I attended the Lightovation show in Dallas in early January, where I toured showroom after showroom of beautiful lighting. I’m here to share what was new and what caught my eye.
You might think you can go to a big lighting store in your area and see everything there is to see that’s available in lighting. However, that is just a small smattering of only some of the vendors and products on the market. The items on display are chosen by the owner or buyer of that store in a curation for the type of customers that typically buy from them. It might feel substantial, but it is actually quite limited.
That’s why designers go to markets and shows to see a wider range of the products actually available. There is just so much more product to see. I will sometimes skip the lighting vendors when I’m at High Point, if I’m planning to go to Lightovation that year, as there is usually so much more at that show.
For example, the Visual Comfort showroom in Dallas is the largest VC showroom in the world.
While I didn’t get to every showroom I wanted to while I was there, I did see a lot of product. Seeing it all in one go also helps you be able to compare and trends become a lot more evident.
Here are some of the trends I noticed at this year’s show.
New traditional styles
Shirred, pleated and patterned fabric shades
Ribbed / fluted glass
More wood incorporated into lighting
More color on fixtures
Organic shapes still popular
Stained glass look and Alabaster
Lots of new flush mounts for ceiling or walls
More multi-drop pendants
Lighted mirrors
More battery operated/cordless lamps
Wicker
1) More Traditional Styles Are Being Introduced
I like how both of these chandeliers have a traditional shape with a new, modern edge to the them.
Visual Comfort
Visual Comfort
A classic traditional look from Ralph Lauren.
Check out this plate sconce from Mitzi Lighting. A new intro and a very traditional look.
So many of the fixtures I share below have traditional syling in some form. I find it rather exciting to see this shift in design.
2) Shirred, pleated and patterned fabric shades
Shirred and pleated fabric shades, with and without patterns, are hot right now. These work so well with the “Grandma Chic” trend I saw so popular at High Point this fall.
Shirred fabric shades on a new fixture from Hudson Valley Lighting.
Pleated fabric shades on these new intros from Hudson Valley Lighting.
Chinoiserie patterned metallic shades from Currey and Co.
New intros from Maxim Lighting
Fabric shade stretched over a wire frame from Mitzi Lighting. I think this has a bit of a Grandma Chic style.
More stretched sheer fabric over a wire frame, this fixture from Savoy House.
3) Ribbed / fluted look glass
Ribbed or fluted glass just emulates the shirring and pleats of their fabric counterparts. We’ve been seeing this kind of ribbed detailing in paneling, cabinetry and glass panels, so why not lighting?
Fluted or ribbed glass sconces from Hinkley.
This lighting with fluted glass from Hinkley would be great in a traditional bathroom where you might not want pleated fabric shades but like the look.
These new ribbed glass pendants from Quoizel have a vintage look.
Fluted glass on these pendants from Savoy House give a more traditional look and add detail to a simple shape.
These new bath lights from Savoy House have a more traditional look with the fluting.
These fixtures from Crystorama have a historical look.
4) More wood Incorporated into Fixtures
I loved this new, dark wood floor lamp from Kelly Wearstler. The tall conical shaped shade makes for a perfect top to this lamp.
Love this substantial wood floor lamp from Visual Comfort.
Wood lamps at Hudson Valley Lighting
Wood stemmed sconce with a fluted glass shade from Crystorama.
New sconces from Hudson Valley Lighting with a wood ball detail
Wood chandelier at Hinkley Lighting.
Wood shades on these pendants from Capital Lighting.
Wood beads on this new intro make for a fun, textural fixture from Fredick Ramond, Hinkley Lighting.
5) More color!
Everyone seems to be craving color these days and the lighting manufacturers are listening. These earthier warm tones from Visual Comfort seem right on trend to me.
Colorful ceramic lamps from Visual Comfort
A solid, organic look in a pastel shade from Visual Comfort.
Pretty pastel shades on these brass fixtures from Crystorama.
Emerald green glass seen at Mitzi Lighting.
Murano glass style fixtures introduced at Minka, these in a bold green color.
Hammerton Lighting with some colorful pendants.
New intros of colorful glass fixtures at Quoizel.
Justice Design had lots of colorful ceramic fixtures.
6) Organic Shapes Are Still Popular
This flush mount ceiling fixture was so impressive. These looked like lily pads up on the ceiling.
Such a graceful chandelier from Palacek. These looked like large orchids.
There were several brands using ceramic, organic shapes applied to light fixtures. These reminded me of the underside of a mushroom cap!
Organic sphere shaped pendant from MInka. Ceramic discs are formed and mounted on rods to form the shape of this fixture.
Organic blown glass shades on these fixtures by Quoizel.
Ceramic gingko leaves highlight this chandelier from Fredrick Ramon / Hinkley Lighting.
7) Stained Glass and Alabaster
These stained glass looks were seen at several different showrooms. Another nod to traditional design making a big comeback, I believe. These are actually just white glass or a white composite material to look like glass, but the way the fixtures have these faceted designs, harken back to stained glass.
New series from Currey and Co.
Currey and Co.
New intros from Minka Lighting.
Stained glass look from Quoizel.
Alabaster is a popular natural material for lighting these days.
Light shines softly through alabaster highlighting the veining which makes it a perfect light shade material.
8) Lots of new flush mounts for ceiling or walls
I love how manufacturer’s are giving more attention to light patterns created on walls/ceilings. I saw lots of new flush mounts that can usually be mounted on ceilings or walls.
Loved these fixtures from Quorum. I took this photo at High Point, but saw them again at Lightovation along with other options.
Quorum - Sconces integrated with a wallcovering installation to create a unique wall treatment.
WAC Lighting
This flush mount from Hudson Valley Lighting has a modern, organic vibe.
9) More Multi-Drop Pendants
I have to say, I haven’t been a big fan of multi-drop pendants before, they just seem like a bunch of mini-pendants crowded together, but these below changed my mind. I like the fact that these are tiered, not just staggered on different cables, hanging individually. These have multiple lamps along the same cable.
This first one by Barbara Barry for Visual Comfort was stunning in the window of their showroom.
Visual Comfort - Imagine this fixture in longer lengths in a two-story space. It would look like butterflies had just been released!
This one really caught my eye, from Quoizel. It also comes in a single strand, with multiple lights cascading down the one, lone cable. Very elegant!
Quoizel - This fixture was one of my favorites of the show.
While these aren’t exactly multi-drop from a singular cover plate, it is rather the same idea, but swagged. Another vintage type look making a comeback.
Swag installation at Hammerton Lighting.
What a stunning chain on this swagged fixture from Visual Comfort.
10) Lighted Mirrors
I just installed a lighted mirror in one of my jobs and I’m about to have a few more installed in another.
Want that well-lit mirror in your home just like the one in the fancy hotel you stayed in recently? You can have one in your bathroom too!
Move over bath bars and wall sconces, the lighted mirror might just be taking your place.
Quorum Lighting - lighted mirrors
New intro lighted mirror from Visual Comfort.
These come in all kinds of options and sizes. I loved the ones at Quorum, but many brands are carrying them now.
11) More Battery Operated / Cordless Lamps
We are charging everything else these days, why not our lamps?
I can see a use for these on a little shelf, a tabletop or some place with no electrical outlet close by.
There are definitely new intros to the market in this category.
Savoy House small rechargable table lamp
These adorable little lamps from Savoy House, are done in partnership with Coco and Dash.
12) Wicker
Wicker is still popular for lighting and shades. Check out these beauties below.-
Currey and Co. new intro wicker lamps
A new painted wicker lamp from Troy Lighting.
Did you see my post on Grandma Chic style? See more at the link below.
I’m here today to share an emerging design trend I noticed at HPMKT. This one has been around for a bit, but it seemed to be coming on strong this season.