Basket Lights Are a Big Trend—but Here’s Why I’ll Never Hang One in My Home

Basket Lights Are a Big Trend—but Here’s Why I’ll Never Hang One in My Home

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Back in the day, baskets were for storage—of apples, magazines, perhaps a few candies or colored eggs come Easter. But lately, they’ve been appearing in a far more surprising place: upside down, over our heads, as trendy pendant lights.

We’re not sure who’s the first crafty designer to come along and reimagine these straw containers as cool ways to illuminate a room, but let’s just say that these days, basket lights are everywhere.

“DIY basket light” tutorials abound online (HGTV even has its own tutorial for egg basket lights), pointing out how chic and cheap a basket light can be.

And if you’re not the DIY type, just about every self-respecting home goods store from Ikea to Wayfair has hopped on the basket light trend, offering an assortment of sizes and styles, some of which are huge. We’re not talking the size of a beach toy. Some of these ceiling blimps are as wide as exercise balls at the gym.

Basket lights rose to popularity alongside the modern farmhouse aesthetic (hello, Joanna Gaines), because rustic dining tables made of rough-hewn planks of pine seem to fit hand in hand with a pastoral basket light above.

Photo by ZeroEnergy Design 

Still, the truth is these lights aren’t all they’re hyped up to be—and I’m not alone in this camp. Need more convincing? Read on before you add this monstrous fixture to your cart.

What’s so bad about basket lights?

Suzanne Falk of the eponymous design firm says that basket lights do have their purpose, albeit best in commercial settings.

“They set the mood and draw the eye up in restaurants with high ceilings,” she says. But she’s a hard no on installing them at home.

“I don’t use them in residential settings,” she says. “They don’t emit enough light.”

While they might offer ambient light, they’re just not strong enough to be useful in any sizable room.

So for those who love to read before tucking in, or who strive to actually light up their Thanksgiving spread, basket lights are generally not the way to go. And if you want to pump up the wattage, you could risk going too hot and starting a fire.

Baskets are tough to clean

Photo by Jordana Nicholson

Ever try to clean a basket?

It’s one thing to wipe down a small, hand-held wicker piece with a wet cloth, but quite another to scale your counters so you can dust a high-up Hindenburg. Experts agree that the design and materials involved here make maintenance a huge pain, even perilous.

You should also keep in mind that baskets are natural items that’ll shed and break down over time, which means it’s not uncommon to find rough bits in your peanut butter toast.

And for those of us in homes and apartments with standard-height ceilings, which is typically 9 feet, a hulking basket will look ridiculous as it hangs and even grazes the heads of your family and friends.

Basket lights have an unavoidable DIY look

Poor function aside, basket lights don’t look that aesthetically pleasing.

“They give off a DIY, arts-and-crafts look,” says Falk.

Photo by Ryan Street & Associates 

Let’s face facts: You didn’t just find these in your barn, and you’re probably not a maker who regularly transforms old rattan into lighting. So why buy into this tired trend?

And bear in mind that this look is on the way out if you’re trying to keep up with today’s new-build home styles, which skew more minimalist.

“These pieces aren’t versatile enough to suit contemporary and modern homes,” says Joshua Blackburn, founder and director of design and construction at Evolving Home. “They’re just too bulky and becoming obsolete.”

And yet, if you need a sizable light fixture, what should you pick? Below are three attractive nonbasket options that fit the bill.

1. Paper lanterns

Photo by The Cross Interior Design 

The paper lantern trend is going strong, thanks to its neutral shade and the soft glow it casts. The OG of this attractive orb, Isamu Noguchi, has been put in place over and over by HGTV star Leanne Ford, who’s wild for massive paper globes, and, of course, Ikea with its popular $6 version.

You should definitely cheap out on paper Ikea lights for your kid’s room or back deck, but when it comes to the main living area, spending more will make a world of difference. This gorgeous Noguchi design will set you back $200, but the craftsmanship is worth it. Handmade from washi paper and bamboo, it’ll be the crowning touch in your room.

2. Metal pendants

Love an airy basket design but want something heftier? This metal pendant light offers a cagelike look without the mess of an actual basket. You can customize the length of this pick to fit over the table of your choosing, and it also comes in a shiny gold finish ($32, Amazon).

3. Glass pendants

Recycled glass is another option for a large fixture, especially one as attractive and well-priced as this one. This light is compatible with a dimmer switch and comes in two sizes and several finishes, including antique brass, bronze, or nickel ($299-plus, Pottery Barn).

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