Lighting plays an integral role in the functionality and overall appearance of any space. When it comes to what’s trending in living room lighting for 2023, what can you expect for the new year?
Task lighting and decorative accent lighting are available in many styles and intended for a variety of purposes.
Whether you’re aiming for an ultra-modern look or you’re still a fan of farmhouse chic, here are some of the hottest trends in living room lighting for 2023 and, likely, lighting that will continue trending into the future, too.
Eco-Friendly Options
More than ever before, 2023 is all about sustainability, and it’s something that you should definitely incorporate into your living room lighting ideas. Aside from the sustainable way that new light fixtures are made, it’s also vital to focus on the bulbs themselves.
Instead of the classic bulbs of the past, focus on eco-friendly LED lighting this year. Not only does this smart lighting use less energy to save you money, but it also tends to last a lot longer, too.
This means you can stay focused on enjoying your living room for longer without worrying about constantly switching out dead bulbs. Ideal for a smart home system, LED lighting is an eco-friendly choice that reduces your carbon footprint and makes the space brighter without costing a fortune.
Just like other bulb types, LED lightbulbs are dimmable and come in a wide range of brightness levels. Look at the light’s lumens rating to get a better idea of just how bright your new LED lights will be.
These lights also don’t emit any heat, so your living room will stay comfortable regardless of how many lights you use at any given time. From high-end designer lighting to many lighting products that you’ll find at big box retailers, almost every manufacturer today is utilizing LEDs in some way. 2023 is a great time to get on the “trend’ of being more sustainable.
Layered Lighting
You already know you can layer textures in your home, but what about the lighting? The concept of layered lighting isn’t just a style thing – it also gives you lots of functionality in the living room, too. Use several different types of lights to create different “zones” in the living room.
Each light should be a bit different in terms of both the style (floor lamp, overhead lighting, table lamp) and how bright it is. When you turn them all on, your living room will be nice and bright. As you turn different lights off, it creates a variety of moods.
But layered lighting is about more than just how it makes your living room look. It also helps you get more out of this space in different ways.
How does layered lighting make a living room more functional?
If you’re not quite sure how to incorporate the layered lighting trend into your living space this year, here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Use a tall floor lamp in the corner of the living room next to a comfortable chair. It’s a great way to enjoy a comfortable reading nook or a separate space to sit back and relax.
- Add table lamps to end tables, side tables, or console tables whenever you need a little bit of extra light to read, work on your laptop, or watch TV.
- Install a dimmer switch for the overhead lighting in your living room so you have more control over the brightness level.
- Consider installing more “specific lighting,” like wall sconces or artwork lighting that highlights specific areas of the living room.
Bold and Dramatic Chandeliers
For years, a piece of wall art, a large mirror, or the sofa were considered the best focal points in a living room. In 2023, the focus is moving toward overhead lighting options, such as a uniquely designed and oversized chandelier.
These mega-sized light fixtures will definitely bring the drama to your living space. Today, chandeliers come in a myriad of unique silhouettes, materials, and finishes, including mid-century modern-inspired styles like the ever-popular Sputnik chandelier.
When you install an oversized chandelier with multiple tiers, it will instantly give your living room the “wow factor.” You can even use them in smaller living rooms to give the space a boost of dramatic visual impact.
Kate Davidson of Kate + Co, a full-service interior design firm in Toronto, says:
Bigger is most often better— we encourage oversized lighting in most spaces.
What types of chandeliers can I add to my living room?
When it comes to choosing the perfect chandelier, the possibilities are endless. Here’s a basic rundown of some of the most popular chandelier styles to choose from for ceiling lights.
- Modern: These sleek chandeliers have an understated aesthetic with simple, geometric shapes. Install a large, modern chandelier with lots of lights to give your living room a bold, contemporary touch.
- Drum: Just like the name implies, this chandelier style has a large, drum-shaped shade that can be found in a huge range of sizes and finishes to suit your interior design goals.
- Waterfall: With a nod to classic lighting designs, waterfall chandeliers feature multiple layers of luscious, shimmering crystals. You can find waterfall chandeliers in round, square, and other more intricate designs.
- Sputnik: This chandelier was popular in the mid-century, but it’s been making a comeback for years. Its design pays homage to the atomic era and usually features a spherical center with thin points or branches extending out from the center. The lights can be found in the middle part of the chandelier or on the tips of each spiky point.
- Linear: A linear chandelier has an elongated shape that makes it ideal for installation over dining room tables or kitchen islands. However, you can install this style in your living room if the space is long and narrow to give it more light and visual impact.
Plaster Lighting
It seems that limewashed walls were all the rage in 2022, and now it looks like a similar style is here for lighting in 2023. Plaster lights are made of natural material with a matte, chalky white color to give your living space a refresh.
This option works well with just about every design style, and it comes in a huge assortment of sizes, depending on who makes it. This option is excellent for those who prefer a more natural-looking space or for anyone who appreciates a more organic-inspired aesthetic.
Plaster lighting also goes well with boho and eclectic living rooms but can easily work in any home. If you don’t want a fixture made of plaster, consider a simple design in a plaster-inspired color like ivory or off-white.
Rattan is Here to Stay
If you’re a fan of the natural look, then you’re in luck for 2023. It appears that rattan lighting isn’t going anywhere this year, and, if anything, it’s only gaining in popularity.
This woven material brings the living room a warm, almost tropical-inspired vibe. It’s also relatively neutral, which means that it’s easy to incorporate into any style space.
Look for a range of natural, boho-chic materials in lighting this year, including rope, cane, and wicker, too. The woven, open style adds a warm element, and these fixtures are available in various unique shapes, styles, and colors.
Not only do rattan lights add a more casual component to your living room, but they also help to promote a feeling of comfort.
What types of rattan light fixtures are available?
You might assume rattan lighting is only reserved for pendants or small chandeliers. But this ever-popular lighting material comes in several different styles.
Try a table lamp with a woven rattan shade to tie your boho-eclectic look together in the living room. You’ll also find rattan wall sconces if that’s your thing.
These woven lights can be installed on the wall next to a work of art, on each side of an accent chair, or along your hallway to illuminate a walkway. Mix your rattan fixture with other materials like wood or brass for a warm, two-toned look.
It’s also important to note that rattan lights aren’t just in tan or brown. You’ll also find this natural woven material available in black, white, and other colors, too.
New Developments in Glass Lighting
Nothing says luxe and glam quite like a glass light fixture. In 2023, you’ll notice new colors and styles in this popular material. Try a multi-layered chandelier made of large baubles of glass finished in bright, metallic tones of silver and gold.
Smoky glass is also a very popular option this year and tends to help “tone down” the sleek and stark look of the glass alone. Seedy textured glass is also a very cool option for a modern light fixture to give your lighting a subtle touch of texture and a unique filter.
Antique mercury glass gives light fixtures a sleek and brilliant shimmer with a nod to vintage style. Pair this glass with a frame finished in antiqued bronze for a gorgeous juxtaposition of textures and finishes.
Glass is never going away, but it’s exciting to see what new trends are out there this year that will give your living room a fresh, new look.
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