Lighting Design Trends 2018

Interior lighting is a central aspect of your home’s design. You can manipulate your home’s atmosphere just by how you position the lighting and the kind of fixtures you use. Lighting design also changes from room to room. What works in the living room will not necessarily work in the kitchen or the bedroom. The lighting has to reflect the functions and feel of each space. Like any other part of interior décor, lighting design keeps changing. Technology is one reason for these changes. As manufacturers come up with advanced fixtures and bulbs, homeowners incorporate them into their homes. Tastes and preferences also change with generations. That is why we have vintage lighting, Art Deco, Mid-century Modern and so on. While 2018 will not bring any radical changes in lighting design, there are several notable trends every homeowner should take note of.

Go With Your Style

Do not feel any pressure to choose a specific style. The best lighting design is one that you will love and which will work best in your home. The above trends are meant to give you an idea of what you can do with your home lighting in the coming year whether you are renovating or building a new home.

Soft Gold is the New Popular Finish

Lately, there has been a spike in the popularity of soft colors. Homeowners have fallen in love with colors such as grey and greige (grey plus beige). Soft gold falls right within this spectrum of soft colors that work so well for contemporary decors to choose for your remodel. Soft gold falls somewhere in the middle of brushed silver and brushed gold. It borrows the soft matte finish of these two hues while bringing out the warmth and mellowness of gold. This also means that it can blend in with almost any kind of décor from modern urban to farmhouse.How to use it: Soft gold lighting fixtures come in a variety of styles and designs. For overhead lighting, look for fixtures that accentuate the gold. You can also check for fixtures that complement the soft gold with other soft colors like grey or matte silver. Use soft gold lighting to attract attention to specific corners or areas of your living room. A great idea is a soft gold reading lamp illuminating the reading chair and shelf at the corner. 2018 gold lighting falls more on the soft side with bright brassy gold fixtures still not being very popular, perhaps because it reminds you of grandma's house. Soft gold will be around for quite a while.

Retro & Industrial Styles are Coming Back but in More Refined Forms

Industrial has always been about rustic finishes, neutral colors and an emphasis on metal. We are seeing retro making a comeback but in a different way. If you look at modern industrial lighting, there are some stark differences to what you know as traditional industrial. The word we would use is ‘’upgraded industrial’’ or just modern retro. Unlike the warehouse-like styles that are common with industrial style, we are seeing sleeker metals–richer and more varied tones and alternative designs. Come see us and you will find retro fixtures with finer details that look more like a form of art. If you were hesitant about introducing some industrial aspects to your home, the new modern look should help.

How to use it: Use modern retro lighting to create a unique twist to an area. These lighting designs are popular for places like the kitchen work area, above the dining area or as wall lighting. You can even use the fixture itself as a piece of art on the wall or the centerpiece of your home. Do not be afraid of industrial. It is no longer the brutal, “unfinished” style that belongs to a niche of retro punk fans. With its updated look, it fits perfectly in any 21st century décor.

Vintage Edison-Style Bulbs, A Warmer Retro Style

The retro look keeps nudging–we have another upcoming style for you. Vintage Edison-style bulbs add to the 2018 retro lighting trend with homeowners loving the nostalgic design of these fixtures. The rounded cone shape makes the bulbs especially homey and perfect for areas like the living area and kitchen. Even better, you can get Edison-style bulbs in modern LED lighting. Get the LED variations if you want a fixture that will last longer and consume less power. But if you want the authentic retro experience, there are incandescent Edison bulbs still available in the market. The advantage of the incandescent variations is that they are cheap. You can get a single bulb for less than $3.

How to use it: Vintage Edison bulbs are best used in enhancing a retro/industrial style. They can help add some warmth and soft beauty to industrial elements. For maximum effect, get a system of lights rather than single bulbs. For instance, a chandelier made with Edison-style bulbs or a row of connected Edison lights above your kitchen work area. These lights are a great place to start if you are looking for a soft introduction to the retro style. They are not extreme industrial, have a certain comfy feel to them and you can find plenty of updated designs in the market.

Mid-century Modern and Art Deco are Making a Comeback

For years, Art Deco and Mid-century Modern styles have been go-to favorites for interior design. But for some reason, lighting has not followed the same trends. It has been hard to come across fixtures set in these nostalgic early century styles. But that is changing with more and more Mid-century and Art Deco designs filling the market. The popular sputnik chandelier comes to mind when talking about Mid-century modern with its clean lines and pared down form. Art Deco and Mid-century Modern form a continuous line from the 1920s to 1970s. They both emphasize clean lines, unique designs and a balance of form and art. Art Deco lighting focuses on sharp lines and attractive geometric designs. With Mid-century modern lighting, you will notice a love for natural shapes that combine functional form and aesthetics.

How to use them: Art Deco is an artful lighting style. Overhead Art Deco fixtures are especially good at adding strong geometric designs to a space. The 2018 Mid-century lighting trend falls more towards fun and laid back. Use it to add an informal slightly artful feel to a space. Unlike years ago, it is not as hard to find Art Deco and Mid-century modern fixtures today. Check your local store or online shops for a variety of the best pieces.

Less Clutter, Cleaner Lines

Suspenders by Sonneman

Modern décor is based mostly on clean forms. Whether it is a modern couch, a modern kitchen or modern lighting, excessive ornamentation is losing favor. Older lighting fixtures often feature ornate metalwork. But in a modern home, the complex designs may not blend so well in a clean styled space. So today, homeowners are opting for simpler and cleaner lighting designs that fit in perfectly among modern decors. The minimalism trend will become even more popular in 2018 as more low-profile fixtures enter the market. These fixtures focus on simple geometric designs, neutral soft colors and a prominence of form over extravagant aesthetics.

How to use it: You can work modern clean lighting into any space in your home whether it is the living area, kitchen or bedroom. It works best as a statement piece, especially when used overhead, creating a simple yet bold look. Let the lighting fixture stand on its own without being crowded by other fixtures. It really pops when used as a reading lamp, overhead light or accent piece.

LED's are getting Cheaper

Incandescent bulbs are very wasteful. Most of the power is wasted in the form of heat. This is why there has been a big push to change over to other more efficient and environmentally friendly forms of lighting. More and more homeowners are changing over to LED lighting for it’s money and power saving properties, which is far more efficient and lasts for much longer than incandescent bulbs. Another advantage of LED lighting is the variety of styles available. You can get LED lamps in multiple colors, brightness, shapes and so on. They are a great choice when you need a unique design for your home.Currently, the major downside to LED lighting is cost. While they will save you some money in the long run, the purchase cost is quite high compared to other lighting options. Most homeowners can only afford to replace one lighting fixture at a time. The cost of LEDs should become lower in 2018 and beyond as the technology gets better and adoption of LED lighting goes up. Soon, homeowners might just be able to change over to LED all at once.

Bigger is Better

Swarovski Chrystal on the Hubbardton Forge 'Cityscape'

For certain areas of the house, homeowners are falling in love with bigger fixtures. The aim is to create a “Wow” factor and attract instant attention. More than lighting, these fixtures act as centerpieces. Some come with ornate designs that focus all the attention in a space on the fixture. Large pendant lighting fixtures can be used over the kitchen island, over the dining table, at the foyer and along exterior footpaths among other areas.

How to use larger fixtures: Using larger fixtures requires a lot of care. For best results, use it in a central area where it can create the maximum effect. You can balance it with smaller fixtures around the room to create a nice overall look.