Start your next project with custom lighting that fits the exact needs of your space.

From beautiful shades in a range of materials and sizes to custom-length fixtures and finish options, create a light that’s perfectly personalized—and adds to the story of your home.

Check out these three steps to help get you started on the design of your own customized light fixture.

1. Choose Your Fixture



When you shop our lighting collections, you’ll find a range of fixtures in the same family of lighting. From multi-light chandeliers and pendants to flush and semi-flush options—what ties our collections together is the design of the fitter. The fitter is the part of the light that holds the shade in place. An easy way to create a cohesive look throughout your space is to use different types of lighting from the same collection.

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Customizing Length: If you are in the market for a pendant or chandelier, make sure to consider the length of the cord or down rod. Knowing your ceiling height is critical to configuring length—this measurement will determine the size and scale of your fixture. When customizing your light, be sure to take into account the total length of the overall fixture, which includes the length of your shade of choice, as well as other elements in the room like your furniture and any other existing fixtures. For tips on measuring before you order a new light fixture, read our measurement guide.

Project Tip: When measuring for a pendant or chandelier, hang a balloon from your ceiling with a string to help determine spacing (if needed) and the best length for your space.

Design Tip: If you have low ceilings, we recommend choosing one of our customizable pendants in the shortest available length or opting for a semi-flush mount instead. For sloped or vaulted ceilings, make sure the pendant you choose has a vault-mount or chain option.

2. Pick Your Finish

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After you’ve chosen your fixture, decide which finish best complements your space and personal taste. All of our styles are available in multiple finish options that coordinate with our kitchen and bath plumbing, cabinet hardware, door sets, and exterior hardware. Whether you're looking for vintage-inspired Aged Brass or sleek Polished Chrome, choose a finish that works with the hardware throughout the rest of your home.

  • Oil-Rubbed Bronze: One of our most popular finishes, Oil-Rubbed Bronze is a dark, almost black finish with warm undertones and a matte lacquer.

  • Aged Brass: Classic brass with a matte coating for a timeless vintage-inspired look.

  • Brushed Satin Brass: A gold-toned matte brass that pairs well with our Aged Brass.

  • Brushed Nickel: Nickel-plated brass with a textured, satin finish and warm undertones.

  • Polished Chrome: A popular choice after about 1930, this sleek, cool-toned silver features a clear lacquer to prevent tarnishing.

  • Black Enamel: A true black paint with a sandblasted satin finish.

  • Old Brass: Slightly darker than Aged Brass, Old Brass features a satin-brushed finish.

  • Lacquered Brass: Light gold with a lacquer coating for a long-lasting, shiny finish.

  • Burnished Antique Brass: A finely brushed, antique brown finish with a satin lacquer.

  • Unlacquered Brass: A shiny light gold with no lacquer coating, Unlacquered Brass is a living finish which means it will gradually age and develop a character-rich patina over time.

  • Polished Nickel: A classic finish, this option has a warmer tone than Polished Chrome and is not lacquered—it will darken over time for an aged look.

When choosing a lacquered finish, remember that you will need to gently clean it from time to time in order to keep it looking good for years to come. Use a damp, soft rag to simply wipe down brass elements. We do not recommend using polish, solvents, or detergents because they can possibly damage or weaken the lacquer.

Design Tip: Our hardware and lighting finishes are designed to be mixed and matched. Mix your finishes to create a more personalized look and add enduring style to your space. Need help deciding on the perfect finish? Order a set of our finish sample chips.

3. Select Your Shade

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The third step in customizing the perfect light for your home is choosing the right shade to fit your illumination needs. Shades show your style and serve a function; a clear or opal glass shade diffuses light, while a metal shade provides directional light.

Clear & Opal Glass Shades
Inspired by the high-quality craftsmanship of skilled glassmakers, our clear and opal glass shades are handblown or pressed by artisans, both in the USA and in Italy. Design-wise, clear glass shades offer an updated twist on classic silhouettes—and are the perfect way to showcase our vintage-inspired filament bulbs. Opal shades, on the other hand, create an inviting ambiance with their warm atmospheric glow.


Metal & Linen Shades
Our metal shades are crafted from spun brass and colorful, lacquered aluminum, and come in a range of finishes and vibrant colors. If you need help deciding on the right look for your metal shade, you can request a set of our finish or color sample chips. Metal shades are great for task lighting or targeted accent lighting, as the thickness of the shade means light is directed downward. Several of our lights are also available with high-quality linen shades. Linen shades provide subtle accent lighting that adds elegance and a warm glow to your dining room, living room, or bedroom.

Design Tip: From modern globe shades to classic schoolhouse designs, choose your favorite style from our wide range of options. We sell our shades separately as well, so you can always update your fixture with a shade swap in the future.


Don’t Forget a Light Bulb

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We carry light bulbs for every type of lighting and shade style. The type of bulb your light needs depends on the main purpose of your fixture and where you are installing it. If you're customizing a ceiling light for your living room, you'll need a higher wattage that provides enough light to fill the space. For more targeted illumination, like small pendants above a kitchen island, opt for less wattage to create a more relaxing, ambient lighting.

Here are the types of light bulbs that we recommend for each shade style:

Clear Shades: For clear shades, we suggest an LED filament bulb. These bulbs come in a standard or E26 base, as well as an E12 or candelabra base, depending on your fixture and fitter size. We love the look of the vintage filament style, but with the updated energy-efficiency and long lifespan of LED. For a more traditional look, we carry a variety of Edison filament bulbs.

Globe Shades: For globe shades, a globe-shaped light bulb is often an ideal choice to align with the shade silhouette. Our G30 or G40 bulbs are good solutions and are available in clear, matte, and frosted glass options.

Opal Shades: A standard white LED light bulb is best for opal shades because it offers close to 360-degree light output. The result is a well-distributed, inviting glow.

If you need more illumination than LED bulbs can offer, we carry incandescent bulbs up to 300 watts.

Get started customizing lighting for every space in your home by exploring our wide range of heirloom-quality options. Our Design Crew is always here for free one-on-one design advice—book an appointment or start a Live Chat on our site.