How HGTV's Erin Napier Uses Art To Brighten Up A Space

Both lighting and art can go a long way toward setting the tone of any room they occupy. While one is typically functional and the other adds personality to the space, Erin Napier from HGTV's "Home Town" has found a way to blend these two important elements with stunning results. Making lighting into art or art into lighting can add plenty of character and interest while illuminating any space in the home.

Napier recently showed off a kitchen remodeling project (via Instagram) featuring a large sculptural lighting piece hanging over a center island. A suspension of glass globes in varying sizes, suspended at different levels from thin wires, makes a striking focal point in the minimalist room. While the kitchen lacked proper space for art or decor on the walls, which are given over to large cabinets, the spot above the island was ripe for a distinctive lighting feature. It also serves as a stunning focal point in the kitchen that reads as both industrial and contemporary in style. Napier advocates commissioning pieces for your home to get the right look. In Season 8, Episode 5 of "Home Town", she commented (via YouTube), "We could not find a light fixture where the scale was right, and the style was right, and the price was right, so we made this light fixture."

Choosing artistic light fixtures as Erin Napier did on "Home Town" is an easy way to combine both art and lighting. What you choose should reflect and enhance the aesthetic of the room, whether that is vintage, rustic, traditional, or modern. A large sculptural light hung from the ceiling, like a uniquely shaped pendant, an arty chandelier, or configured globes, can instantly become a focal point. As a result, you may not need as much art and décor in the room if you prefer a more clean and minimalist look. You could also go with more conventional wall art that includes lighting elements, such as paintings or stained glass pieces lit from behind. Alternatively, add a modern glow with faux-neon signs bearing words or imagery.

If you have a lot of art already on your walls but still love this idea, think about ways you can light up the existing art while adding some extra accent lighting to help illuminate corners of your room. Great ways to light up wall art include using slender picture lights over or under pieces, spotlights or track lights pointed strategically on art, or adding string lights in amongst home décor items on the wall.