If there’s one question we get more than almost any other, it’s “Is there a budget-friendly version?” Whether we’re talking about furniture, decor, lighting… and, we get it. Getting the look for less is practically a sport. It’s fun! And some of the lookalikes will make you do a double take! (Those are the best ones…)
Lighting is one of the main players in any room — and arguably one of the most important. It’s a design element that adds visual weight and significance, but it also does the work of setting ambiance, warmth, and mood. For those reasons, it’s the one category we’d almost always spend a little more on than other decor in a room. Most of the lighting in our home is from Visual Comfort, partly for the quality, but often because designer lighting is available in larger sizes.
Full transparency, though: after years of working in this industry, we get trade pricing on a lot of it — which makes a “splurge” an easier call for us than it should be for anyone paying retail. That’s a big part of why I wanted to write this post. We believe great design is available at every price point (enough that one of the lookalikes below is a light we designed ourselves — more on that in a minute).
Which brings us to the biggest mistake you can make with lighting — and it has nothing to do with price: going too small. An undersized fixture is the fastest way to make a room feel a little “off,” even when everything else is right. So before you order, get out that tape measure — it’s worth the two minutes.
And it works the other way, too — bigger isn’t automatically better. A fixture can absolutely be too large for a space, whether that’s a chandelier that overwhelms a small dining nook or a pendant hung so low in a room with 8′ ceilings that you’re ducking around it. Ceiling height is the real gatekeeper here: a room with 8′ ceilings simply needs a smaller, more compact fixture than one with 10′ ceilings, purely for function (this is the moment where a semi-flush mount shines). So just because a 36″ fixture looks right in our home doesn’t mean it’s the right call for yours. Your ceiling height, room size, and how the space is used all get a vote.
Here are a few proportions we come back to again and again:
- Dining pendants and chandeliers: Add the room’s length and width in feet, and that sum in inches is a good starting diameter. A 12′ × 14′ room lands around a 26″ fixture. Over a table specifically, aim for a fixture about half to two-thirds the width of the table, hung so the bottom sits roughly 30–36″ above the tabletop.
- Entryways and two-story foyers: Hang the fixture so the bottom clears at least 7′ of floor space, and center it in a window if it’ll be visible from outside.
- Ceiling height: A good rule is 2–3″ of fixture height for every foot of ceiling — so a 9′ ceiling can carry an 18–27″ tall fixture without feeling heavy.
One more thing before we get to the roundup: “save” doesn’t mean settling. A few of the picks below are ones I’d argue are the smarter choice no matter your budget — a plug-in sconce that skips the electrician, a cordless picture light that can move from rental to rental. Splurge or save, the goal is the same: the right light, at the right scale, in a space you love.
A note on scale: many of these picks run slightly smaller than what we have, since size tends to drive the price up. We’ve matched dimensions as closely as we could (and flagged the ones that come in a range of sizes), but always measure your space first — the right look at the wrong scale is still the wrong light.
Two Tier Wavy-Arm Chandelier
Choros Two-Tier Chandelier
37.25″ wide, 43″ high | The unique shape and the black/brass mixed metals of our entry chandelier make a statement as soon as you walk in the door.
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Sawyer Two-Tier Chandelier
53″ wide, 42″ high | The curved arms add that extra something to this otherwise traditional chandelier. If you want to incorporate the mixed-metal look, a little Rub-n-Buff on the candle cups would go a long way!
shop nowBonus tip: Rub-n-Buff is a great way to adjust the look of new or existing lighting. Our full DIY guide and color comparison can be found here.
Wide Shade Pendant
Piatto Pendant
24″ wide | We have three of these above our kitchen island, and the hand-rubbed antique brass underneath the shade is the detail that makes all the difference here. Available in multiple finishes.
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Chris Loves Julia Victor Pendant
20″ wide | We loved our island pendants so much that we designed our own version with Shades of Light — a little smaller, a lot more accessible, and in a range of colors I wish I had more kitchens for. (Yes, this one’s ours. Consider that full disclosure *and* a shameless plug.)
shop nowTraditional Crystal Chandelier
Paris Flea Market Grande Chandelier
41″ high, 39.5″ wide | After our trip to Italy, where crystal chandeliers were everywhere, I decided I wanted that elegant touch in our dining room. Comes in multiple sizes (ours is the “Grande”).
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Jerrett Classic Elegance 12-Light Antique Crystal Chandelier
37″ high, 29″ wide | All the elegance and drama of our dining room chandelier at a slightly smaller scale.
shop nowPolished Nickel Picture Light
Library 16″ Picture Light
16″ wide | We’ve added picture lights to so many spots in our home — above built-in shelves, a mirror, large art — the possibilities truly are endless.
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Polished Nickel Dimmable Picture Light
Available in 18″ and 24″ widths | The price on this picture light is phenomenal, especially for the polished nickel finish — and it’s dimmable, which ours isn’t!
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Curved-Arm Chandelier with Linen Shades
Farlane Chandelier
48″ wide, 61.25″ high | Our living room chandelier silhouette feels modern while the shades’ two-tier design leans traditional. Available in two finishes.
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Hayden Metal Chandelier (41″)
41″ wide, 61″ high | Like our living room chandelier, this one is a modern take on a traditional lighting shape — and as a bonus, it’s under $1,000.
shop nowSwing-Arm Wall Sconce
Dorchester Double Backplate Swing Arm
10″ wide, 24″ high | We added this sconce to the window nook in our living room. The swing arm detail makes the space feel extra cozy and inviting.
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Mckella Steel Swing Arm Sconce
13″ wide, 12″ high | A plug-in version with all of the charm and none of the fuss of hardwiring — no electrician required, and it can come with you if you move. If you’re renting, this is the one I’d point you to, period.
shop nowOil-Rubbed Bronze Picture Light
Dean 18″ Picture Light
18″ wide | These picture lights are mounted above the built-in bookcases in our living room. They add the perfect amount of glow to show off the architecture of the room.
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Oil Rubbed Bronze Cordless Picture Light
14″ wide | This cordless picture light installs in minutes, moves whenever you do, and at under $25, it’s an easy excuse to add layered lighting to every room.
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Crystal Orb Chandelier
Poppy Chandelier
23″ wide, 31″ high | I’ll never get over the view of this chandelier above the tub — it’s the first thing I see from bed when I wake up. It makes a statement and sets the tone for the whole bathroom.
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Jaemir French Retro Globe Crystal Chandelier in Antique Bronze
20″ wide, 24″ high | An incredible lookalike for our bathroom chandelier. Comes in multiple sizes!
shop nowRibbed Glass Wall Sconce
Kean 21″ Sconce
21″ high, 5.75″ wide | We mounted these sconces on the mirrors above our vanity. The grand scale — and the extra reflection the mirrors throw back — gives us so much functional (and beautiful) light.
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Sharima Ribbed Glass Rod Cylindrical Wall Light
16.7″ high, 3.3″ wide | A very similar look at a slightly smaller scale, these cylindrical sconces would look beautiful in any bathroom.
shop nowGilded Two-Arm Sconce with Leaf Detail
Gramercy Double Sconce
15.75″ high, 12.5″ wide | These sconces add so much interest to our tub nook. The details are stunning — they feel like a treasure you’d stumble on at a European flea market.
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Maxim Lighting Paloma 2-Light Sconce
15.75″ high, 10.25″ wide | A very similar lookalike to our tub sconces for a fraction of the price – they’re even the same height!
shop nowGilded Leaf Semi-Flush Mount
Leslie 16″ Semi-Flush
16″ wide, 8.75″ high | We needed a semi-flush mount in our closet so it wouldn’t interfere with the mirrored doors (where I keep my shoes). This one is stunning — it adds just the right amount of detail to the space.
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Liza Semi Flushmount
16″ wide x 9.5″ high | A similar look and scale to our closet semi-flush lights. Available in multiple sizes.
shop nowTiered Crystal Chandelier
Clarissa Chandelier
Out of Stock | There’s something about the way this glass chandelier plays against the moody walls — it’s the first thing guests notice, and the piece that pulls the whole primary together.
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Beverly 6-Light Dimmable Tiered Chandelier
19.75″ wide, 16.75″ deep | A great alternative to get the look of our sold-out bedroom chandelier.
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Bubble Chandelier
Talia 8-Light Chandelier
33″ wide, 24″ high | The bubble chandelier in our study makes a statement while still being light and airy enough to not compete with the wall mural.
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8-Light Dimmable Bubble Chandelier
32″ wide | 27″ high | A very close lookalike of our study chandelier for a fraction of the price!
shop nowBlack Lantern Pendant
Holborn Lantern Pendant
45″ high, 18.25″ wide | This pendant started in our dining room and moved to the bonus room when we renovated. It feels like a piece straight out of Colonial Williamsburg — the details here make all the difference.
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Alisina 4 – Light Steel Dimmable Lantern Geometric Chandelier
25.88” high, 14.63” wide | The arch detail and corner knobs make this a very convincing double take for our bonus room pendant. (P.S. you can always spray paint or rub ‘n buff the brass elements if the two-tone look isn’t for you.)
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Traditional Wall Sconce with Shade
French Library Sconce
12″ high, 6″ wide | These sconces are traditional and understated — so much so that we used them all over the bonus room, in both the single and double versions.
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Rennnsan Wall Sconce with White Fabric Shade
12.4″ high | The kind of classic sconce that goes with everything — and at under $100, you can put them everywhere.
shop nowBlack Lantern Wall Sconce
Darlana Lantern Sconce
14″ high, 9.75″ wide | We added these to the bonus room stairwell and love how the details play off the pendant nearby.
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Arisztid Metro 2 – Light Dimmable Candle Wall Light
17″ high, 11″ wide | The shape and details mirror our bonus room sconces so closely we actually had to do a double take to make sure it wasn’t the same light.
shop nowAt the end of the day, great lighting is less about the label and more about the right scale, the right glow, and a piece you love coming home to. We’ve bought both ways over the years — and we will again. We hope these pairings help you get the look in a way that works for your space (and your budget).
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