Interior design is quickly moving away from the simplicity of minimalist design that was so popular in recent years and toward more eclectic, layered spaces. Now, designers are mixing trends to help homeowners express their unique personalities.
Eclectic Lighting Styles Brighten Spaces
Every lighting fixture in a home does not need to match. In fact, the new trend is to bring a variety of styles, shapes and heights of lighting sources to living spaces. Mixing and matching different lighting fixture types in a home can go a long way in creating a dramatic and inviting effect.
Sconces and chandeliers, for example, can work together to present a look that blends beautifully. “Installing a traditional chandelier and sconce like the Hamilton Black collection from Schonbek in a modern setting, for example, really embodies the perfect blend of old and new,” says Christina Marin, visual merchandising manager at WAC Lighting. “In the same way, featuring modern lighting fixtures like the Amadeus chandelier and sconce from Schonbek in traditional spaces can really give that high-end, stylish look.”
Mixing lighting structures and forms can also create interesting effects. “Bringing together large sculptural statements like oversized pendants such as the Chronos from Modern Forms and linear lighting like WAC Lighting’s Tightrope Linear Pendant or Modern Forms Luzerne pendant can really upgrade a room and make it feel more personal and unique,” says Marin.
Lighting Fixtures Inspire Whole Spaces
The structure and design lines of the fixtures themselves can also provide inspiration for the overall look of a room or space. “I often choose texture, colors, or wallpaper that mimic a curve in the frame or finish of the lighting product,” Marin says. “It allows your eyes to travel from the focal point of the fixture to the full installation.”
At the WAC Lighting showroom in the Dallas Trade Mart, Marin is focused on demonstrating how these new trends can be translated into real-world settings. “I think it’s important to have our products displayed as they would appear in a customer’s home,” she says. “Instead of a traditional stack on a wall that you’ll find in most lighting galleries and showrooms, I try to help visitors visualize how they can upgrade their spaces with our large range of products. I want people to say, ‘Wow, that would look beautiful in my home’.”
When Mixing Trends, Anything Goes
Eclectic interior designs that mix components of more than one style is all the rage. Now, for example, the farmhouse aesthetic continues to be popular and farmhouse light fixtures can add the right pop of country when blended with other styles like industrial and contemporary. The clean lines of a mid-century modern pendant make it the perfect fit when mixed with rustic elements like warm woods and brick fireplaces.
And, now, LED lighting is reawakening interest in alabaster lighting. While incandescent lights emit high levels of heat that could scorch the soft alabaster material, LEDs emit very little heat, so the alabaster can shine for many years. Alabaster, used in Modern Forms Quarry luminaire, is a great choice for homeowners who are seeking a luxurious, upscale look for their rooms and an alternative to other natural materials.
Make a maximum impact in 2023
The signs all point to a year filled with designs that mix design trends to create spaces that are filled with color and texture. “I love that a more maximalist style is making a big comeback,” says Marin.
