This New Lighting Trend Is a Genius Solution to Ugly Overhead Lighting

Whether you call them picture, portrait, or gallery lights, one thing’s for sure: A slim, wall-mounted fixture is the perfect opportunity to give your finest art a glow-up. But who’s to say these museum-worthy lights will only work for a painting, photograph, or gallery wall? Recently, designers have been thinking beyond a client’s art collection and adding these illuminating accessories to everything. Yes, even areas with zero art. 

At first thought, placing a picture somewhere without a picture might seem contradictory; however, it kind of makes sense. These fixtures are space-efficient and cast a dramatic downward glow without upstaging the rest of a room’s decor. When you think about it, it’s pretty genius, right?

Design by Linda Hayslett/LH.Designs; Photo by Lauren Taylor

“Who says gallery lights are just for art?” asks Los Angeles-based designer Linda Hayslett. “They’re like eyeliner for your library—subtle, but they make everything pop.”

While adding a gallery light in an unconventional space might be all the rage these days, but where exactly should they go? Great design lies in the eye of the beholder, so you have the power to illuminate your home however you wish. That said, if you are looking for a few smart pointers, three designers share the stealth spots they incorporate portrait lights. Turns out, you’re just a few scrolls away from discovering a few bright ideas.

Put a Shining Light on Your Workspace

Design and Photo by Studio McGee

For a lighting idea that means business, why not place your portrait lights in an office? While this setup from Salt Lake City firm Studio McGee technically does illuminate a piece of art below, it does ever-so-subtly frame the desk to provide some extra lighting for an upcoming Zoom meeting. Talk about a total boss move.

Pack a Punch in Your Pantry

Design and Photo by Studio McGee

Portrait lights are also particularly fitting for areas that try to cram a lot into limited square footage. Case in point: This verdant pantry, courtesy of Studio McGee. Since this petite place is packed with shelves and cabinets, there’s not enough room to place a statement-making light pendant. Fortunately, the slim fixtures here help highlight the contents of the pantry without obstructing any of the non-perishables it houses. The result: High design that looks downright delicious.

Show Off Your Storage

Design by Katelyn De Spain/MakeHouse Design; Photo by Charlotte Lea

Whoever said that your home storage solution had to be boring needs to check out this space from Katelyn De Spain, owner and principal designer of a San Diego-based studio called MakeHouse Design. Here, she repurposed light sconces to act as a gallery light over a series of open shelves. “They not only create the perfect evening ambiance but also beautifully highlight the client’s cherished art and books on display,” the designer explains.

Work Those Windows

Design by Lindye Galloway; Photo by Chad Mellon

In a perfect world, a series of windows will give any room a gorgeous, sun-drenched effect. But in reality? Achieving that lit-from-within look can be easier said than done. If you want to add some oomph to a space’s natural glow, hang some portrait lights over here. When California designer Lindye Galloway employed this look in one of her projects, she managed to bring an extra bright to an already easy, breezy room. Another reason to love this trick? Once the sun sets, these fixtures will act like a spotlight on your countertops—giving any kitchen a cool, speakeasy-like feel.