The Styleture editorial team has made no secret of our love affair with lighting design. We’re always keeping an eye out for new trends and products to tickle our fancy. When it comes to lighting design for 2012, the theme is undoubtedly bigger, better and brighter technologies, not to mention a shift towards softer and warmer design elements. Here are several trends and products that will shine bright in the New Year:
1. It’s a LED, LED, LED World
There is no escaping it – LEDs are the lighting buzz word for 2012. Since LEDs are so compact, lighting manufacturers are no longer limited to the same old forms for decorative fixtures. They can now design and fabricate fixtures in new shapes, sizes and configurations that they couldn’t do before with incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs. Best examples? Stiletto by Corbett Lighting and Disc by CSL® (Creative Systems Lighting).
2. Steampunk Style
Steampunk style—a re-imagination of the past, with an eye towards the future—has been gaining a lot of well, steam, over the past few years. Lighting manufacturers will continue to unveil fixtures that honor the industrialized style in 2012. Best examples? Raleigh by Troy Lighting, which is also LED, Rise and Fall by Hudson Valley Lighting® and Beaumont by Troy Lighting Outdoor.
3. Warm Metals
2011 was the year of cool polished metal, but 2012 will feel warmer and softer with bronze, gold and copper tones. Best Examples? Corbett Lighting’s layered Muse “wows” with a soft Tranquility silver leaf finish and faceted crystals. Link by Troy Lighting features a rustic yet contemporary bronze leaf finish, while the Cymbal sconce impresses with hand-forged iron bronze leaf in an Umbria bronze finish.
4. Eco-Chic
With everyone moving towards sustainability, lighting fixtures constructed from eco-friendly materials are more in demand than ever. We’re talking about woods, stones, crystals and other renewable sources. Best examples? Raffia by Troy Lighting features a warm, translucent shade made from Raffia palms, while Bento features a lamp shade made from plantation-grown Saguran and a frame made from recycled mahogany.
With such noteworthy lighting trends and products, the promise of 2012 is certainly looking bright!