Lighting – it’s a part of every home and the right lighting makes the difference between a home that looks stylish and a home that looks a little drabber. We’ve tracked down some of the latest lighting trends.
Kitchen Lighting Trends
There have been major advances in kitchen lighting trends. Forget the standard light in the middle of the kitchen. It’s interesting to note that fluorescent lights are actually making a comeback, as it’s about achieving the right levels of brightness in the kitchen. Fluorescents are perfect for this purpose as their light is bright and even. They are also cheap to run and environmentally friendly.
Under cabinet lighting is another trend that isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Many people are choosing to use dark cabinet or benchtop materials, making under cabinet lighting a necessity. Features that you wouldn’t normally think to highlight in a kitchen, such as toe space and the top of the cabinets, are being accented with ambient lighting.
Outdoor Lighting
With the ever increasing popularity of outdoor living, it is only natural that the lighting companies are taking notice. Chandeliers, wall sconces, and table lamps that are made of cast aluminium are becoming more widely used in outdoor areas. Portable lights or table lights are designed so they won’t short out or cause a fire if they get wet.
Security lights are also becoming more attractive. No longer is it about utilitarian lights that let you see what’s happening or what you are doing. The decorative options that are coming into lighting stores means that you have a range of lighting available that is both practical and suits your style.
Energy Efficient Lighting
Energy efficiency is still a major buzzword in lighting. Chandeliers, pendants, and table lamps that traditionally take incandescent bulbs are being redesigned so that they can use fluorescent bulbs without forsaking any style. The bulbs themselves are also being redesigned so that they don’t peek out unattractively from below the light fitting.
The Three Major Lighting Styles The three major lighting styles that are making waves in design circles right now are:
Casual elegance – creating a warm, relaxed environment using casual lighting that is still a little upscale in design
Simplified traditional – where the excesses are removed, for example, decorative lighting may be used but with the focus on one aspect such as the finish, or the shape
Soft contemporary – a modern look that is clean, modern, but doesn’t feel cold
The trick is to complement the design of the house. This may be choosing a light fitting that complements the height of the ceiling, as design trends go towards higher ceilings. The choice of materials is also changing. Plastic and resin is on the way out and the “old world” materials such as brass, copper, and crystal are on their way back in.
Lamps, Chandeliers, and Pendants
One trend that is coming through is based on the American trend of lighting a living area solely using lamps. This is great if you like to change your décor often as it is easy to change the light shades to match your colour scheme. If you plan to use several lamps, ensure that you have power points in the right place.
Chandeliers create a great feature in the home, but remember that their intention is to be a feature and not a primary light source. Treat the chandelier as a decorative piece and use strategic up lighting and down lighting for the primary light source. Pendants are also great as they are a functional light source as well as being decorative. You can use them individually or group them together for a fantastic look.
Source: HiPages 2011
