Stylish Boob Light Alternatives to Elevate Your Home
One of the quickest and easiest ways to give your room an upgrade is to switch out a boob light. The infamous boob light is often the default choice for builders. Go into a new home, and these unsightly light fixtures are everywhere—from the living room to the dining room to the bedroom!
If this sounds like your home, we are here to help you find the perfect alternative ceiling light fixture! There are so many beautiful replacement light fixture options out there. All it takes is a little handiwork and the ability to follow installation instructions, and you can showcase stunning new overhead lighting in every room!
What Are Boob Lights?
Boob light fixtures are overhead flush mount fixtures that are close to the ceiling. These ubiquitous yet ugly glass domes resemble—you guessed it—a boob. Usually, they have a rod down the middle and a glass bowl as the shade held on the rod with a finial that looks (unfortunately) like a nipple (just in case looking like a flush mount boob wasn't bad enough).
The hardware on these overhead lights can vary, but what doesn't vary is the overwhelming appearance of an actual boob in the middle of your ceiling.
Why Are Boob Lights So Common?
Boob lights are common in homes. But with how much it seems people dislike them, the big question is, “WHY?”
The truth is that it's usually a cost consideration in new builds. These types of flush-mount light fixtures are super popular with builders and contractors because they are extremely inexpensive and can easily be purchased in bulk. If you moved into a newly built home in the last decade, I am sure you were staring at quite a few builder-grade boob lights. They also are an easy, simple design for builders to work around; they don't hang down into the room like a chandelier, are the right size for any ceiling height, and are effective—lighting an entire room with one flip of the switch.
So yes, while they might be effective as a generic lighting solution, they're also an eyesore. The first thing most homeowners want to do is find good alternatives for their boob light ceiling fixtures. Even in smaller spaces, you aren't beholden to an ugly fixture. Plenty of lighting options can have a big impact and make a room feel bigger and more curated. For such a small change, a new light fixture significantly affects the look and feel of the space.
We have dealt with all versions of the classic boob light in our homes. I have lost count of how many of these unsightly things I have changed through the years! These boring builder-basic lights make me SO sad. If there is one thing I love in a room (besides color, of course), it’s a great light fixture! So the first order of business anytime we are planning a room design is boob light removal and a new light fixture. It makes a huge difference right away and often takes just a short time to switch out. Let's work together to ditch the boob lights!
As a DIYer, I always think about my lighting plan when I make a design mood board. This always includes boob light removal, a floor lamp, or a wall sconce (or pair) if those make sense in the design, and table lamps or floor lamps. I cannot stress how important good lighting is! Any interior designer will tell you that a cohesive lighting scheme will elevate your room's style.
What to Replace Boob Lights With: Best Boob Light Alternatives
Are you ready to finally replace your boob lights with something a little more stylish? Maybe something that's giving visual interest rather than “industrial ceiling light” vibes?
There are two alternative options for boob lights that are in the same fixture family but offer different options depending on your ceiling height and preference. Tall ceilings can accommodate a semi-flush mount light with more extension. If you have less clearance, choosing flush mount lights may be your best boob light replacement. Both are great options and should fit easily in the boob light’s place.
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Flush Mount Ceiling Lights
A flush mount light sits against your ceiling with very little extension. These types of lights are the best option for a low ceiling or situations where you need lower-profile fixtures. Because flush mounts are closer to the ceiling, they can help a room feel bigger. If you don't want a stand-out fixture, it is easy to choose something that feels more neutral. But if you want more of a statement piece, there are tons of flush mounts that make a stunning focal point!
- Glam Scalloped Shade
- Sutton Rattan Flush Mount
- Suzette Ceiling Mount
- Sculptural Ribbed Glass
- Matte Black Shade
- Bohemia Wood Beaded Flush Mount
- Modern Gold Cage Fixture
- Close-to-Ceiling Globe – We replaced the boob light in our closet with this super affordable (under $60) option. It's even prettier in person!
- Bamboo Wicker
- Fabric Shade Drum – We have 3 of these in our current house, all of which replaced ugly boob lights! They are a great price for the quality.
- Brushed Brass and Capiz Shell
- Staggered Glass 5-Light Flushmount
Semi-Flush Mount Ceiling Lights
A semi-flush mount looks similar but leaves more airspace between the actual light and the ceiling. For higher ceilings, you have more options with the height of your fixture. A semi-flush light with a bit of extension is great for a higher ceiling. There are tons of options that are semi-flush and absolutely gorgeous! Because a semi-flush mount fixture hangs down some from the ceiling, it usually shines light both up and down. The light that hits the ceiling reflects a soft glow downward, so this style can provide more illumination than the flush mount.
- Retro Globe
- Sphere and Stem with Milk Glass – I replaced a boob light with this beauty in my current home office and love it.
- Classic Dome Shade
- Matte Black with Milk Shade
- Linen Ceiling Light Fixture
- Matte Black Plate with Clear Glass
- Modern Gold Three-Arm Globe
- Black and Fabric
- Modern Farmhouse Semi-Flush
- Amirah Natural Brass Globe
- Gold with Drum Shade
- Amirah Matte Black Globe
DIY Boob Light Fixes
If you have the sudden urge to change out that unsightly piece of hardware in your ceiling but don't have a big budget to do it, there are some awesome tutorials out there for near-instant gratification! These DIYers have created some fantastic boob-light alternatives that make banishing your boob lights fairly simple. Check out each blog post for full instructions and visuals to make creating your own replacement flush mount easy!
DIY Basket Pendant Light
Using a kit for the base and their own basket that they cut to fit, they replaced an old fixture with a beachy modern vibe. This is one of my favorite DIY semi-flush options! They include tips for making the basket pendant light longer or shorter.
Capiz Shade Replacement
This clever DIY adds an already-made capiz shade to your existing fixture’s outer ring. There are no significant changes to the electrical—just a switch out of the shades! It's so elegant and eye-catching!
DIY Lamp Shade Flush Mount
This flush-mount light fixture is a reasonably simple switch with a lower profile—just remove the glass and leave the rest of your boob light in place. Then add the shade to cover! This blogger added fabric on the bottom to give it a finished look.
Flush Mount IKEA Hack
Update a plain white plastic flush mount to look like metal with a can of spray paint! They chose to match the lamp to the color of the hardware in their room, which is easily customized and would also be beautiful in brass or black. It's both an affordable and easy upgrade.
Moroccan-Style Metal Shade
A simple trade out of the globe for a lantern created this stylish surprise! This is another DIY boob light alternative that would be so simple to customize with your favorite style lantern. It adds much more interest to the room and really makes the space feel deliberate and complete.
A few words to the wise: before switching out any kind of lighting, do your homework! Although light fixtures are a relatively easy DIY project, please keep in mind that anytime you are working on electrical projects, you must show an abundance of caution. Some mounts and fixtures can vary. The process might differ if you add features like a dimmer or replace overhead lights with a ceiling fan.
If you haven't changed light fixtures before and are looking for assistance, some great YouTube tutorials explain how to handle changing fixtures. At a minimum, you must know the safety measures to be taken when hanging a new fixture (such as turning off the power source at the circuit)! Make sure you've looked into the details before you step up on a ladder. Always read the specific fixture’s packaging, as it can vary by fixture type. If you are unsure, call an electrician!
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Don’t you have any self-respect? “Boob lights”?
Hi Susan. I have an enormous amount of self-respect, thank you for checking. I didn’t coin the phrase “boob lights.” It’s an industry standard term for them. Perhaps you should ask yourself why you jump to conclusions about people you don’t know and leave rude and insulting comments like this one. Best wishes!
Love your work!! Please keep it up!
Thank you Janna!
Such a great article-thank you!! I chuckled the whole time too. Boob lights are horrific and they are EVERYWHERE! We still have a few left in our new-to-us home…but not for long. 😉
My pleasure Amy!