If your algorithm has guided you to the interior design side of TikTok, chances are you've stumbled upon the "big light" debate. For those unfamiliar, TikTok users are showing off their homes with gorgeous, aesthetic lighting—pendants, table lamps, sconces, picture lights anything but those harsh, bright overheads. The soundtrack that goes along with it? “I don’t have many rules for my house, but I do have one, and that is that we never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ev-er use the big light.”
Aesthetic lighting is one of the defining trends in home design for 2025. According to Google Trends, search interest in "ambient lighting" has doubled over the past five years in the United States, reaching new highs. A recent home trend report from Yelp also highlighted soft, layered lighting as a major trend, noting a 106% increase in users’ searches for ambient lighting.
Keep reading to discover what aesthetic lighting is all about and how you can bring it into your own home.
What is aesthetic lighting?
Have you ever walked into a space and instantly felt that it was warm and inviting? Chances are, the layered, thoughtfully chosen lighting fixtures played a big part in creating that atmosphere. Once the sun goes down, lighting gives rooms its energy and plays a key role in setting the mood.
Aesthetic lighting goes beyond seeing light fixtures as purely functional; it’s about blending form and function. This type of lighting enhances a home’s decor and sets the mood in any room.
Designers typically break lighting down into three categories:
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Ambient lighting (think ceiling-mounted fixtures and chandeliers) provides overall illumination. When done right, it’s soft and evenly distributed throughout the space.
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Task lighting, like desk lamps or the vanity light above your bathroom mirror, is bright and direct, helping with specific activities like reading or cooking.
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Accent lighting adds visual interest. Whether it’s highlighting artwork, architectural features, or a floor lamp used to light up a cozy corner, it’s meant to draw attention and enhance the space.
How to bring aesthetic lighting into your home
The “big” overhead lights certainly serve a purpose. But when it comes to creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere—whether that’s when you’re enjoying your morning coffee or hosting a dinner party—it’s all about relying on aesthetic lighting to set a cozy, homey vibe.
Here’s a few tricks for adding aesthetic lighting to your home:
Add a Poplight.
Add a Poplight to your entryway, hallway, above your nightstand, in your kitchen—anywhere that could benefit from an accent lighting upgrade. The dimmable, easy-to-install sconces come in seven colors and, with Poplight’s free app, you can easily toggle between three color temperatures—warm, cool, and neutral—for customizable, aesthetic lighting.
See our Marigold Poplight.
Install dimmer switches.
Dimmer switches allow you to control the brightness of your overhead lights. For example, you might want full light when you’re following a recipe and cooking in the kitchen, but may want to turn the lights down lower when you’re having dinner.
Layer your lighting.
When different types of lighting are layered together—like drop pendants over a kitchen island, sconces by the sink, and a small lamp on the counter—you nail the whole aesthetic lighting vibe. The combination of ambient and accent lighting creates a balanced, well-lit space.
Think about levels.
Another important aspect of layering your lights is to consider the different levels in your home. An aesthetic lighting plan involves having lights that are above you (the ceiling light), lights that are at or around eye-level (like sconces and perhaps floor lamps) as well as some lights that are below you (table lamps). When combined, it helps make your lighting feel varied.
Use LED strips.
Using LED strips to illuminate bookshelves or display areas with decorative pieces and artwork can give your space a gallery-like aesthetic. You can also use LED light strips under cabinets or along stairways.
