The “big light” has almost become a dirty phrase in home design over the years. You could once find overhead fixtures in almost every room. But now, many people have swapped out larger lights for layered illumination that creates a more intimate and cozy ambience. However, as with all cyclical trends in interior design, it seems the big light may be making a comeback. Before you gasp in horror, you should know that HGTV star Erin Napier is even backing this style revival. And while brighter may not always be better in some rooms, the new trending fixtures are both stylish and elegant, giving you a more aesthetic finish.

Gone are the days when dome lighting and obtrusive overhead bulbs glared out over your rooms, turning them into sterile-feeling environments. The new “big lights” are all about sleek and modern designs that elevate your space while giving you more illumination overall. You can even make your flush-mounted dome light stunning by using a kit to upgrade it, so don’t panic if expensive new light fixtures aren’t in the budget.

Erin Napier knows a thing or two about lighting, and she told Southern Living that scaling up the size of your light fixtures is a great way to make a space look and feel better. While she may not be wishing for the resurgence of the dated “big lights” of decades prior, opting for larger pieces to replace small pendants and sconces will help create dimension and style within a room. According to Napier, “I think oversized is always better than undersized. A light that’s bigger is so much better than a light that’s too small.” 

If you’ve got a plethora of tiny fixtures, they could be making your home seem cluttered and unbalanced. Investing in a larger chandelier over your island rather than several pendant lights will elevate the space and give you a statement piece. Napier uses this hack to transform a room in a flash, bringing more visual interest along with more illumination. Using larger lights is more on trend with what many experts and interior designers would choose, and overhead illumination is also practical for everything from tidying to hosting.

So how do you nail Erin Napier’s trend without making your rooms seem dated or boring? It’s all about finding sleek and stylish designs that are more in the realm of art than pure functionality. While you want your light to offer plenty of brightness for your routines, a giant dome light isn’t necessarily the answer. Think of chandeliers with abstract elements that lean modern, or semi recessed lighting that gives enough dimension and texture to be notable without feeling too heavy. Even traditional chandeliers can be a great way to reintroduce the big light trend.

You still want to layer lighting as well. Don’t rely on the overhead light to produce all of the illumination in a room. This can make a space seem sterile or like a workstation. One glaring light source also leaves corners dark and can create shadows, shrinking the overall area. By ignoring the outer edges of the room, you might make the space seem cramped. So, play off your overhead light with sources like table lamps and sconces. The best type of lighting to use in your home, according to Erin Napier, is soft white, so make sure to add these to any of your pieces, too.