Shining a light on bold designs

Lighting doesn’t have to be a support act – it can take centre stage. Great lighting is about so much more than just illuminating a room; it can add instant glamour. The lights can be works of arts in themselves and there’s never been so much choice.

Entrance hall showstopper

Eulalia 12 light chandelier. Image supplied by Dar Lighting

A double height hall space is perfect for a showstopping centrepiece. You can opt for a  chandelier, like the polished nickel one above, with layers and layers of sparkling crystal - the perfect statement for a grand entrance hall. If that’s too showy, try contemporary hanging ball lights by Piumati – a modern take on the stairwell chandelier. Alternatively, if your ceiling is lower than a stately home, try the low-rise frosted mini bubble chandelier from Dowsing and Reynold.  The entrance hall is where you want to wow visitors  - statement lighting lifts the eye, banishes the gloom and adds real wow factor.

Go big on floor lamps and shades

H20 Nebulite. Image supplied by In-es.artdesign

Table and floor lamps needn’t just provide illumination, they can have a starring role in your interior design, like the pendant light above, from In-es.artdesign, perfect for a contemporary interior.

To add drama and impact, you can go bigger than you might think for table lamps and shades. And you can be bold on patterns and colour, too. Statement lights with vividly coloured shades offer illumination at every price point from Habitat’s Global Paper shade in white and black at £8, ideal for a bedroom (prices correct June 2023), to Italian lighting designs featuring Murano glass globes that can set you back thousands of pounds.

Biophilia or the natural home

Bardi-1 oversized scalloped rattan pendant. Image supplied by Lights & Lamps 

Bring nature indoors with shades crafted from natural Rattan and bamboo. They can add a beautiful bohemian feel to your living room, kitchen or bedroom.  Try the cone-shaped, oversized rattan pendant, above, by Lights and Lamps, for a relaxed, tropical glamour.  Covering a large matt bulb, the pendant light costs £369 price. Habitat has a stunning wood three-tier shade (£70). With its contemporary cage design, this black bamboo pendant shade demands centre stage. It’s a striking feature by day. Switch the light and you can enjoy a shadow show on ceiling and walls. “Dramatically dark, naturally exotic, it will make a statement,” promises Habitat.

Coloured lights

For those with very, very deep pockets, lVenetian Murano hand-made glass lights are true statement pieces: check out the many colours including beautiful amber, classic red, blue and grey. There is a certain opulence to the blown glass chandeliers with cascading crystals that sparkle and shine.

Coloured pendant lights work brilliantly over dining tables and kitchen islands.  Murano glass pendant lights, above, exude elegance. Hang a trio over your dining or kitchen island for super stylish effect.

The colourful, contemporary lighting range from Houseof includes floor lamps, wall lights and pendants. The bare bulb style pendant comes in nine colours, including sea green, coral and pink. Meanwhile the yolk yellow and pool blue wall lights at £149 grab attention as much any extravagant crystal chandelier. The circular shade has a fold in the centre, which enables a warm ambient glow. Powered by an energy-saving LED integrated bulb, this is also an eco-friendly solution.

Creative/innovative designs

Suspension Luna 2 Blanc. Image supplied by In-es.artdesign

Browse the In-es.artdesign lighting collections – Luna, Matt, Trame, Be.Pop and Out. Inspired by the planets, the globe-shaped Luna light, above, has the softly luminescent qualities of the moon’s surface and work well alone or as a cluster. The distinctive trait of these Italian designer lights is the use of nebulite, a mix of resin and fibres, either alone or in combination with other materials.

The playful Matt Lavagna collection combines nebulite with a blackboard effect resin while Be.Pop, the latest collection, uses rubber. Imagine writing with chalk on a lampshade or being able to squash it like a rubber ball. More than simply illumination, these innovative lights are like art installations in your own home.

Feather lighting

The Berti two tiered feather chandelier. Image supplied by Coldharbour Lights

If you’re looking for a statement, feather chandeliers by Coldharbour lights are a sight to behold. Perfect for hallways, bedrooms and dining rooms, they create a soft and airy presence in a room. The Coco three-tiered feather chandelier is a spectacular architectural centrepiece for larger spaces. Meanwhile the soft feathers, brass accents and faceted crystal drops of the two-tier Bertie shade, above, combine to create a rich and decadent lighting feature. Made in the UK, the feathers are byproducts of farmed poultry or common game bird and come in a variety of colours. They can also be custom dyed to match any Pantone colour.

Floor and table lamps and shades are easy to replace. But it’s always safer to hire an electrician for light fixtures, such as wall lights, that need installing. A qualified electrician will make sure the lighting is wired in properly and has the expertise to spot any problems, saving you time and money further down the line.