FIXTURES ARE SCULPTURES

“I love decorative lighting [because] you get to play with silhouette, scale, material and finish. A great fixture adds personality to a room before you ever turn it on.” Not every light needs to steal the show, though—pick one or two standouts.

KEEP IT WARM

“Warm light is simply more flattering, more relaxing and more inviting after dark. It’s really nice when you can match lighting temperature across fixtures.” Hans specifically recommends 2700 Kelvin or lower bulbs.

DIMMERS ARE YOUR FRIEND

“Dimmers allow you to dial in the mood you’re looking for at any time of day. It is a game changer.” Hosting and reading and working out all require different light levels. Dimmers make that simple.

CONSIDERED LIGHTING

“Consider the quality and direction of light you want. Each choice gives the room a slightly different mood.” Chandeliers fill the room with a soft, ambient glow while pendants define vignettes with focused downlight. Long tables can handle two pendants or a linear chandelier.

COMFORT IS KEY

“Comfort matters a lot too. Let’s think about those chairs.” If people are truly going to linger over food and conversation, consider something upholstered with arms. Really consider how you’ll use the room.

THE RIGHT CHOICE

“Contrast between the table and chairs is almost always more interesting than matching.” Think two different materials instead of a matching set—or if you do go for a set, bring in contrast elsewhere in the room with texture and color.

THE ANCHOR PIECE

“The anchor is … what makes a room feel grounded.” This will usually be the coffee table, and when it comes to sizing, your best bet is something about two-thirds the width of the sofa. Also a perfect place to infuse personality via material, texture and styling.

THE IT FACTOR

“Contrast … is what gives a room visual life. The conversation between pieces.” Mix furniture of different weights—weightier pieces with lighter ones. Different materials, colors and textures. The contrast is what makes a room feel intentional rather than simply furnished.

ON ENCLOSURE

“When you start adding elements around [the sofa]... watch how quickly it starts to feel like somewhere.” Adding side tables, lamps and other pieces next to sofas and chairs creates a sense of enclosure—which is exactly what makes a living room feel cozy.

GUIDE THE LIGHT

“Different lights at different heights.” Don’t over-rely on overhead lighting. Your bedroom should have several light sources. A bedside lamp or sconce for reading, a floor lamp in the corner, a table lamp on the dresser. All working together to set the mood.

THE TWO BIGGEST DECISIONS

“The color and pattern of the rug and bed set the tone for everything else in the room.” Hans recommends choosing interesting large pieces. They’ll carry the room and do most of the work. Think about the atmosphere you want to create: soft and soothing, or a bit bolder?

SOFT CONTRAST

“Bedrooms should feel a little softer than other rooms.” But that doesn’t mean they can’t have contrast. Here, it can come in the form of textured linen against a smooth stone, or a warm wood against a neutral headboard. You still want the room to be interesting.