One of the simplest and most effective ways to give your home personality is to introduce architectural character through lighting. Swapping generic or dated fixtures for thoughtfully chosen lights instantly defines a room and elevates the overall style.
Distinctive light fixtures make an impression and tell a story, making them an excellent way to personalize any house.
Below I compare fixtures from my former home and my current house and share how I used Barn Light pieces to shape a casual coastal farmhouse look. These lights are great because they mix and match easily and combine well with other styles to create a unique aesthetic for each room.
I use lighting to create my version of a relaxed coastal beach house/farmhouse. At the end of this post you’ll find the specific fixtures and options I selected.
Builder-grade fixtures are often bland and don’t reveal anything about the homeowner. Replacing basic lights is one of the quickest design wins and one of the first updates I recommend when refreshing a space.
Barn Light Electric offers many styles and finishes, so you can tailor each fixture to fit the room and achieve a cohesive, custom feel throughout the home.
Updating fixtures can be done gradually, room by room. It’s an affordable, high-impact refresh—there’s always excitement when a new light is installed!
Enjoy these ideas for adding personality and character with lighting. Below are the Barn Light fixtures I used and their specifications.
Barn Light Sources (above):
1. Union Stem Mount Pendant Light (in my map hallway)
Options: Shade Size: 12″; Finish: 355-Jadite; Mounting: 6″ Stem | ½” Diameter; Mounting Finish: Same as Shade; Canopy: Hang Straight Canopy; Wire Cage: None; Cast Guard & Glass: None.
2. Sydney Stem Mount Pendant Light (in my son’s room)
Options: Shade Size: 16″; Finish: 975-Galvanized; Guard Finish: 400-Barn Red; Glass: Clear; Socket: Standard Medium Base E26.
3. Union Stem Mount Pendant Light (in my kitchen)
Options: Shade Size: 16″; Finish: 250-White; Mounting: Flush Mount; Mounting Finish: Same as Shade; Canopy: Hang Straight Canopy; Wire Cage: None; Cast Guard & Glass: Cast Guard & Ribbed Glass.
4. Wallaby Stem Mount Pendant Light (in my laundry room)
Options: Shade Size: 12″; Finish: 307-Emerald Green; Guard Finish: Same as Shade; Glass: Clear Crackle Glass; Socket: Standard Medium Base E26.