7 Lighting Mistakes That Will Make Your Home Look Tacky, Designers Say

Lighting is a design element that people often forget about—until something feels off. Maybe the room looks strangely flat, the fixtures feel a little theatrical, or the bulbs cast a color that no one looks good in. These aren’t minor details, either—they’re the backbone of how a home feels and how the architecture reads.

The wrong lighting can make a beautifully decorated space look tacky, while the right choices can make even the simplest room look elevated. The difference has less to do with buying the most expensive fixtures and everything to do with choosing the best illumination for your space.

Relying on a Single Overhead Light

There’s almost no greater taboo in design. A lone ceiling fixture can make even a well-decorated home feel flat and visually harsh. “Relying solely on a single ceiling light can create uneven illumination and cast shadows on workspaces," says Dara Greaney, CEO at LED Light Expert.

The fix: Layer ambient, task, and accent lighting so the room feels intentional, rather than improvised.

Bright, Cool-Toned Bulbs

Cool or blue-hued bulbs instantly cheapen the atmosphere of a room, no matter how well it’s decorated. The effect is harsh and oddly clinical. "[They] kill the mood every time," says Jennifer Jones, principal designer at Niche Interiors. "Fluorescent bulbs are the worst—they can make any home feel like a corporate office.”

The fix: Warm lighting adds softness, depth, and an inviting glow. Jones and other designers recommend bulbs in the 2700K range.

Oversized or Undersized Features

Proportion is one of the easiest lighting details to overlook and one of the hardest to hide when you get it wrong. A petite pendant floating over a large dining table looks lost, while an oversized chandelier can feel like it’s crashing the conversation.

“Fixtures that are too large or too small can throw off the entire balance of a room,” says Russell Goldman, owner and principal designer of More Wow. “Even a nice chandelier can feel absurd when integrated into the wrong architectural environment.” 

The fix: Choose fixtures that connect naturally to the room’s architecture and the pieces anchoring it. When the scale is right, the entire space feels more intentional.

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Mismatched Style or Quality

Lighting sits at eye level and often acts as a focal point, so it’s one of the quickest ways to make—or break—the overall feel of a room. Lower-quality fixtures or mismatched styles tend to stand out in all the wrong ways. "[It] can become a major design distraction instead of a complement," says Goldman.

The same goes for stylistic mismatches: a chrome Bauhaus sconce can be beautiful—but place it in a traditional bedroom, and the disconnect becomes impossible to ignore.

The fix: The goal is coherence. Choose fixtures that speak the same visual language as your home’s architecture and décor.

Exposed LED Strip Lights

LED strips can absolutely elevate a space, but only when they disappear into the architecture. The second you can see the actual strip, the effect goes from sophisticated to DIY in an instant.

The fix: When they’re thoughtfully integrated, strip lights can create beautiful halos of light along cabinetry, bookshelves, or architectural lines. "[They should be] hidden behind molding, in a soffit, or tucked within architectural details," says Goldman.

Dated Fixtures

Anything too fussy or ornate tends to look dated the moment it’s installed, especially if it clashes with the architecture or furniture. “Over-the-top chandeliers and lamps can instantly cheapen the look of your home," says Jones. "Shiny chrome or brass, drippy crystals, and ornate details scream tacky and dated.”

The fix: Lean into finishes that have richness without the glare. Brushed bronze, aged brass, and soft patinas bring elegance and subtlety, helping the whole room feel more refined.

Flush-Mount Dome Lights

Designers agree: the flush-mount dome light has to go. It instantly dates a room and flattens the entire design. “[It's] a designer’s worst nightmare,” says Jones. “They’re the cheapest option, and typically installed by builders looking to save money.”

The fix: Upgrading doesn’t require a dramatic overhaul. Swapping in a larger-scale pendant or a semi-flush mount with some presence immediately changes how the room feels.