Second Thoughts

February 8, 2012

I’m in the home stretch with the boy’s room. There are a just a few more things I need to diy and buy to call this room done. The problem is I’m having trouble in the “buy department”. I’m in hesitation mode. I just can’t seem to make a decision and move forward. I really wish I was the type of person that just bought things without all the second guessing and changing my mind a million times. I mean that is the exact reason why I put this inspiration board together in the first place.

I thought it would help me get over all that wavering and just make decisions. Unfortunately, when it comes to the lighting I originally picked out for this room, I am not 100% sure that this is what I want for this room. As you can see in the board above I chose the Fillsta Pendant from Ikea.

FILLSTA Pendant lamp, white Diameter: 14 " Cord length: 71 " Diameter: 35 cm Cord length: 180 cm

I think this fixture will look good in the room with the current design plan. Although I’m not sure that this will work if the design of the room changes as I’m sure it will as he gets older. While the price is certainly reasonable at $29.99, I wonder if I wouldn’t be better off choosing something that will work long term as well. In addition, as the room is starting to really take shape with many of the Star Wars elements (he requested a Star Wars room) in place, I think that maybe something not so space-agey (yes, that’s a word) would be a better fit. This room has a theme, but I don’t want it to get too theme-y.

I’ve found a few other options to consider.

George Kovacs Aluminum Shade 16" Wide Pendant Light

Lamps Plus

BÖJA Pendant lamp, rattan Diameter: 17 " Cord length: 67 " Diameter: 42 cm Cord length: 170 cm

Ikea

West Elm

So what do you think? Which light fixture would you choose? Or is there another one out there that I need to think about? HELP ME! I seriously need to just make a decision already!

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I have that middle Ikea fixture, and I love it but it's MUCH yellower in person than it is in the photos (or even than it looks in the store). It's very much a straw color. It's a great fixture, just wanted to make sure you knew that it's very yellow! 🙂 I agree that your current choice could take it too far into a "space" theme – I really like the first or last choice (I'm obsessed with that West Elm pendant right now!)

That's a tough one. I see your issue. I love the West Elm one too, but my boys would certainly be tossing around something and break that baby. How about something metal?

Google "Sputnik Lighting" there are some really cool options out there – although most are probably more than you may want to spend. LOVE the Atomic Sputnik light at http://www.inmod.com/sputniklamps.html but at $769, it is much too pricey for me! Can't wait to see what you decide! Mona

I am really liking the first one from lamps plus. Think it would work really well long term when he out grows Star Wars.

I personally like your first choice the best.

My vote's for the West Elm light. It gives a space feeling, since it looks like a planet, without being so in your face. It plays into the theme in a subtle manner. Just go with your gut…you've got great taste and you know what you like!

I like the first choice! I know exactly how you feel about being a second guesser, I spend as much time returning as shopping!

I bought that Ikea light for my mudroom, but alas, there's this thing called low ceiling height that posed a wee bit of a problem for my big cool light so back it went. I'd love to see you use it!!! It's so fun.
Otherwise, what about one of those galvanized metal barn lights for long-term lighting? The color would work well in there (or I've seen them in red)….Melissa @ The Inspired Room just did a post on ones she bought at Lowes for $30 (in the outdoor section, I think.) I love the look of them for a boy's room.
Hold your horses, let me find it…………………here's the link to Melissa:
http://theinspiredroom.net/2012/02/06/where-to-find-affordable-cool-modern-vintage-industrial-wall-lights-pendants-and-lanterns/

I vote for the Lamps Plus or West Elm versions!

Okay I asked my husband and our boys on this one. And they all agree that all three of these lights come across as being a bit too feminine. I will add that our boys are ages 12, 15, and 18. an athlete, an artist, and all boy so their tastes are pretty varied but this is one thing they could ALL agree on. In order for the lighting to move beyond star wars (which they all love) and into a more teen/adult room, industrial is the way to go. They all really like the 1st light shown in Lisa Scibilia's link. It is the same one installed in their bedrooms in Alaska… they asked if we could take the lights down and take them with us.

Good luck!

i think i would go with the west elm one- it has a very industrial and masculine feel that would work with almost anything. there is my two cents. 🙂

I've always loved that light from IKEA but I've never had the right space to use it. Even though I love that one, I like the one from Lamps Plus because it ties in well with mirror and still looks spaceish. I'm just as indecisive as you, but it's easy for me to make the selection for someone else (: Now I just need you to come over to my new house and make about 100 decisions for me!

Hi Carmel.
I'm not diggin' the rattan Ikea choice, but I think either of the remaining two choices would look great!
Can't wait to see it all done!

I do like the IKEA one, but I see your point about veering into overly thematic territory. I also like the West Elm one but I'd worry about my kids breaking it, and it does feel trendy to me too so what if you don't even like it in 5 years? That's why I went with the cheapo warehouse pendant from Lowe's for my boys' room and attacked it with some spray paint — it looks industrial but it's basic and cheap so I won't cry if I pull it down in a couple years 😉

Hello, I think it is always good to go with your 1st instinct sometimes. The bonus of the 1st Ikea is that it is only $30. If/When you re-do his room, hopefully years down the line, you can get a more expensive, for lack of a better term, generic (though none of those are generic, all great choices) The West elm one is great though would be very bright. Lamps one is good 2nd choice. Great job on the room.

your 1st choice

I have the lamp version of your 1st choice and we love it! My kids think it looks cool and it gives off great light. Stick with your instincts and go with the 1st one from IKEA for only $30!!

I like the first light! It's awesome!

Oh, so hard. You can do no wrong so you'll pull it off. Maybe a galvanized metal type one? Does that exist?

LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the West Elm! It won't compete with the other elements you've so painstakingly put together!

I have the Fillsta light fromIkea, 3 in fact. We do have the small one, but then we used two of the giant ones in our playroom. Everyone thinks they are way more expensive than they are, since they look a lot like the Nelson lights from Design Within Reach ($$$). So I vote for that light, but in a larger size.

I like the Lamps Plus one! Seems sort of Star War-ish to me, but they are all great:) And I'm the same way when it comes to decisions-drives my husband nuts!

Those are all great ones. Here are a couple of more from Lowes-if your interested: http://www.lowes.com/pd_188978-60051-SF0127_0__?productId=3365708&Ntt=allen+roth+lighting&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dallen%2Broth%2Blighting%26page%3D2&facetInfo=

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=339928-82850-34535&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3388918&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

Being the mother of a couple of older boys who have both gone through Star Wars phases – you do not want a glass light fitting! Swords/light sabers and breakable lights do not mix, and remember they will be standing right under it when it breaks 🙁 Think practically first, aesthetically second.

Love your inspiration board….can't wait to see how the room turns out :o)
~Des

PS. I am now following you on Google…hope you will follow me back :o)

I have a great light for you! It costs a little more but I love it and am going to use it in a client's home! It is the CB2 Cage fuel pendant:
http://www.cb2.com/new/lighting/cage-fuel-pendant-lamp/f7192
Good luck and don't worry about second guessing….it is a fact of life for me…

I like the first Ikea one and the lamps plus one, too! I'm excited to see what you choose. What a fun room!

Just thought I would pass something on that was brought to my attention. All of my "guys" loved the West Elm light but were all concerned about it being broken especially in a boy's room. But as I reminded them it is a one child room… not multiple boys! LOL

Part of the process of decorating a room is rethinking initial decisions. The first fixture is Star Wars-like but is contemporary and will work in a number of settings. I think the Lamps Plus one looks the most SW-like and would result in more of the theme being incorporated. I do like the woven one as it adds a natural element to the room.

I like the lamp you originally chose. It fits the theme perfectly. This room is already pretty "themey"; I don't think the lamp/light would increase the theme level enough to worry about.

Think about it: it's the perfect Star Wars lamp. It only costs $30. So what if you decide to change it in five or six years. It was only thirty bucks. 🙂

Riley

I like the first lamp and at that price you could change it out in a few years without too much regret. Or you could put the lamp in another location.

West Elm, all the way! But … your first choice is cheap enough that you could certainly replace it down the road.

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