The gen pop of TikTok and the elite world of interior designers don't always overlap in the Venn diagram of internet opinions. But when it comes to overhead lights, a.k.a. #thebiglight, the two worlds are generally in agreement. The united stance? It's a big no-no to overhead lighting—whether that's recessed lighting, track lighting, or the infamous boob light.
A quick search of "the big light" on TikTok will yield endless results of often Gen Z creators taking stances against overhead lighting, saying it's an attack on the senses, sterile and hospital-like, and even “makes you look ugly.” And while that all may sound a bit extreme, many interior designers actually agree that overhead lighting can get in the way of creating that cozy, inviting ambiance we all want in our homes.
Here's what you need to know about the debate about overhead lighting and some alternative ideas for how you can create the perfect lighting environment in your own home.
The Arguments For and Against Overhead Lighting
While design aesthetics are largely subjective, lighting design isn't just about how something looks, but how it makes you feel, too.
“Something I appreciate about our younger generation is their focus on mental health, so it's not surprising they've picked up on something designers have always known: Lighting has an impact on your emotions," says interior designer Galey Alix of Galey Alix Design.
Alix especially believes in keeping the lights low—and resisting the big light switch after sunset. “[In the evening], most of us are in our homes trying to settle in and let our cortisol levels recalibrate from the chaos of the day," she says. "If someone turns on my recessed ceiling lights at full brightness past 7 pm, it's a full assault on my nervous system.”
The big light does have a time and place, and even some fans, like designer and content creator Fariha Nasir, who says the topic is more of a cultural take than anything else. “I’m from Pakistan, and in our homes there, we have giant white tubelights on the ceiling in addition to other light sources, so turning on ‘the big light’ is a given; it’s in our genes,” she explains. “When I moved to the US, every home seemed dark. However romantic and relaxing soft ambient light sources seem, for meal times and awake evening hours, we always have the big light on.”
Jourdan Fairchild, a designer in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, agrees there are circumstances where overhead lighting is especially useful. “The big light is good for specific needs, like game night," she says. "Plus, it adds some nice oomph to the ceiling.”
So, no matter which side of the argument you stand on, you don't necessarily have to go all or nothing on your stance. You can find use or avoid the big light as you please.
Alternatives to Overhead Lighting
Here are five designer-approved ways to create ambience, add coziness and calm your nervous system by ditching the big light.
Get Everything on a Dimmer
Every designer tapped for this story—whether they were pro or against overhead lighting—agreed on this one thing: “If you have overhead lighting, it must be on a dimmer, no question,” says designer and stylist Emily Henderson. This lets you take any of your hardwired sconces, chandeliers and yes, even can lights, and customize them to be brighter for task-oriented things, and less intense to relax. “It's also helpful to have softer white bulbs in these lights to create a warmer glow, but being able to bring them down further with a dimmable switch is the real game-changer,” adds Alix.
Keep Lighting at or Below Eye Level
With the exception of chandeliers with shades and some decorative pendant lamps, design content creator Deema Tabbara Lopez “loathes” ceiling lights. “They stress me out," she says. "I’m happiest when my light is coming from eye level.” After all, lower lighting is often associated with intimate settings, though keep in mind when setting up task lighting ,such as in a reading nook, it’s important to have your light source be a little above eye level to reduce glare and eye strain.
Layer Your Lighting
When you hear a designer talk about “layered lighting,” they simply mean bringing light into a room from varied sources, such as table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces, the latter being a favorite tool of Thea Bloch-Neal, founder and lead designer at Curated by Thea. ”There are so many rechargeable LED options now that don’t require hardwiring,” she advises. “Add to that floor lamps, which can brighten an entire room while adding a sculptural touch and small table lamps that bring soft, focused light exactly where you need it; they tend to be more energy efficient, too.”
Keep Adding More and More Lamps for More Light
At least that’s Tabbara Lopez’s strategy. The design influencer likes to go full Nancy Meyers—whose movie set designs are well known for their many table lamps. Though unlike much of what you see on TikTok, Tabbara Lopez says you can be anti big light and also want to be able to see in your home. “I have bad vision and I don’t like my rooms too dim, so instead I have 500 lamps,” she jokes. “Can’t it be both? Lit up but not from the ceiling? I currently have three lamps in my living room and that’s not enough yet. I have table lamps on my kitchen counter, in my bathroom—everywhere.”
Consider Plug-In Lights for Areas Like Hallways.
There are some areas of the home where overhead lights seem inevitable for navigation, like hallways and stairwells, but Alix presents another option: “Use soft white plug-in lights in the outlets in these areas, where you might otherwise turn on high hats to see your pathway,” the designer suggests. “These allow for functional lighting in high-traffic areas without having to blast your walkway with high-exposure ceiling lights. Utilizing lighting closer to the ground with plug-in lights creates a wonderful and soothing ambiance in the evening without the cost of running new electrical in the walls for sconces." You can even find options that will automatically turn on when the sun sets or when you approach, which makes them even more convenient, Alix adds.
Read more at Real Simple
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