If you’ve ever done a whole-house renovation or built a new custom home, you are well aware that some areas of the project fall under the knife as the budget gets tight.
Frequently, the landscaping allowance gets cut, and plumbing fixtures get value-engineered to oblivion. All of a sudden, sleek single-piece, dual flush toilets from European brands become two-piece single-flush house brands from the big box store–not that there is anything wrong with that. Budgets are real!
Architects say another area that often gets hit when the money is running low is lighting. Fancy fixtures fall by the wayside, mid-century classics from Denmark are out and modern cable lights disappear.
[ Read More: Czech Lighting Brand Brokis Unveils 3 New Designs ]
But design pros worth their salt typically have options for dealing with a dwindling budget. They might move funds from one area of the home to another or take a strategic approach, spending money on lights for the public rooms–also known as high-impact areas–of the home and using more affordable products in the private areas such as bedrooms and closets.
Another strategy designers use is to put higher quality products at eye level or for lights that homeowners may interact with on a regular basis and use more affordable products for ceiling lights that users are unlikely to touch.
The topic of costs got us thinking–could we come up with attractive lighting on a budget? And if so, what price point could we hit? In the end, we challenged ourselves to find fixtures that cost as close to $50 as we could. Here is what we found:
WAC Lighting, $41 to $47
Part of the brand’s Twist-N-Lite family, the Mini Acrylic light can be used for walls and ceilings. In this system, a single flexible canopy accommodates all ceiling light and pendant fixtures in the line. The maker says the LED light passes through a dual-layer clear and white acrylic diffuser, providing a soft, even glow. Color temperature can be adjusted to 2700K, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K, or 5000K using a switch in the fixture. Measuring a mere 3½ inches by a little more than 2 inches, the fixture is available in black, brushed nickel and white with clear or white glass.
Kuzco Group, $43
Measuring 5 inches by 3 inches, the Sonic is a 12-volt outdoor step light is a sleek horizontal rectangular-shaped recessed light that is ideal for step or courtesy light use. The design of the die cast aluminum body with powder coat or cast stainless steel for marine-grade fully conceals the light source so there is no glare. Rated for outdoor use, but can be used inside as well. It comes in black, bronze, brushed nickel, gray and white.
Ikea, $19.99
The FRIHULT ceiling/wall lamp is made from aluminum and glass and is extremely budget friendly. Tested and approved for bathroom use, it features a simple design that fits a variety of architectural styles and is ideal for closets, bedrooms or halls. In addition, the glass shade provides balanced general lighting throughout, the company says. It comes in black and a stainless steel color.
Visual Comfort & Co., $40 ($33.58 on sale at 2modern)
The mid-century inspired Leo Globe Pendant Light is crafted with a metal dome and a clear seeded glass globe to provide a gentle, ambient glow that’s tastefully diffused, the company says. It comes with a 54-inch black cord for field-adjustment and is damp-rated for use in bathrooms and covered patios.
Generation Lighting, $52 ($44 on sale)
The Toca Outdoor Wall Sconce features a milk glass sphere suspended from a right-angle metal arm that extends from a minimal, round backplate. Featuring a 7-inch spherical shade that diffuses warm illumination, the weather-rated fixture offers a timeless design and can be used inside the home as well.
LampsWell+, $63
Measuring 7 inches by less than 3 inches, this dimmable rotating LED downlight is ideal for task illumination or to highlight art and other displays. It comes in white or black and is made from acrylic and die-cast aluminum. The unit is available in various lighting outputs from 3000K to 6000K and in various wattage and dimmable or non-dimmable options.
Alder & Ore, $70 ($49 on sale)
The Monique semi-flushmount is a transitional-style light that also has a vintage industrial inspired vibe. Fabricated from steel, it is meant to put the bulb on display and is certified for damp applications protected from the elements. “The look of the exposed bulb at the center lends to that distinctive look of a bygone vintage industrial era,” the company says. Tip: Use it in multiples for bigger design impact.
Ikea, $36
Sunneby / Molnart is a simple pendant lamp with a black textile cord and a small donut-shaped LED bulb that spreads a glare-free and pleasant light through the frosted glass, the company says. The cord set measures almost 6 feet and the donut LED bulb measures 6 inches. A variety of other bulbs are available.
WAC Lighting, $56.62
Twist-N-Lite is a semi-flushmount LED light that provides streamlined lighting in a compact, durable design. Optimized for quick installation, it features a round aluminum housing with integrated light lamping that glows through a cylindrical, dual-layer acrylic diffuser. The brand says the fixture’s clean lines and subtle profile blend easily with modern and transitional interiors. It measures 5 inches wide and has a 5-inch projection. With selectable color temperature and a wet location rating, it can be used for indoor and covered outdoor applications.