The Best Lighting Stores in Ottawa That Every Homeowner Should Know About
I never really gave home lighting much of a thought—until I had my own house. Suddenly, the things that I used to overlook, like the warmth of a living room lamp or the bold pendant lights in my mother’s dining room, started to matter.
Replacing the dull, outdated fixtures in my new home wasn’t as easy as I expected. The sheer amount of options just in my neighborhood’s hardware store alone was overwhelming.
Lucky for you, I’ve seen it all. I don’t want you to go through the same headaches, so I put together this little guide to the best lighting stores in Ottawa.
How much do light fixtures cost in Ottawa?
The cost of light fixtures in Ottawa can range from $10 to $4,000+. While big-box retailers offer budget-friendly options, specialty stores have the bespoke, statement pieces that require quite an investment.
1. The Modern Shop
Address: 483 Sussex Dr
Phone: +16135624863
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 11:00am – 6:00pm
- Sat: 11:00am – 5:00pm
The Modern Shop is a local furniture store near the busy downtown area, making it easily accessible by car or public transit. Once inside, you’ll find curated, modern displays that may serve as inspiration for your home projects.
What really draws people in is their vast selection of light fixtures from top brands like Normann Copenhagen, Moooi, and Tom Dix. With premium designs and quality, these lights also come with a hefty price tag.
On the upside, that high-end price offers reliable customer service, which extends post-sale. They’re efficient when it comes to handling returns, exchanges, or repairs, making the process feel less frustrating.
We also appreciate their transparency. With the warranty coverage and return policy varying per item, it’s helpful to have staff members who can explain everything to you up front.
Amazing service
I’ve shopped at this store for the last 15 years, thanks to the amazing owner and his staff for providing amazing service. This world needs more of this old school customer service that has all but disappeared these days.
– Andrew Yerxa, Google Review
Excellent selection
I love Ingo Maurer lamps/lights but they are not always that easy to find in Canada. The Modern Shop has an excellent selection of Ingo Maurer and even had the super hard-to-find custom replacement bulbs for my Birdie fixture.
– Philip Watson, Google Review
2. Preston Hardware
Address: 248 Preston St 2nd Floor
Phone: +16132307166
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 7:00am – 5:00pm
- Sat: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Tucked away in Little Italy, Preston Hardware is a go-to for simple, functional lighting fixtures.
The main draw of their selection is their durability, with sconces, flush mounts, and floor lamps that are more durable than what you would get from big-box retailers. But that comes with a tradeoff—they don’t have colorful, statement pieces here.
With their vast in-store inventory, however, you’re likely to find what you need. The friendly and attentive staff can help you narrow down your choices and make the in-store experience smooth and efficient.
According to the patrons we spoke with, that same level of attention extends to their online store. Apart from having an exclusive selection of fixtures that aren’t available on the showroom floor, they’ve got reliable shipping services.
You’ll also find detailed product descriptions and real-time inventory updates laid out on their website. Plus, their warranty and return policies are quite generous, giving you confidence whether you’re shopping online or in-store.
Reasonably priced products
I reached out to Preston Hardware in Ottawa to purchase a product that is no longer readily available in my city of Toronto. These guys made the online purchase very simple, and the product was reasonably priced. BadMonkey Finger
– Audio Gear and Music, Google Review
Quality products
Great customer service and quality products available for purchase. It’s our neighborhood hardware store and we love it.
– Dan Kunic, Google Review
3. Multi-Luminaire
Address: 1872 Merivale Rd, Nepean
Phone: +16132246231
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 9:30am – 6:00pm
- Sat: 10:00am – 5:30pm
- Sun: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Multi-Luminaire is a specialty lighting store in the Nepean area. It has a spacious yet well-organized showroom, making it easy to browse its vast selection of light fixtures.
From table lamps to fancy chandeliers, they’ve got unique items that you won’t find at big-box stores. And if you need a little bit of help, you can sign up for a free consultation with a lighting expert.
We like that they open on weekends, including Sundays. This gives you plenty of time to explore other options for your home and seek advice from their ever-so helpful staff.
Once you’ve made a purchase, you have a 14-day window for returns or exchanges, which is quite short compared to other retailers. As for the warranties, they are reasonable, but they vary depending on the items.
Great customer service
I had a great customer service experience at this store. The staff member was very courteous, polite, and knowledgeable about the product. And I was taken by surprise at the quality of the lamps especially some of the cool artistic designs.
– Yodaman Solo, Google Review
Quality lighting
I got my lighting fixtures installed and I am inlove with each piece. Highly recommend if you are looking for quality lighting, reasonable prices and an excellent customer service.
– Hala Mostafa, Google Review
4. Home Depot
Address:
- 1900 Baseline Rd
- 2056 Bank St
- 1616 Cyrville Rd
- 10 Frank Nighbor Pl
- 3779 Strandherd Dr
- 2121 Tenth Line Rd
Phone: +16137235900
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 6:00am – 9:00pm
- Sat: 7:00am – 8:00pm
- Sun: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Home Depot has multiple stores across the city, making it one of the most accessible lighting stores around. They have a broad assortment of lights from simple desk lamps to decorative fixtures.
But because of their multiple locations, it can be challenging to find the store with the exact lighting you need. Some locations may not have your preferred items in stock, so you have to call other branches or check out their website.
Once you get through that challenge, the in-store experience should be smooth sailing. The shoppers we interviewed said that the staff always go the extra mile to explain all the options and offer practical advice.
They were also satisfied with the return policy window, which covers up to 90 days—pretty standard for big box retailers. Although warranties vary per manufacturer, you have the option to expand your coverage through a protection plan.
Incredible customer service
I had such an incredible experience with customer service today! Michael went above and beyond to assist me with everything i needed in the store!
– Cristina Azevedo, Google Review
Clear, thorough explanations
A staff member overhead my confusion from an aisle away, and immediately came over to help. They gave clear, thorough explanations of the different units of measurement and helped me find exactly what I needed quickly and easily.
– Bibzie 007, Google Review
5. IKEA
Address: 2685 Iris St
Phone: +18668664532
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 10:00am – 9:00pm
- Sat: 10:00am – 8:00pm
- Sun: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Known for its inexpensive, ready-to-assemble light fixtures, IKEA is a local favorite. It’s got a variety of light fixtures that fit the most modest budgets, making it ideal for first-time homeowners and students.
According to shoppers we spoke to, they have incredible customer service for a big retailer. Although the staff might not be able to offer the same level of expertise as specialty lighting shops, they can make shopping in this massive store a breeze.
What we like most is their generous return policies and warranties. You can return unopened items within 365 days of purchase, but only 90 days for the products you’ve unboxed.
As for the warranty terms, they may vary per item. The most common is a 2-year coverage with sufficient protection for defects.
Will definitely be back
We were in and out quickly due to the phenomenal salesman that approached us, thank you Amir G. We will definitely be back for anything that we need in the future, the service was exceptional.
– Stan Kozniewski, Google Review
Epic customer service
Nice cafe(love the 99c breakfasts) and the customer service is epic; they’ll get you replacement parts of whatever it is, usually free of charge. Highly recommend if you’re a student or recent graduate.
– Majed Jarrar, Google Review