Hot Home Lighting Trends

Here is a list of home lighting trends that will define the 2010 decorative lighting scene. Many of the trends go well beyond function and efficiency, to other aspects like style, because for most homeowners it’s all about having a good-looking fixture to accent their interior design.

• Recessed lighting is out – our architects and designers love the look of the lighting, but it’s been so overused that it ends up creating a pockmarked ceiling that is more obtrusive than appealing.
   
• Hidden track lighting is in. Hidden cables hide the hardware and use low voltage to light up a whole new world of accent lighting. Decorative patterns, dancing lights diffused from eyelets and shaded lighting is some of the more known patterns in hidden track lights.
   
• Art Deco lighting remains timeless because it can work with any interior style, from Victorian to Contemporary.
   
• Green is the still the hot trend in interior design and new home construction. This is particularly true when it comes to eco-friendly lighting fixtures. When choosing your fixtures you’ll want to consider using dimmer switches, which help keep energy usage down, as do automated lighting control and the use of CFLs and LEDS. Look for lighting to go more high tech as this lighting trend continues.
   
• As designers and architects continue to design house plans with large great rooms and open living spaces, the need for large lighting continues to be a popular trend. Ceiling fans are fast becoming a design favorite for homeowners, not only because of their size, but style and energy-efficiency to assist cooling and heating a room.
   
• Metal bases for table and floor lamps are a big part of interior design. Deep metal tones with a rustic look and classic appeal are popular to create unique and dramatic lighting.
   
• Barring a metal base – look for more organics, such as bamboo, wood veneers and even vines to be used in lighting design.
   
• Expect to see dark tones, complicated and elaborate designs, durable and strong materials. Chandeliers remain the most common antique lighting fixtures, but there other lighting accessories and fixtures that qualify as antiques and are perfect additions to a small room like wall sconces, table lamps, lamp shades black metal hurricane lamps and rustic lanterns.
   
• Multi-dimensional room lighting is here to stay as homeowners continue to understand the importance of determining their lighting needs – ambient, task, accent and decorative.
   

	Solar garden lights are starting to become more popular and come in a variety of designs such as pole lamps, stone lights, wall lights and others. It makes for a great eco-friendly touch to your outdoor living spaces. Be on the look out for indoor solar fittings. They are very easy to install, but since they are a relatively new product, the kits are a bit expensive. Like with most green products you have to look at the overall savings to your energy costs. If you choose to install solar lights indoors make sure you choose rooms that are free of shade for most of the day.