In an era where interior design becomes a tool for expression and identity, lighting is gaining a new and exciting approach. It is no longer just a source of light – it is a decorative item with emotional depth, visual and aesthetic presence, capable of setting the tone and style for the entire space.
In consultation with clients and alongside design teams, we are seeing a clear trend: today, the lighting fixture is chosen at the very beginning of the project, thus creating a unified design language around it. It is no longer selected “after everything else is arranged,” but rather becomes the starting point for design and style – much like a work of art that takes center stage.
After all, this is not just about the functionality of light – even in quiet bedrooms, well-lit offices, or social spaces, the lighting fixture can serve as the central star. It deliberately stands out, aiming to surprise, evoke emotion, create balance, and tell a “story.”
The raw materials that make up lighting fixtures today continue to tell this story. Brushed metals that project an industrial presence, frosted glass that softens the light and adds warmth, raw wood that highlights authentic texture – all of these blend together to create a sense of belonging to the space. In fact, many are beginning to place the lighting fixture where a large picture or decorative item might have been – to save precisely here.
The need for personal and emotional expression is also reflected in the fact that lighting fixtures are transforming from mass-produced items to personal sculptures, sometimes one-of-a-kind. We are all familiar with those lighting pieces that evoke emotion – they tell a story, remind us of an age, an event, or even a mood, and become an important element in the home or professional experience. They may serve as a type of furniture, but also as an emotional bridge to the desired atmosphere: romantic, meticulous, warm, dramatic.
In the “volume” of residential and office spaces, lighting becomes a marketing tool – and this means that its appearance appeals to individual consciousness and even enters the realm of digital presence and branding. On weekends, people share photos of their homes, with the lighting fixture in the frame – it effectively becomes a status symbol, a sign of style, a detail that attracts attention on social media.
And today, when tagging a design under categories like retro, minimal, industrial, or rustic has become easier than ever, the lighting fixture is usually what dictates the home’s language. The main player is integration: a bed flanked by side lights, a bookshelf illuminated by accent lamps, a dining area highlighted by a long pendant – it all creates an “artistic” problem that is solved through lighting.
In this world, the importance of lighting fixtures intensifies – both in terms of financial investment (clients are willing to pay more for a piece with “presence”) and in terms of satisfaction.
The writer is the Marketing Manager of Light In.