It’s that time of year when the evenings are getting darker and a chill is definitely in the air. One thing that can make homes feel cosy and put you in a relaxed mood (besides a cup of hot chocolate!) is the use of warm lighting.

While I was looking at light pendants, I was inspired by the many modern and vintage styles available on the market. Gone are the days of the plain, feature-less shade just to cover a lightbulb, designs have got more innovative, quirky and a real statement feature to highlight any room.

Inspiration from Dwell

Whatever your personal tastes, you can find a suitable pendant to reflect you. Just remember to measure your ceiling height as not all ceilings are the same. You don’t want to fit a light that hangs ridiculously low, or a light that is so high that you need a big ladder to change a bulb!

Also, think about what you want the light for. Is it to illuminate a dining table or kitchen island? Is it to light a room or hallway? Or is it simply just a nice decorative feature. Here are just a few of my favourite designs.

Contemporary – Designs generally offer a bright aesthetic with smooth, clean lines. They can incorporate glass and high-shine metals such as chrome and nickel that go well in contemporary spaces. Pendants can come as a trio or cluster of lights in one.

Industrial /vintage – This design is more about the ‘back to basics’ feel, focusing more on striking bare bulbs, known as Edison style and on the metal craft effect. These usually have sturdy structure and antique brass finishings.

 

 

 

Retro/rustic – This includes the rustic look and time–worn effect. Materials are usually copper, wood or other metals with earthy tones. A new rectro trend is the mason jar lighting which is a quirky use of natural resources, and simple to make at home yourself (just get electrical advice beforehand!)

 

Trick of the trade

A useful trick to achieve the type of lighting you want is to use a dimmer switch. It may sound old-fashioned, (yes, my parents had one when I was little!) but this simple devise is often underestimated and can work wonders. It can instantly change a room’s mood, feel and atmosphere at the touch of a button.