The Home You Own

‘Boob lights’ are a scourge. Here’s how to cover them.

What to do if you’re stuck with one (or more!) of these cringeworthy light fixtures.

5 min
(Illustration by Anna Lefkowitz/The Washington Post; iStock)
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The term “flush-mount dome light” doesn’t sound particularly offensive, but the lighting fixture it refers to faces near-universal derision. You might be more familiar with its nickname — the boob light.

You know the look. It’s a frosted, bowl-shaped glass shade that affixes right to the ceiling, typically with brushed nickel or bronze trim, and the pièce de résistance: a screw in the center of the dome that resembles a nipple. Many new or leased homes and apartments come with one (or more!) in every room.

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