The Dreaded “Boob Light”
BYYYYYEEEE BOOB LIGHTS!!!
Last week when I posted about my new house I made a joke about all the “boob” lights in the house that I was replacing — above is the pile we found in the basement this weekend that gave us a laugh. Many of you messaged me to ask what I was replacing them with because you were trying to do the same. The answer really varies on your ceiling height — our first floor has 10′ ceilings so I can pretty much use anything (I’m using this one for sure in the passage way from the kitchen to the formal living room). On the second floor, the ceilings are almost 9′, so we also can do more of a semi-flush style (in my master I’m using this in the larger size hung high to the ceiling, in my guest room/Emma’s temporary room this one, in the office this and the master bath this).
But if you have flush mounts because your ceiling height is not substantial, there are a lot of pretty options for you that do not look like a boob :) Just be prepared that when you take down a boob light, you will probably have to touch up the ceiling paint as they leave rings, and unless the fixture you are putting back up is the same diameter or larger, it’ll look dirty.
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As a lighting designer, the sight of that pile of lights made me shudder! Ha ha!
OMG Erin…my new house has the same boobs all over the place! LOL! Cracks me up because I was literally staring at them yesterday thinking man…that’s a lot of boobs to update. Can’t wait to see what you do!
Your new lighting choices are gorgeous ! I have a suggestion on what to do with all those old fixtures that you don’t want. I’m sure the Habitat ReStore (Habitat for Humanity) in Ashland or West Roxbury would LOVE to have them, as well of many of the still usable things things you will be replacing in your new home. I’ve donated to them before.
Do you have any suggestions as to where to give away second-hand lights? I’ve had some luck on a “buy nothing” local group, or selling/giving away on FB. It seems a shame to toss them all when other folks would probably appreciate and be able to use them.
There are plenty of places to give away used building components that still have life left in them! Try Boston Building Materials Resource Center or the Habitat ReStore (the closest one to me is on Rt. 1 in West Roxbury). Don’t throw it out! Others working with more limited budgets would love to have your boob lights!
Habitat for humanity takes donations of light fixtures and other building supplies.
A boob light graveyard!! (have also seen them referred to as nipple lights) I still see house flippers using these on occasion. Why? I bought the Basil flush mount #29 about 5 years ago and still love it. All great suggestions though!
Beautiful selections, thank you! I would love your thoughts on recessed lights. We just moved into a house with an overabundance of recessed lights and most rooms have no pendants or flushmounts, which add so much character. In designing a hallway, do you think it’s a “must” to have one or more cute flushmounts? And for a living room, do you think it’s a “must” to add a statement pendant or flushmount?
Do you have any guidance on color temperature and compatibility with a dimmer?
Fantastic resource guide. Thanks for this post!
I LOVE this post. And posts like this. It’s so helpful to learn about where you source items, as it can be insanely challenging to find things that aren’t to the trade only. Also beyond excited to watch you take on the new house. Thanks Erin!
Ha!
We replaced our boob lights this past summer. I ordered so many lights at once that Wayfair called and asked if I was a contractor!
Excellent post! Replacing mine will be the first home project I do in January.
We will be renovating a 1920s house with lots of charm in the coming months. 1st battle is convincing husband we don’t need fans. I would like to find something classic that isn’t going to go out of style and also ties with the detailed charm of the house. Tall ceilings, lots of light, molding detail, buildt in hutch. Going for a parisian open white concept. Bronze and gold are too dark and the silver accents are too modern. Really hard to find something without the hardware or in white. Livex Lighting Jefferson 3 Light Semi-Flush Ceiling Fixture as you suggest comes in an antique white. Anything else that is white or has little hardware? Also, recommendations on scaling ratios? How large or small would you go for a room?
Illuminatevintage.com has a lot of nice options in matte white. Made in the USA too, so that’s a plu!
I DISTINCTLY remember being 6 years old and being sent to my room at my grandparents lake house for talking back to my grandfather (NOT DONE!!) and staring petulantly at the ceiling and having a slow fascinating revelation that the light fixture looked like a boob! And wondering why on earth someone would make a light that looks like a boob!! That aside, I’m following your renovations as we just went under contract on a new house that leans more modern and I will be working to bring in more classic finishes!
A boobie graveyard :)
This is so timely as we just moved into a new place and there are several of the dreaded boob lights! I introduced my husband to this term and now he can’t unsee it 😂
Thank you so much for this post! I can’t wait to get rid of mine.
I changed all of mine this year after 13 years! It’s the little things. I love my new ceiling lights so much!!
# 10, 12, 22 and 33 all different but beautiful for the right spot. And some are surprisingly affordable! So looking forward to seeing your choices in your new home. As much as I loved your first house, how lucky we are that you’ve moved! New rooms to conquer!
I’m hoping for animal print rug somewhere…
Literally had a conversion this week about the horrible, ubiquitous boob lights — we just bought a new house and they are in every room. Why are they everywhere? It’s so puzzling and annoying. Thanks for all of these ideas.
I just replaced ALL the lighting in our new lakehouse (well…the husband did), and the boob lights were filled with dead bugs. Ick! The place looks so much better with all those horrid lights GONE. We have #6 in our master bedroom at home, and it’s so pretty. You’ve made some great choices – can’t wait to see how it comes together!
Gah! I DM’ed you about this and I’m so excited you did the post! Thank you!!
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