50 stylish lighting ideas to brighten your home
Bright ideas to illuminate your interior

Go tough luxe with industrial lighting

Bring neon lights into the bedroom

Bring in a moon lamp

Illuminate an island with kitchen pendant lights

Kitchen lighting usually requires three or four approaches: task lights for work areas near the hob, under lighting to highlight shadowy spots and statement lighting to create wow-factor. A trio of pendants above a kitchen island definitely falls into the latter and the soft pools of light create a more ambient effect that's perfect for socialising. There are as many styles of pendants as there are hot dinners, from smoked glass to rustic enamelware, so try and pick something that complements the rest of the scheme.
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Use wall lights to streamline a bedroom

Kill the clutter and channel hotel-chic in one power move by incorporating two wall lights into your bedroom design. Not only do they provide the perfect reading light, but they also free up space on a bedside table for more important things, like tea. Of course, it also means you can forgo the furniture all together – perfect for small spaces. And best of all? You don’t have to get out of bed to turn it off.
Use LED strip lights on an alcove

LED strip lights have opened up a world of possibilities for the home decorator. Simply attached with a double-sided sticky backing and you can use these long illuminated ribbons anywhere, plus they're battery-operated, so no unsightly wires. One simple way to create a glowing feature is to outline any architectural features such as alcoves, tray ceilings or wall recesses. As this project proves, curves, in particular, look stunning!
Illuminate shelves

What better way to display your favourite objects than on this cool illuminated shelf? Made from fine, anodised aluminium, this clever two-in-one solution is perfect for a home office, as it can double up as a reading light. We love how it adds an ombre effect to any wall, too.
Round up a mirror light

We love this statement design by Inbani, which will give any bathroom the feel of a luxury hotel. With its on-trend round shape, bevelled edge and backlight, it has a minimalist style while fulfilling multiple functions. Mirror lights are great for smaller rooms, freeing up wall and ceiling space and creating an optical illusion of extra inches. Plus, they are great for doing your make-up in!
Colour your home with smart lighting

No smart home would be complete without an integrated lighting system, but now Phillips Hue are making it easy for anyone to enjoy the benefits of smart lighting. All you really need is a smart LED lightbulb and the app to start customising your scheme using a Bluetooth connection with your smartphone. You can set up to 10 different lights at different settings, ranging from bright white light that's good for working to these rich colours that will create the perfect ambience according to your mood.
Install a ceiling fan with lights

Essential in hot countries, a ceiling fan light is also a style shortcut to getting a cool coastal vibe no matter where you live. This antique-style design uses galvanised gunmetal grey fixtures with cherrywood fans and a crackle glass lantern to give old school charm to a living room scheme.
Sparkle with a modern chandelier

The chandeliers of yesteryear might’ve been all about intricate layered tiers and crystal galore, but these days there’s a whole host of contemporary chandeliers more suited to the modern, minimalist home. Combining glass and brass, this sleek design wows with a fluted finish that casts a soft, warm glow. Use it to frame a dining table or illuminate a luxe living room.
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Turn up the texture with a rattan lampshade

Fall for a floor lamp

Add retro charm with Art Deco lighting

Choose a tactile table lamp

Find your zen with a Himalayan salt lamp

Go for glass pendant lighting

Create a spectacle with a sputnik light

Mid-century modern fans rejoice – the sputnik chandelier is back. The perfect way to make a dazzling statement in a living area, this gold and green design from John Lewis oozes glitz and glamour. For a sophisticated dining room, pair with metallic accessories and jewel-toned tableware for a showstopping space to entertain.
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Curate a photo wall

Head off into orbit

Try animal designs

Lay down fairy lights along a ledge

Have fun with tactile tassels

This season there are plenty of new and exciting lighting options, including these gorgeous velvet and tassel lamps from Oliver Bonas. Prices start at £25 for the smallest shade and come in a range of colours. A great way to add texture to a room, we can imagine these in pride-of-place in the living room.
Supersize your lighting

Mix and match shapes

Lead the way

Create atmosphere in your home by installing low-level lights up your staircase. Ideal for going between floors at night safely without having to switch on the main light, you could even install a handy motion sensor.
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String up festoon lights

Arrange an arc lamp

Create a cable masterpiece

Hang a crystal pendant

A large, dramatic crystal pendant is totally worth its investment for a wow-factor centrepiece. Showing off hundreds of strands of individual crystals, this design from Dar Lighting refracts light around the room beautifully. One of the charms of lighting is playing around with shades to cast light in unusual ways, so don't be afraid to experiment.
Soothe with a baby night light

Babies need colour and stimulation when they're growing up, so be sure to bring some light into their nursery or around their cot. An illuminated mobile hanging above the cot is ideal, but you could also add draped paper lights, a cloud-like wall lamp or a cute illuminated star. Whatever you incorporate, be sure that it's not blindingly bright or overpowering and just omits a simple soft glow.
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Add a playful touch

How cool is this shark-fin floor light from Lime Lace? It really adds a playful touch to whatever room you place it in. Created by German designer Moree, the fin will look great in a living room, bedroom or hallway – we can't think of a more wow-factor way to greet guests. It's made from high-quality plastic and can be illuminated in a range of colours and controlled by remote.
Light up your art

Create a cosy hallway

Have a light bulb moment

Layer the lighting

Add an antique lamp

Take a look around antique fairs and shows to find unique lighting that you won't see anywhere else. You can buy replicas, of course, but finding a one-off can be the starting point for a whole decorating scheme. This desk looks so stylish with this old industrial lamp from Fritz Fryer who specialise in restoring antique lighting and have a bounty of beautiful pieces.
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Illuminate the windowsill

Drape fairy lights around

Try a trio

Beat the winter blues

Invest in daylight bulbs

If the dark mornings are getting you down, a light-based alarm clock can help to ease you out of bed by simulating the dawn. The clock becomes gradually brighter over the course of 30 minutes, waking you up slowly and gently, just like the sun would. The Bodyclock Starter 30 by Lumie (£59.95) also comes with an optional alarm beep, just in case.
Light up a vanity mirror

Install a dimmer switch

Create a cluster overhead

Add a bathroom glow

It’s easy to overlook bathroom lighting, but treating yourself to layers of soft light is a luxury you won’t regret when you're enjoying a soak in the tub on a chilly night. Tiled rooms tend to feel colder, especially if you don’t have underfloor heating, but a bit of carefully-placed uplighting, downlighting and recessed lighting using warm-spectrum bulbs will make even the coolest bathroom feel cosy.
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Display huge light-up letters

Try out different shapes

Make it magical

Choose a task lamp

A good task light is a must if you want to pursue your work or hobbies on a dim winter afternoon. An angled desk lamp is your best bet. A design that diffuses a little mood lighting through the shade while focusing a stronger beam on the task in hand will give you the best of both worlds.
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