Statement lights.
From bold floor lamps to decorative pendants, a great light can really bring a room to life, writes Georgia Madden.
Never underestimate the impact of a fabulous light. Whether it’s a cluster of pendants suspended over the dining table, a dramatic chandelier in the hallway or a sculptural piece in an otherwise dull corner, a statement light doesn’t just cast a warm, welcoming glow, it could also be the finishing touch you need.
“Lighting should interact with architecture and furnishings to create the intended experience for an interior,” says David O’Driscoll, CEO of Brightgreen. “It can set the mood for the space – creating a sense of calm or drama, for instance.”
Style-wise, there’s a light for every taste, from oversized and ornate to understated and minimal. You’ll find voluminous designs in curvy swathes of plywood; barely-there linear styles in acrylic and steel; space-age, multi-directional pendants; weathered chandeliers; and clusters of mini metallics. When it comes to the materials, designers are pushing the boundaries and offering up styles in marble, ceramic, cork, terrazzo,
concrete and textured or printed glass – often combining more than one finish in a single piece.
With a more decorative aesthetic sweeping Europe, we can expect to see lighting styles with a romantic twist hitting the market here this season, says Denise Hammond, product knowledge development specialist at Beacon Lighting. “This year’s lighting will be lavish and luxe, mixing modern simplicity with old-world elements while being very up-to-date in terms of quality, clarity and energy-efficiency.”
For David Hartikainen, Space’s
NSW manager, it’s all about new takes on traditional ideas. “You’ll see designs that reference past styles in fresh and innovative ways. For example, Moooi has released a chandelier – Coppélia – that replaces the usual candles with a soft LED light source, and the overly decorative arms with a simple linear steel form.”
Black will be another key trend in the lighting domain, says Hammond. Subtle and sophisticated black smoke glass is at the top of every designer’s must-have list right now.”
For Alex Butta, Freedom’s senior interior decorator, metallics have lost none of their appeal. “Rich, deep tones are huge for interiors this year and give us free rein to indulge our love of all things metallic and sparkly,” she says. “Gold is the new copper – it infuses any interior with warmth and works beautifully alongside brass and silver as well as glass chandeliers.”
When you’re choosing a feature light for your home, think about where and how it will be used. “Kitchen benchtops, dining tables and desks require direct task lighting, while
living rooms and more casual spaces are better suited to ambient lighting,” says Chris Haddad, architect and lighting designer at Archier. “In open-plan spaces, the living, dining, kitchen and social spaces overlap, and their different lighting requirements intersect. As such, a pendant that offers both uplighting and downlighting gives greater control over light levels and the ability to adjust the output as activities change. Also consider how a pendant looks during the day, as it will be switched off more often than it’s on.”
You should factor in what a fitting is made from, too, advises Hammond. “When selecting a pendant for overall lighting, consider one with a light diffuser or semi-opaque shade to avoid circles of bright light being cast against the wall. For task lighting, choose styles with a solid shade that will cast light downward. If you’re after a soft glow, select a fabric or glass shade that will diffuse the light. For general lighting, choose a style in glass or acrylic that will maximise the light output.”
When it comes time to hang the lights, thinking outside the box can reap stunning rewards. Consider the impact of lighting hung low over a coffee table, cascading down a stairwell, suspended by the bed or positioned off-centre above a kitchen benchtop. “For an interesting look, hang clusters of lights at various heights and mix a few different models together,” suggests Asher Abergel, designer and founder of Dezion Studio. A cluster plate, available at Beacon Lighting, can come in handy in this scenario, as it allows you to create your very own multi-light feature.