20 Best Lighting Ideas on Instagram

If there's one design element that can completely transform both the look and feel of a room, it's the lighting. The right light fixture can make a space feel dark and moody or light and airy, and refresh almost any home with a new vibe. Your choice of lighting can reinforce your design style or infuse a room with unique décor for a more eclectic look.

If you're thinking of replacing your old lights, start by thinking about the type of mood and style you're hoping to evoke. Vintage pendant chandeliers can create a mix-matched but intentional look, while a simple oversized white lantern brings a touch of personality to minimalist spaces.

Keep scrolling for 20 of the best lighting ideas on Instagram, from modern to contemporary (and everything in-between).

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Try a Pair of Pendants

best lighting on instagram — Nina Freudenberger

This stunning all-black kitchen feels incredibly contemporary with sleek cabinetry, a glamorous backsplash with an agate marbled design, and a vase of chic branches. Of course, the lighting is equally impressive. Two identical Allied Maker globe pendant lights hang from the ceiling above the bar counter to tie the room together and provide just the right amount of light.

Allied Maker Arc Globe 10" $1,100.00

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02 of 20

Offset Earthy Hues With Metallics

In this stunning space, earthy tones blend throughout the kitchen and draw the eye around the room. Minimal gold accents on the cabinetry hardware set the stage for the real showstopper: a metallic 12-light modern chandelier. Simple white globes complement bright walls, upper cabinetry, and countertops.

03 of 20

Stay Contemporary

This living room features a tall floor lamp with a gold base and white shade. It's tucked away in the corner between a green velvet sofa and a rustic accent chair, and we love the coffee table candelabras that complement its gold hues. If your space is lacking overhead light, consider a similar floor lamp to illuminate your room in style.

04 of 20

Find Your Focal Point

This blooming chandelier mimics the flowers styled in this dining area. In another gorgeous example of using accents for a dynamic design, the gold hardware on the chandelier serves as a focal point, and it draws the eye downward to the dining chairs' gold legs. Soft pastel hues keep the space feeling warm, inviting, and elegant with feminine touches.

05 of 20

Be Chic With Chandeliers

What better way to enjoy a bubble bath than beneath a contemporary chandelier? This white bathroom feels so much more luxurious thanks to the geometric gold chandelier from World Market that hangs above the freestanding tub. Paired with wall art, plants, and light blue Roman shades, this is bathroom décor done right.

World Market Antique Brass Orb 5 Light Chandelier $75.00 $68.00

06 of 20

Remember the Function

The stylist paid close attention to creating a functional design in this airy bedroom's lighting. Two wall-mounted sconces on either side of the bed are perfect for winding down and reading a book in bed without too much bright light at night. Plus, we can't get enough of the natural light that pours in each morning through this chic curtain wall.

For a bonus feature on your bedroom's wall-mounted sconces, install touch settings or light switches next to each side of the bed to turn them off easily when you're ready to go to sleep.

07 of 20

Contrast Black and White

Light meets dark with a major pop of contrast in this dining area. The modern globe chandelier, with black hardware and white bulbs, perfectly offsets the black dining table and all-white walls. A textured rug incorporates both hues, while mid-century modern dining chairs in a natural wood finish bring in just enough warmth to make the space feel inviting.

08 of 20

Blend Rustic With Boho

This rustic white bedroom feels straight from the French countryside thanks to its weathered shiplap walls and ceilings. While there are many design elements to be admired in this textured bedroom, it was the oversized pendant lantern light by Design Within Reach that really caught our eye. We also love how this area rug mimics a stone floor for a finished design that brings the outdoors in.

Design Within Reach Nelson Saucer Bubble Pendant $695.00

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09 of 20

Add a Touch of Vintage

Create a mix of styles and eras with a vintage pendant light. This white paneled front entry evokes modern cottage vibes that are contrasted by this rustic green fixture with intricate designs. It's a great example of how to incorporate vintage in any space.

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Create a Glowing Ambiance

Whether you're currently living in a winter wonderland or enjoying the sunny days of summer, this idea will glow up your evening to the max. An oversized salt lamp on the floor creates the perfect soft, inviting ambiance to curl up with a good book or plan a movie night. With a few candles and string lights strategically placed outside the window, this living room is plenty bright without overwhelming light.

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Consider the Scale

We've seen glass pendant lights before, but nothing like this attention-grabbing oversized bulb. We can't get enough of this space, from the way the fixture softly lights up to the room to its subtle play on the black bed frame thanks to the black hardware. Bright white hues on the bedding and styled fresh flowers on the side table add a hint of contrast while bringing a lush, airy feeling to the room.

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Work With Symmetry

Globe sconces by Cedar and Moss flank both sides of this brass arched mirror. These sconces are a chic alternative to traditional overhead lighting in the bathroom, and they contribute to the contemporary style of the space. We love how the white-painted walls seem to blend into the lighting, shower curtain, and tilework for a minimalist effect.

Cedar and Moss Alto Sconce 6" $219.00

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13 of 20

Glam-Up Traditional

This modern bathroom is styled with traditional accents like wall sconces and round mirrors. The couples' sinks leave plenty of space for function, along with wall-mounted shelving, while creating an element of balance and central focus. Black light fixtures match the mirrors' frames and hardware on the sink and cabinets for a dynamic finish.

If you're trying to choose between shades of white for your bathroom, opt for one that has similar undertones to your tile—like this soft, almost-gray shade that brings out the tile's marbled accents.

14 of 20

Style Woven Accents

Natural materials like jute, rattan, and wicker are all the rage (and for good reason). This kitchen puts the trend on full display: The white space is grounded by dark hardwood floors and the rope and wicker pendant light that slinks down above the kitchen island. It softens the crisp white interior and makes this space feel relaxed and welcoming.

15 of 20

Create a Statement

We're obsessed with how these muted earthy shades complement bright white walls and deep black accents in this dining area. A few pops of bright color come out in the wall art and upholstered seating, which is set below a stunning modern chandelier that gives us serious art deco vibes. The light fixture's clean lines work beautifully alongside a sleek table, while the subtle rounded angles complement the shape of the chairs.

16 of 20

Make Modern Feel Inviting

This dreamy living room is a glamorous space featuring a large white sofa, floor-to-ceiling curtains, a mid-century modern credenza, and an off-white accent armchair. The room is framed by a large area rug, while the focal point of the space is undoubtedly the Troy Lighting Sputnik globe chandelier on the ceiling. The gold and black details look luxe and feel fresh.

Troy Lighting Ace 8-Light Chandelier $920.00

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17 of 20

Embrace Maximalism

If you lean toward maximalism in your style, this bedroom is for you. Bright, vibrant hues are carefully chosen to stay within a cohesive color scheme, while white accents like the side tables, small lamps, and bedding set the stage for a white globe chandelier. We especially love how the rounded shapes on the light fixture complement the bed frame and wall mural.

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Match Up Your Furniture

Black metal accents are the unsung hero that ties this open dining and living space together. Metal dining chairs and a black bookshelf are styled alongside this modern chandelier, which brings out warm colors in its Edison bulbs to complement the room's décor. A few earthy colors in the rug and greenery bring cooler tones to the space in a sleek, minimal way.

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Use Multiple Light Sources

Layered lighting is everything in this open-concept kitchen and dining space. We love how the curved lines in the wall sconces and chandelier play off the modern artwork, which brings out minimal warm colors and a strong contrast with deep black shapes. Paired with a black set of dining chairs and dark countertops, this all-white room is anything but flat.

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Keep It Artsy

This glass house design is sleek and modern, but its unique light fixtures bring an air of artsy playfulness to the space. Gold hardware on the lighting matches the sink and cabinetry hardware while hanging gracefully above the oversized kitchen island. Our favorite part: The two-toned colors on the lights match the room's black and neutral hues.

Interior Designers Share Their Lighting Ideas and Tips

Try a Pair of Pendants

Offset Earthy Hues With Metallics

Stay Contemporary

Find Your Focal Point

Be Chic With Chandeliers

Remember the Function

Contrast Black and White

Blend Rustic With Boho

Add a Touch of Vintage

Create a Glowing Ambiance

Consider the Scale

Work With Symmetry

Glam-Up Traditional

Style Woven Accents

Create a Statement

Make Modern Feel Inviting

Embrace Maximalism

Match Up Your Furniture

Use Multiple Light Sources

Keep It Artsy

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20 of the Best Lighting Ideas We Found on Instagram

Try a Pair of Pendants

Offset Earthy Hues With Metallics

Stay Contemporary

Find Your Focal Point

Be Chic With Chandeliers

Remember the Function

Contrast Black and White

Blend Rustic With Boho

Add a Touch of Vintage

Create a Glowing Ambiance

Consider the Scale

Work With Symmetry

Glam-Up Traditional

Style Woven Accents

Create a Statement

Make Modern Feel Inviting

Embrace Maximalism

Match Up Your Furniture

Use Multiple Light Sources

Keep It Artsy

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