The secrets and the trends in good layered lighting
stemmed ribbed cocktail glasses are CB2; stemless ribbed glasses are ferm living|burke decor; empire shade is home depot; marble lamp is vintage; candle sticks are vintage
When my mom sells a client a new home, one of her first recommendations is to put aside a budget to personalize the lighting. I recently heard lighting and hardware referred to as the “jewels of the home.”
One of the quickest ways to create coziness is to add layered lighting. Think of a room as if you’re slicing light sources into layers and overlapping them. It gets you away from exclusively relying on overhead light that creates a harsh, fluorescent look. Blending different types of lighting (ambient, accent and task) achieves a warm glow and adds visual points of interest throughout a room.
Lighting trends
Product designers creatively integrate widespread interior trends into small lighting touches. Patterns occuring on macro level reflect into lighting details. Examples of this:
Ribbed glass: Similar to dishware, vases and decor, ribbed glass is popping up often on lamp bases (like #3 below).
All things vintage: Tiny floral patterns showing up on fabric shades. Danish, accordion style pleats are having a major moment (like #2 and #12 below). Frosted glass and capiz shells are resurrecting, giving a neutral project a little shine (especially when paired with brass). Major retailers are creating new fixtures that look like vintage crystal chandeliers (#10 below).. I was recently asked what I would spend $1 mil on and swiftly answered, “italian murano tube chandeliers.”
Scallops: Scallops surged in fashion nearly 10 years ago and have made a slower foray into interiors, hopefully with a more timeless shelf life. Scalloped shades make a lamp, sconce, pendant or chandelier more casual or feminine. (#9 below isn’t an exact fit, but would be in the same curvy movement family with pleats and scallops.)
Old world textures: If you follow contemporary or minimalism trends, you’ve likely wanted to add limewash or clay to your walls in the past 12 months. The same textures are being incorporated in lighting, giving a vintage touch that adds depth and movement. Close to how my night stand table lamps (#7 below) are finished. Kenny and I have been eyeing this popular piece to add to his living room. Terracotta, terrazzo and cement-like finishes have the same effect.
Plaster: Another old world texture.. plaster is kind of breaking the internet with its arrival on the lighting scene (#1 below). It comes with a price tag, though, as companies are hiring sculptors and art studios to design these pieces for them. (From where I sit, this DEMIURGE chandelier and sconce put it all in motion. Studio Mcgee followed.) There are tons of DIYs you can find to make the luxe look more accessible. I love the shade shape martina thornhill chose!
Unconventional forms and shapes: Asymmetry, jar-like bases and popular pottery forms have made their way into lighting product lines to emulate artisan-made pieces. See form studies at west elm or the algarve lamp from cb2. If you actually want handmade, notary ceramics introduced lighting about a year ago and it’s completely dreamy.
Marble and alabaster: A trend with timeless potential (IMO), as it incorporates antiques. Neutral, marble lamp bases (like #13 below) are now sprinkled across etsy and local shops. While these typically come around $250+ in value, I snagged mine off fb marketplace from an older couple who simply got tired of it and didn’t think to update the shade. Similarly, marble, onyx and alabaster are coming up more in pendants, flush mounts and sconces (like #11 below).
Dark, dramatic neutrals: Black, dark, bold and rich colors are being used everywhere. I love the drama a sleek black shade can add.
Tassels (honorable mention): Still largely confined to the art deco scene, tassels have been creeping up in a way that’s hard to ignore. I don’t know if they’ve earned their “mainstream” badge of honor just yet, but fringe is certainly on the fringes. Here in its most extreme form, here for the style that blends into an indie hotel, here for the boho farmhouse nursery look that got this ball rolling.
Jute and natural fibers ..still: Hot take - I fatigue every year jute, grasscloth and rattan dominate again. There’s also a raffia surge in the lighting DIY world. While I’ll use these natural fibers for texture in my own home (#8 below), I think moderation is necessary to not completely give boho. If you love it, go crazy; but if you’re trend averse.. tread lightly (as with the other things on this list). Not totally sold it’s here for decades to stay.
Slope shades: See section 3 below.
Lighting comes with too great permanence and price tag to swap out every few years. I’ve invested more here than any other statement pieces. Below are the lights I’ve added to my home, in addition to some I’m keeping an eye on. :)
1. vernier tiered pendant light, cb2, $499 | 2. barton pleated drum pendant, old rejuvenation | 3. slope linen shade, rh, $56; ribbed glass lamp base, target, $39 (sold out, here’s another option) | 4. kenton bronze indoor wall sconce, home depot, $49 | 5. safavieh mable crystal lamp, amazon/hd, $98 | 6. black metal sconce, studio mcgee for target, $70 | 7. avena table lamp, crate & barrel, $179 | 8. grass cloth flush mount, bellacor, $218 | 9. squiggle floor lamp, vakker light, $305 | 10. alma crystal flush mount, pottery barn, $279 | 11. slope marble sconce, cb2, $249 | 12. harriet pleated chandelier, anthropologie, $428 | 13. vintage marble lamp base, empire shade, home depot, $16
Quick + simple tricks
I started learning about lighting while living in an apartment and improve my condo with a “ready to sell” mindset. One of my favorite renter- (and budget-) friendly tips to immediately make your space feel more livable is to add dimmers to light switches. There are just a few places where this won’t work without a major overhaul, like in particularly old wiring systems. My condo was built in the 1960s and, with the exception of overhead fans, does just fine.
Another renter-friendly update is to install plug in wall sconces. Most sconces require hard wiring to install, however there are a handful of them that come with an easy switch attached. I love the black studio mcgee empire sconces in my living room (#6 above) that we simply drilled into the wall, then used cord covers to hide. Covers are nice to have on hand and hide things like my tv and wifi cables. There are tutorials that will convert hardwired sconces into ones with a plug, but I don’t recommend trying that unless you’re a pro.
Another intuitive update is to get dimmer or warmer light bulbs. One of my favorite designers swears by these light pink GE bulbs (they come off as a soft white). The higher the kelvins, the cooler the temp.
rejuvenation barton drum (light #2) in action!
Swapping the shade
The last – and most dramatic – update is to swap out the shade.
Nearly every shade captured on my lamps above is a slope style. This is a vintage look that has been making its way back since feminine curves started appearing everywhere a few years ago. The trick to finding these is knowing what to search for. Keywords “empire shade; coolie; cone shade,” and “slope shade” will get you closer. Shea McGee made these ultra popular through her target line, while I find Kara Mann’s polar and eclipse pieces for cb2 to be so sleek. My favorite stand alone shade is the 16.5in slope shade from Restoration Hardware (on light #3 above).
LeKrazyHorse has a great danish collection on etsy. Fat, round tulip-like pleats are also becoming more popular. Measure twice before you order!
Buying vintage
Vintage trends, materials and bases have made a major appearance in this post. Chairish and 1stdibs are wonderful, curated sites that allow you to bid or negotiate prices directly with sellers. They review the products before listing on the sites, which whittles down the inventory to treasures. Etsy is also great for vintage. My family has taken me to Scott’s Antique Market since I was little and we keep going back. Of course, don’t forget fb marketplace and my marble lamp.
