Lighting trends

Make a dramatic impact by updating the lighting in your home. Today's modern lighting options are modern and contemporary, while others are sexy and romantic.

 

This year decorative lighting is going to be a hot trend, with chandeliers and contemporary designs featuring in beautiful interiors. You don't need to remodel your entire lighting system, just change a few fixtures to give your home an update.

Make a statement
Create instant wow factor with an eye-catching chandelier. A black crystal chandelier plays against the theatrical backdrop of the banquette in this dining room. Recessed lighting brightens the rest of the space without taking away from the grandeur of the chandelier

Create a focal point
The eye is drawn directly to a gorgeous light fixture, like the brilliant, crystal ball chandelier in this room. The giant globe not only gives off light, but picks up on the sparkle, shimmer and shine of everything else in its vicinity.

Complement the style
Enhance the design style of a room by matching lighting. For this living room, classic gold sconces, a crystal chandelier and recessed lighting reflect the traditional surroundings. Classic chandeliers, lamps, and other lighting pieces lend a timeless touch in any decorating scheme, particularly when paired with accents like crystal or beads.

Think about purpose
This space needed to triple as a home office, art studio and lounge area, so it includes moveable track and under-mounted cabinet lighting to provide plenty of task lighting. In the lounge area, a funky helix-shaped fixture in teal and purple crystals adds ambience.

 

 

Bring in the sun

Make the most of natural light. Retracting translucent stacking blinds open to reveal a full view of the beautiful garden and allow in tons of sunshine, but when closed, they still bathe the room in a soft, diffused light. Rice-paper and cherry-wood lantern-style fixtures complement the Japanese design of the room. The 'East meets West' trend has materialized in the form of feng shui-friendly light fixtures, and natural/organic lighting styles are a growing trend for 2011. Look for lamps and fixtures with natural fabrics, such as wood, cane, hemp and rattan.

Balance lighting and furniture
The dining table is the most dominant piece of furniture in this room so the lighting above has to be just as grand. A pair of classic chandeliers in antique silver creates just the right presence.

Mix It Up
Use a variety of lighting types. In addition to a ceiling full of recessed lights, a conventional chandelier with a contemporary twist helps define the dining room. A table lamp and Moroccan-inspired lanterns also provide a soft ambient glow. Use layered lighting to provide more options for each room - creating a more functional space. But do look for fittings that make use of energy-saving bulbs and globes. Incandescent lighting is not energy efficient, whereas CFLs, LEDs and other energy rated globes.

Trendy lighting
Pendant lighting, particularly oversized drum pendants, continues to remain prominent as a lighting trend and a stylish alternative to the usual ceiling light or chandelier.