Designers Say These Lighting Styles Are Peaking Now And Will Be Gone By Winter
Lighting trends come and go faster than you can say ‘flick the switch.’ As a designer who’s spent years obsessing over the perfect glow, I’ve watched fixtures rise to stardom only to fizzle out months later.
Sometimes these trends shine bright like a diamond, then poof, they’re just a dim memory. The lighting styles currently flooding your social feeds won’t necessarily illuminate your space come December.
Good to go for some truth bombs about which popular fixtures are burning bright but won’t survive the season?
1. Oversized Rattan Pendants
Rattan pendants have been hanging around way too long! Those massive woven orbs casting bohemian shadows across dining tables nationwide reached peak saturation this summer.
They looked fresh in 2021, but now they’re in every rental apartment and Pinterest board imaginable. The natural material simply doesn’t transition well into winter’s aesthetic.
Trust me, swap these tropical-inspired fixtures before the first frost.
Their replacement? Consider smaller pendants with mixed materials that won’t make your space look like an abandoned beach resort.
2. All-White Minimalist Track Lighting
These systems once represented the pinnacle of clean design. However, their sterile appearance has grown increasingly tiresome with each passing season.
Though beloved for their simplicity, these clinical-looking fixtures lack the warmth needed for winter months. Many homeowners installed them thinking timelessness, but discovered blandness instead.
Moving forward, lighting needs personality! Replace those white tracks with systems in warm metals or matte black finishes that provide both function and style.
Your space deserves character, not a medical office vibe.
3. Edison Bulb Everything
Remember when exposed Edison bulbs first appeared? We designers couldn’t get enough! Those warm-toned filaments in every coffee shop, restaurant, and urban apartment signaled instant industrial chic.
Unfortunately, what began as characterful lighting has devolved into visual noise. The amber glow once felt special but now reads as unimaginative and harsh on the eyes.
Moreover, their energy inefficiency makes them increasingly problematic.
Smart homeowners are already transitioning to fixtures with integrated LEDs. They mimic that warm glow without the exposed aesthetic and high energy bills.
4. Neon Word Art
Those glowing phrases like “Good Vibes Only” and “Stay Awhile” had their moment. Neon word art exploded across Instagram, becoming the go-to statement piece for home bars and bedroom walls alike.
However, the novelty has worn off considerably. What once seemed personalized now appears mass-produced and lacks sophistication for evolving interior spaces.
Rather than illuminated platitudes, consider art that incorporates subtle lighting elements.
Wall sculptures with integrated LEDs or backlit panels offer similar drama without the dated messaging that screams 2020 lockdown decor.
5. Upside-Down Chandelier Gardens
Once upon a time, we all went crazy for hanging plants! Well, evolution has arrived with chandeliers that grow downward instead of sparkling upward! These sculptures feature bulbs nestled among artificial succulents and moss, creating an upside-down garden that glows.
Homeowners are installing these verdant fixtures in dining rooms nationwide, despite the nightmare they create for dusting.
The green-tinted light they cast makes every dinner guest look slightly seasick.
The truth is, Instagram can’t get enough of them now. However, trust me, by December, these will join the graveyard of trends alongside bathroom telephones and carpeted kitchens.
6. Bluetooth Mood-Matching Bulbs
Across America, homes are being fitted with these psychological lighting systems that claim to read your emotions. Walk into a room feeling blue? Your lights automatically shift to cheery yellows!
The technology uses your smartphone’s front camera and an algorithm that supposedly analyzes facial expressions. However, the reality rarely matches the promise. Most systems misinterpret concentration as anger, flooding home offices with aggressive red tones during important Zoom calls.
While currently flying off shelves, designers predict these intrusive illuminators will dim permanently. Users often tire of their lights flashing panic-orange every time they watch a thriller movie.
7. Victorian Ghost Lanterns
Haunted chic has taken over lighting departments! These antique-inspired fixtures feature holographic “ghost” projections that float and flicker inside vintage-style lanterns and wall sconces.
The spectral figures, typically Victorian ladies, gentlemen, or children, glow with an eerie blue-white luminescence.
Homeowners initially loved the conversation-starting quality of these spooky lights. Yet the novelty wears thin when guests refuse to use your bathroom because a translucent child appears to be standing in the corner.
8. Geometric Pendant Lights
Geometric pendant lights are a favorite for adding an architectural element to interiors. Featuring clean lines and sharp angles, these lights often come in metallic finishes and create intriguing shadow patterns.
However, as winter approaches, the trend is shifting towards softer, more rounded designs that evoke warmth and coziness. Geometric designs may soon be considered too stark for the intimate ambiance many desire in colder months.
While they still hold appeal for minimalist spaces, their reign might be short-lived as design tastes evolve.
9. Farmhouse Cage Fixtures
Joanna Gaines has much to answer for! Those black metal cage lights with faux-rustic details once dominated every suburban kitchen renovation from coast to coast.
Though they promised farmhouse charm, these fixtures quickly became the calling card of unimaginative design. Their ubiquity in home improvement stores made them accessible but ultimately forgettable.
Those who seek character should look toward sculptural fixtures instead. Lighting that doubles as genuine art, not mass-market rural cosplay, keeps your space timeless. It prevents your kitchen from becoming a one-season wonder overnight.
