Style Guide: Farmhouse Lighting

Farmhouse Lighting – Barn Light by Recesso

Farmhouse or barn lighting is an American design staple. While it was once reserved for rural homes, farmhouse style is now popular in homes suburban and urban, as well as shops, offices, and restaurants. Many people attribute the style’s resurgence in popularity to Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV’s Fixer Upper who outfit their projects with shiplap walls, barn lights, and refined country finishings. Thanks to its simple design, farmhouse lighting is versatile and can be used to complete the barn-home aesthetic or can be incorporated into more modern design schemes with ease.

Characteristics of Farmhouse Lighting

Repurposed Materials

Bell Shaped

Antique Finishes

Candelabra Bulbs

Current farmhouse style lighting is a refined version of its predecessors, which were often made of repurposed and readily available materials, giving the fixtures an industrial or rustic look. Early versions of barn lighting were designed for practicality and functionality over aesthetics and have since evolved to provide design appeal as well as comfortable illumination. Commonly used shapes, materials, and bulb styles are reminiscent of the times when an old wagon wheel lined with candles could be hung and used as a chandelier.