Lighting can totally make or break a room – but ironically, it’s one of those things that’s probably the easiest and least expensive to change, even if you happen to be renting your property.
A basic overhead light as installed by your average builder is rarely going to make the best of your living space – so how might you choose to improve things?
Arc floor lamps have become uber-popular, and can add an arty, visual feature to a room as well as throwing out extra light. There’s been a particular trend for floor and table lamps featuring a dramatic marble base, particularly in cool greys and white. But with the current shift away from neutral interiors to pops of bright colour, there are more coloured stone options coming into the market for lamp bases.
Another good way to lift your lighting is to ditch those traditional drop lights for linear fixtures that hug the ceiling and span the whole width of the room. There are plenty of these simple, clean-lined fixtures with exposed bulbs that really showcase the trend, as well as really revving up your lighting levels.
If you love golden colours around the home, then you’ll love some of the latest lighting designs, which feature classic brass fittings. Not that fake-looking shiny kind though – the new look is for unlacquered brass that will age and acquire a soft patina over time. This works particularly well with the currently popular petal-shaped chandelier lights, which are popping up everwhere this year.
By far the easiest way to switch up your lighting look is with on-trend shades – and one of the hottest looks on the High Street is for wicker, rattan and woven grass designs, which are appearing everywhere.
These natural fibre light shades are available in a wide range of shapes and colours, and can give a light and airy look that’s definitely not just for beach homes. In fact, they’ll add a distinctly casual, bohemian vibe to any room in the house.