What are feature lights and how to use them best

Lighting design is an art and feature lights are a vital part of that. They can drastically transform the look and feel of a space, making it a powerful asset in the right hands. We've covered everything you need to know about featuring lighting to help you enhance your home.

Feature lights are those designed to act as a focal point in space. They are typically highly decorative and aesthetic, adding ambience and mood while making a statement of style. Traditionally, pendant lighting has been used as feature lights including chandeliers but increasingly other types of lights are being utilised like floor lamps and wall sconces.

Feature lights are a high-impact option when it comes to lighting and design, utilised in both residential and commercial settings.

As we've just mentioned, several different types of lights can be used as feature lights giving you plenty of interesting options to consider.

Pendant lights

Pendant lights hang from the ceiling and generally contribute to the ambient light in a room. From elegant chandeliers to abstract light installations, pendant lights make some of the best large-fixture feature lights that you will find.

Floor lamps

Floor lamps are incredibly versatile as feature lights. They can be used as task lights for a favourite reading nook, accents for highlighting decorative elements, and even command attention on their own as ambient light providers. A sculptural floor lamp can often be used as a central design feature of the room; a piece of art in its own right — offering both function and beauty.

Lamps can make bold feature lighting statements.

Wall sconces

Wall light fixtures like wall sconces are another great option especially with more and more designer lights coming onto the market. When used as feature lights, they can almost be treated like a piece of wall art and can add sophistication and expression to a space.

Linear lights

The recent evolution of linear lights and the designer influence in their form make them a great option as a feature light. Their popular use over long dining tables and kitchen islands makes them an even more appropriate choice as rooms where most want to make an impression.

LED strip lights

LED strip lights are comparatively newer light fixtures which makes them quite a unique choice. They are incredibly versatile with the ability to be shaped and manipulated in an endless number of ways. The use of LEDs gives you even more options as they can often be adjusted by strength and colour temperature for different looks.

Related article: 13 types of light fixtures and how to use them

Designing the best feature lighting for a space is always going to come down to personal taste, but there are a few questions that are worth asking to help inform your eventual choice.

1. What is the function of the room?

Feature lighting will play a different role depending on the function of the room. For example, a bedroom which is typically a private space used in the evening, will call for a different mood than a communal area like a living room used during the day or a kitchen which is more task-orientated. As nice as a feature light might look, you don't want its presence to detract from the functionality of a room so it's important to make yourself aware of this.

2. What does the rest of the room look like?

If you’re starting with a blank canvas, the opportunities for feature lighting are endless. However, it’s important to consider the size and configuration of the space and the design aims. Conversely, if feature lighting is being specified for a space that is already furnished, the considerations will be different. For example, a room with considerable furniture and various textures and colours may suit more pared-back feature lighting while a large, cavernous room with high ceilings might be well occupied by an oversized and captivating chandelier. Again, it's about making sure you don't view your choices in isolation from their setting.

3. Where — and how bright — are the other lights in the room?

While the job of feature lighting is mostly seen as aesthetic, its light output needs to be considered, given its purpose isn't solely decorative.

If the room already incorporates a combination of task and ambient lighting, you'll want to be sure that the brightness and colour temperature of your feature light balance with them. You'll also want to be sure that the room is sufficiently lit in areas it needs to be, a job your feature light may need to fulfil. Dimmer switches are often a good option to give you some flexibility with respect to this.

4. What colour lights do you want?

There once was a time when the only colour you get from light was the familiar tungsten glow of an incandescent bulb. With the range of LED lighting options available today, however, you have a much broader colour palette to play with when designing feature lighting, beyond the traditional cool to warm colour temperature scale of traditional lighting options. As previously mentioned, colour plays an enormous role in creating the mood of a room, so make these decisions carefully.

Think about the colours that exist in the space you’re lighting and what colour light could enhance their appearance. If you install colour-changing lights, you can change the colour of your feature lighting as you change the interior design of your room, protecting you in the long term.

Related article: Colour temperature and lighting — 5 tips to help you choose

5. How high are your ceilings?

Ceiling height has a big influence on how well a chandelier or pendant light will suit a room. This is especially important for lights with fixed hanging lengths or when choosing lighting for a dining table or kitchen island.

Measure your ceiling height before you start your search and save yourself the pain of choosing something you love only to later find it would hang too close to the table or kitchen bench.

For rooms with low ceilings, something like a flush mount light could be considered. While it might not be as spectacular as a pendant light, you can find options that will impart a significant amount of style in a space.

Whether you're after the perfect pendant light or a stylish lamp, a feature light can make a real impact in your home, bringing all elements in a room together. By being aware of all the options and knowing what questions to ask yourself, you can make the best choice that will deliver in every way you need it to.

(This article was updated on 18th December 2023)