamps
If you have a reasonably high ceiling or need fixtures to use over a dining table or kitchen island, a pendant is a good option for ambient lighting that is softer and more pleasant than recessed ceiling lighting.
A classic mid-century design by George Nelson for Hermann Miller that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. They give off a pleasant, soft light and look great alone in an office or bedroom with high ceilings, or mounted in a line above the dining room table.
A great kitchen island pendant. The built-in LED is bright enough to illuminate tasks while cooking, but the copper interior gives it a warm, cozy feel if you have island seating. It comes in several shapes, so you can mix and match or add more fun with a trio of different profiles.
$159
A good asylum pendant that we used in a high ceiling dressing room. It has a beautiful milk glass bulb that emits a diffuse but bright light.
We used this pendant to update the old tin lamp in our nursery; see the conversion kit below. It's a happy little spot with a nice fade.
A conversion kit to turn old can lights into pendants
If you're not planning a larger renovation, you can still make a big improvement to existing rooms by upgrading the main light fixture. In our son's nursery, we used this conversion kit to change an old 90s light can in the ceiling for a dimmable LED pendant lamp with a much softer, more pleasant light. Just make sure you have a very stable ladder and test-drive your assembly on the ground first.
$22
An affordable kit that screws onto most antique lamps, allowing you to hang a pendant lamp.
$11
Depending on the size of the pendant light and the diameter of your pendant light's ceiling mount, you may also need a small ceiling medallion to disguise the old opening. Before installing, paint the plastic Roof White to give it a more matte texture.
Offers on recessed lights
For ceilings that are too low to hang a pendant, a flush mount fixture is the next best way to avoid harsh recessed lights. Possibly the most famous flush mount fixture is the light of the titsbut you can do much better without having to spend a lot of money.
This is a nice light for a bedroom or office with a low ceiling. The lampshade has a nice linen texture that gives off a nice, diffused light.
$179
We use this built-in mount in our open pantry. It's a brighter light than you might want in a bedroom, although with a dimmer it could work well in most low-ceilinged rooms. The textured open screen gives it a nice atmosphere.
A good deal on track lights.
If you have beams or a more industrial open ceiling, you may be looking for track lights. These are generally not my favorite way to light a space as they can look harsh and industrial, but when combined with other layers of light (ideally floor lamps and some uplighting) they can provide good illumination for tasks in a kitchen, office or workshop.
We found that the most attractive track lighting systems were inexplicably expensive, perhaps geared toward more commercial installations. This is what we finally installed over our main room, a very nice, low profile system that comes in black or white.
Additional track heads for the Nora MAC LED track system.
Offers on outdoor lighting
When choosing outdoor lighting, you want something suitable for humid spaces. Sustainability and dark sky best practices We recommend that any outdoor pathway fixture emit downward-directed light from a recessed light bulb.
We chose these simple sconces to illuminate the front door and hallway. They come in black and white and are compatible with dimmers, something we don't find in many outdoor lighting fixtures.
We placed these pendants on a covered porch where a closed balloon would likely have trapped bugs. They have a rigid pole but the shade can swing a bit, making them a good option next to a ceiling fan.
A deal on an expensive but stunning eye-catching wall light
Our biggest splurge was the Tom Dixon Melt collection. These are wild acrylic stains that when turned off form a perfect metallic mirror and when turned on become transparent with a warm and interesting glow. They also come as pendants, chandeliersand small rechargeable table lights.
A very modern wall light that looks like a metal mirror when turned off, with a warm and interesting glow when turned on.
