Lighting Lessons: How to Choose Lighting for Your Colonial Home

Photo Credit @marylauren

Some homes welcome you with warmth. Others stand a little taller, a little prouder, inviting you to admire their balance and grace. That’s the magic of a Colonial home. With its timeless symmetry and understated elegance, Colonial architecture sits comfortably between formality and simplicity. A perfect blend of old-world tradition and practical charm.

At Olde Brick Lighting, we know that lighting can do more than brighten a space. It can honor the architectural roots of your home and give it that lived-in, meant-to-be-here feeling. If you're trying to preserve the heritage of a Colonial space or borrow some of its dignified character for a more modern build, here’s how to do it with light.

What is Colonial Architecture?

The Colonial style traces its roots to the Georgian era, brought over and adapted by early American settlers. It keeps the formal structure of its origins—symmetry, proportion, and balance—but adapted to the materials available and climate of the emerging colonies. The result is a home that feels traditional but never overdone. Think columns, dormers, wood siding, and shuttered windows as features. Inside, you’ll often find a central hallway with rooms mirrored on either side, fireplaces as focal points, and a preference for durable, local materials.

What’s the Goal of Colonial Design?

Colonial architecture walks a fine line between past and present. It aims to recreate the familiar structure of European homes while simplifying the details to suit new-world life. It’s more refined than Craftsman but not nearly as ornate as Victorian. Colonial is the comfortable middle ground: formal without being stuffy, classic without feeling dated.

How to Stay True to Colonial Design in Your Home

When you're designing with the Colonial style in mind, think timeless, not trendy. Ask yourself:

Does this nod to history while still working for today?

Look for symmetry in your layouts, lean into stately patterns, and keep colors soft and subdued. Materials should feel natural and lived-in, not synthetic or flashy.

Materials That Fit the Colonial Look

• Painted or stained wood (think pine, cherry, walnut)
• Brick and stone fireplaces
• Wrought iron hardware
• Plaster or wood-paneled walls

Colonial-Style Colors and Patterns

Colors in Colonial homes are inspired by nature, but with a reserved touch. Muted shades and time-worn finishes dominate the palette:

• Colonial blue, soft ochre, dusty green, and deep burgundy
• Stately patterns like stripes, florals, and toiles
• Aged finishes that feel storied, not shiny

Choosing the Right Lighting for a Colonial Home

Lighting in Colonial homes should reflect the candlelit world these homes came from, with just enough polish for today.

When choosing fixtures, look for:

• Seeded or clear glass that echoes the look of old window panes
• Candelabra-style bulbs or fixtures shaped like lanterns
• Fabric shades in classic shapes and neutral tones
• Wrought iron, brass, or antique-finish metals

Avoid anything too modern, too minimal, or too industrial. Colonial lighting should feel like it could’ve been there for generations.

The Colonial Lighting Checklist

If you want your lighting to feel true to the Colonial aesthetic, look for:

☑ Formal and symmetrical designs
☑ Traditional materials like brass and wrought iron
☑ Candle-style bulbs or lantern-inspired forms
☑ Seeded glass or fabric shades with a timeless touch

Want to add some character? Consider fixtures in classic colors with aged or patina finishes. Colonial homes are the perfect backdrop for lighting that feels storied like it’s been passed down, not picked off a shelf last week.

American Classics

Colonial homes are all about timeless appeal and lighting is one of the most powerful ways to reinforce that mood. Whether you’re restoring a historic gem or adding a touch of tradition to a newer home, lighting can bring history to life in a beautifully subtle way.

At Olde Brick Lighting, every fixture is thoughtfully made to complement spaces with heritage and heart. We build our pieces to feel timeless, rooted in the past, but right at home in the present.

Happy Shopping!

—Shauna Speet