When it comes to lighting and light design, it should serve both a functional and aesthetic role—transforming the look and feel of a space. From creating ambiance with soft lighting to accentuating architectural features, lighting plays an essential role in overall design. Whether you’re upgrading your kitchen, bathroom, or living room, selecting the right lighting can make the difference between liking and loving your home. The interior design trends for lighting like pendants, chandeliers, sconces, and vanity lighting evolve each year. At the Fall 2024 High Point Furniture Market, we saw a beautiful display of what’s trending and functional for the upcoming seasons and beyond. Let’s explore the finishes, styles, and uses and answer the critical question: What do interior designers consider when selecting the right lighting for a project? We must first understand the basics of lighting a room to get started.

How To Light a Room and Avoid Design Mistakes

Before we get started on trends, let’s talk about the basics of lighting. A well-designed lighting plan can create ambiance, highlight architectural features, and enhance a room’s overall aesthetic. Lighting design is an art; it takes layering of lighting to achieve a custom design for your space. The basic lighting elements in design are ambient, task, and accent lighting. They all have different purposes but work together.

1. Ambient Lighting: This provides overall illumination for a room. Designers typically achieve this through recessed or pendant lights.
2. Task Lighting: This type of lighting is not just for specific tasks, such as reading, cooking, or working. Task lighting provides additional light throughout the home, such as table lamps, desk lamps, or under-cabinet lighting.
3. Accent Lighting highlights specific features, such as artwork or architectural details. Accent lights are track lighting, spotlights, or wall sconces.

Interior Design Trends in Lighting for 2025

Now that we have covered lighting basics, let’s dig into some of the interior design trends we will see in 2025 for lighting, starting with finishes. The finish of lighting plays a crucial role in setting the overall tone of a room. Over the last few years, we have seen a few consistencies in lighting finishes, from brushed gold and matte black to nickel. Here are a few finishes still trending:

• Warm Metallics, including Copper: Copper finishes are entering lighting categories. This finish adds warmth and shimmer to the surface of any light. Brushed brass and gold finishes are still on trend, adding a touch of vintage elegance to any space. These warm tones can complement both traditional and modern interiors.
• Satin and Brushed Nickel: These finishes offer a subtle and refined look, making them versatile choices for various design styles.
• Polished Chrome and Silver: Sleek and modern, these finishes are perfect for contemporary interiors. We recently used some of these finishes in our modern 17th Street new construction home.
• Matte Black: A dramatic and sophisticated choice, matte black finishes add a touch of industrial chic to any space.
• Glass and Crystal: These finishes add a touch of luxury and sparkle, making them perfect for formal dining rooms and elegant bedrooms.
• Organic Materials: Lighting made from natural materials is still on trend. These include ratan, jute, wood bamboo, marble, and stone.

Lighting Trends for Pendants, Chandeliers, Vanity Lights

Pendants

Pendants, with their versatility and style, are excellent lighting choices for a variety of spaces, including kitchens, dining rooms, and entryways. They provide a focused light source over an island, dining table, or work area and add a statement piece to the room’s design. Trending designer lighting styles are:

• Oversized: Larger, more dramatic pendants are taking over, especially in open-concept spaces. These pendants often feature bold geometric shapes or intricate designs that create a focal point in the room.
• Glass and Crystal: Transparent materials, like blown glass and crystal, continue to be popular because they can beautifully reflect and scatter light. These materials are being used in everything from simple round pendants to more intricate chandeliers.
• Mixed Materials: Pendants that combine metal, wood, glass, and even fabric are trending. These combinations create an organic yet refined look that is modern yet warm.

Chandeliers

Chandeliers have come a long way from being fixtures in formal dining rooms. In 2025, modern chandeliers are no longer just about adding a touch of luxury; they have become versatile design elements that can elevate any room! Whether your style is contemporary, minimalist, or more eclectic, the latest chandelier designs are both elegant and functional, blending bold aesthetics with everyday practicality.

• One of the most exciting aspects of chandelier evolution is the variety of available styles, each designed to complement different interiors. For example, minimalist chandeliers are gaining popularity due to their clean, streamlined lines and subtle geometric patterns that don’t overpower the space.
• On the other hand, larger-than-life statement chandeliers are making their mark in living rooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms with high ceilings. These bold pieces with asymmetrical shapes or intricate designs are perfect for creating a dramatic focal point.
• Nature-inspired chandeliers are emerging as a top trend as consumers’ minds are now more eco-conscious. These fixtures, designed to mimic the organic nature feel, like branches, leaves, and petals, help connect the indoor/outdoor feel.

Vanity Lighting

In bathroom design, vanity lighting plays a critical role—not just in providing light for applying makeup or grooming but also in enhancing the overall atmosphere. The trend is all about sleek, stylish vanity lighting that blends form and function seamlessly.

• Integrated LED lights are one of the standout trends in vanity lighting this year. These energy-efficient fixtures offer a contemporary look with their low-profile design and bright, focused illumination for everyday tasks. For those looking to make a statement, bold vanity light fixtures are also gaining popularity. These large, sculptural designs, often featuring oversized bulbs, add a touch of drama and create a striking visual impact without compromising function.
• Backlit mirrors also continue to be a top choice for modern bathrooms. With built-in lighting, these mirrors cast a soft, even glow that is perfect for makeup application and daily grooming. They provide excellent illumination and add a sleek, minimalist touch to any bathroom, enhancing the overall aesthetic.

What Interior Designers Consider When Selecting Lighting for a Project

Lighting is key in transforming any space, and choosing the right fixtures goes far beyond illumination. When working with an interior designer, you ensure your lighting is functional and stylish. Here’s why it’s worth the investment.

• Function for Each Room: Designers select lighting based on how each room is used. Task lighting is essential for kitchens and home offices while living rooms and bedrooms benefit from softer, ambient lighting.
• Size and Scale: The size of light fixtures should complement the room’s scale. A large fixture can overwhelm a small space, while a tiny light can get lost in a large room. Designers know how to select fixtures that are proportionate and visually impactful.
• Style Match: Lighting should reflect the overall design style of the space. Whether your home is modern, traditional, or eclectic, designers choose fixtures that enhance the room’s aesthetic and act as statement pieces that tie the space together.
• Layering for Balance: A good lighting design includes ambient, task, and accent lighting layers. This technique provides visual interest and practicality, allowing you to adjust the light for different moods or activities.
• Highlighting Features: Lighting can accentuate architectural details like crown molding, beams, or artwork. Designers strategically place lights to highlight these features, adding drama and sophistication to the space.

Gracious Home Interiors, Waxhaw Interior Designer

Lighting is a powerful tool that enhances the beauty and functionality of your home. Whether you’re adding statement pendants, dramatic chandeliers, functional sconces, or flattering vanity lights, choosing the right fixtures is essential. Working with an interior designer ensures your space is both stylish and functional. At Gracious Home Interiors, we stay on top of the latest interior design trends to ensure your home is perfectly designed. When in doubt, our expert team is here to help!