50 stylish lighting ideas to brighten your home

Bright ideas to illuminate your interior

John Lewis

An essential element of any room, the right lighting can take a scheme from dark and dingy to cosy and welcoming with the flick of a switch. From glamorous Art Deco lamps to neon signs and whimsical moon lamps, we've rounded up the best ways to bring light into your home. Stay tuned for some illuminating ideas...

Go tough luxe with industrial lighting

Skinflint

You’d have to have been living under a rock to have missed the huge trend for Edison light bulbs, but industrial lighting has so many different strings to its bow. From pipework wall lights to reused bulkheads and fluted glass pendants, this modern style has a rustic, textured finish that looks great in all types of decor.

Bring neon lights into the bedroom

The French Bedroom Company

The 1980s obsession shows no sign of waning (thank goodness!), and one of the coolest ways to bring a little of this decade’s style into your home is through a statement neon light. Combine it with typography to nail two trends at once. Scared of fluorescent colours? Stick to a monochrome palette and use a clean white light; it’s an absolute showstopper!

Bring in a moon lamp

Etsy / LoomisCollection

One for stargazers and dreamers alike, this gorgeous homage to the lunar sky makes a beautiful night light. Whether you go for an oversized orb to hang from the ceiling or a smaller bedside moon lamp, there are lots of options available now that these little beauties have grown in popularity. Some have LED lights that change colour at a touch and others come wall-mounted with remote controls, but all have that amazing texture and shading for a lifelike appearance.

Illuminate an island with kitchen pendant lights

Kitchen Makers

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.

Love this? Check out these sure-fire kitchen trends that won't go out of style

Use wall lights to streamline a bedroom

The French Bedroom Company

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

Hera / Architonic

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

Gera / Architonic

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

Inbani / Architonic / Baumann Fotografie

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

Phillips Hue

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

Birchlane

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

MADE

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.

Love this? Discover 11 of the coolest contemporary chandeliers

Turn up the texture with a rattan lampshade

Habitat

Taking us right back to the 1970s, Rattan, our favourite retro comeback kid, is taking over our home interiors all over again. Offering a wealth of texture and architectural interest, a woven pendant light is the way to go for those looking to make a serious statement. If you want to up the drama, opt for an oversized black rattan lampshade instead.

Fall for a floor lamp

Loaf

From black floor lamps to copper floor lamps, there’s an array of stylish ways to illuminate a dingy living room with a standing light. This coastal-inspired space pairs a gold-plated design with soft white walls and pops of seafoam green and royal blue. If you’re feeling daring, you could swap out the neutral shade for something bold in a contrasting hue.

Add retro charm with Art Deco lighting

DelightFULL

The perfect addition to a period home or a new build lacking in character, 1920s-style lighting is a great way to inject instant personality into a lacklustre living space. With their warm gold hues and architectural curves, this Art Deco wall light and table lamp add a stunning vintage finish to this monotone scheme.

Choose a tactile table lamp

Habitat

From bedside table lamps to reading lamps, table lighting is an essential consideration for any home interior. More traditional schemes might want to consider a cottage lamp or a stained glass design, while contemporary spaces could brave a retro-inspired globe light. Pairing practicality with sleek modern design, this oversized Edison light bulb makes a statement with a concrete-effect cube base.

Find your zen with a Himalayan salt lamp

inewsfoto / Shutterstock

Believed by some to boost your mood and improve your sleep, Himalayan salt lamps are the next big thing in zen lighting. With a soft pink pigment, these unusual lights emit a warming glow that’s perfect for cosying up a coffee table or adding a peaceful ambiance to a bedroom. They’re available both as a rough-hewn rock or in a carved, polished design for a more refined finish.

Go for glass pendant lighting

Loaf

For an elegant and sophisticated scheme, you can’t beat a sleek glass light fitting. There’s no shortage of styles out there, from atmospheric smoked glass pendant lights to vibrant coloured shades. For a modern country scheme, this cowbell design, complete with industrial chain fitting, adds plenty of charm to a rustic-inspired space.

Create a spectacle with a sputnik light

John Lewis

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.

Love this? These amazing dining room ideas will suit every style

Curate a photo wall

Lights4fun

String up small fairy lights on a wall and use them to peg your favourite holiday photos and snaps of friends and family. It makes a wonderful alternative to traditional photo frames, whilst adding light and illumination to the room.

Head off into orbit

Furniture Village

Use lighting to set the decorating scheme for a room. Here, a stylish orb-like pendant has been used over the bed. Teamed with a spherical bedside lantern, it sets the stage for a starry space-inspired scheme. Using moody colours, the lights take centre-stage for this look.

Try animal designs

KSL Living

You don't have to just choose the same old lighting options so why go for something a little out of the ordinary. In children's rooms, it's especially fun to use animal-shaped designs. This blue stag head wall lamp is a great feature in this blue and red bedroom.

Lay down fairy lights along a ledge

Norsu Interiors

Look around your home for areas that are lacking in light. Instead of opting for a conventional table light, ceiling pendant or floor lamp, try something a little different, such as running a length of fairy lights along a shelf.

Have fun with tactile tassels

Oliver Bonas

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

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Rather than installing ceiling lights, opt for a large task-style floor lamp. Other options include a retro film-makers light, photographer's light or a huge light shade. Whatever you go for, just think about scale and how it'll look compared to the rest of the furniture in the room. Don't minimise its effect by introducing anything else large – a killer lamp is all you need.

Mix and match shapes

Nedgis

Bring together a variety of different pendant designs and position in a line over the dining table or above a bed. For a minimalist feel, use the same colour, or if you're feeling extra daring, mix up colours and finished for a cool mismatching look.

Lead the way

Astro Lighting

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.

Love this? Check out these stylish staircase ideas to suit every space

String up festoon lights

Lights4fun

Not just for the garden, festoon lights look great draped just about anywhere in the home. They're often battery-operated, making positioning much easier as you're not governed by a power socket. Try trailing them up the bannister, across a headboard, along a shelf or around window frames. The trick to making them not look like Christmas lights is to go for large white bulbs for an industrial feel.

Arrange an arc lamp

Cuckooland

If you have a dark corner, go for a large arc floor lamp that will illuminate the area you need. Position one over the sofa for reading, watching television and just chatting with friends. You can even mix up the finishes – we love this copper design, but you could go for steel or black for a more dramatic feel.

Create a cable masterpiece

Nest

Originally started in restaurants and bars, the craze of hanging pendants from long flexible cables has now extended into a more stylish feature than bare bulbs. Instead we are seeing shades and fittings being introduced – still on long cables – but in a more design-focused way. This illuminated fixture looks great draped over a dining table.

Hang a crystal pendant

Dar Lighting

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

Follow the Flow/Shutterstock

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.

Love this? These unisex nursery ideas are cute as a button

Add a playful touch

Lime Lace

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

Nedgis

If you have a gallery wall of photographs and paintings, think creatively as to how you're going to illuminate them. Instead of the typical overhead ceiling lights or spotlights, go for a wall-hung flexible lamp like this that you can move around and direct to your favourite piece.

Create a cosy hallway

IKEA

The right lighting is essential for a warm welcome in your hallway. Combine overhead pendants with a wall light or table lamp to layer up your lighting and create a cosy atmosphere. For extra convenience, make sure lighting can be controlled from a light switch next to the front door, ideally on a different circuit to the main light so you can opt for bright, functional lighting or a soft, homely glow.

Have a light bulb moment

Tala

Making sure you have the right light bulb is essential if you want your home to feel cosy and snug. Modern LED bulbs offer a vast colour spectrum to choose from, from almost orange to cool white. If you want your bulb to emit a warm glow, pick one with a colour temperature of 2700 Kelvins or less.

Layer the lighting

Habitat

When it comes to selecting the lighting for a room, you don’t have to be stingy – layering is the key to any successful scheme. Instead of sticking to a single pendant light, build up the ambiance in a living space by combining a ceiling fixture with a floor lamp for task lighting and a table lamp to create a warm glow in the evenings.

Add an antique lamp

Fritz Fryer

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.

Love this? These hardworking homes office ideas don't scrimp on style

Illuminate the windowsill

H&M

Don’t neglect the smaller spaces in your home – after nightfall, windowsills can become dark and lifeless without the sun streaming in. Banish the evening gloom by sprucing up your sill with a statement lamp or two. Not only will it add a stylish flourish to your home by day, but it’ll also provide a welcoming glow after dusk.

Drape fairy lights around

Graham & Green

A versatile lighting choice, string lights can work in an interior all year round. From illuminating artwork to adding a cosy glow to a snug or bedroom, there's a wide array of designs out there to choose from. This latticed metal design casts a pretty pattern, elevating neutral walls and adding a welcome touch of warmth.

Try a trio

Delightfull

Why have a single light source when you can have three (or more) in one? A multi-arm lamp really comes into its own when the season turns grey. You could, for example, use one light for reading, one to cast a soft glow on the floor and one to create an ombre wall or curtain.

Beat the winter blues

Care Co

If you’re one of the 3% of people in the UK who suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a SAD lamp will introduce a much-needed ray of sunshine into your home. These LED lights simulate the spectrum of natural sunlight, triggering serotonin production in the brain and boosting your mood.

Invest in daylight bulbs

Lumie

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

Hollywood Mirrors

A staple of Hollywood dressing rooms, what vanity station is complete without a mirror studded with light bulbs? A must-have for carrying out morning ablutions, the right lighting is key for a flawless look. This circular design includes a handy mirrored pedestal to make getting ready a breeze.

Install a dimmer switch

DFS

If your living spaces feel cool and clinical, consider opting for lighting with dimmer switches to add warmth to your interior. An easy way to create ambiance, they can be easily adjusted to suit the occasion, from offering a soft glow on a cosy evening in, to injecting drama and atmosphere during a dinner party.

Create a cluster overhead

Rocco Borghese

Sometimes more is more – clustering lights together can transform even the simplest fittings into a striking installation, creating an irresistible glow. Group your lights in odd numbers to create visual interest and make sure they’re fitted to a dimmer switch so you can adjust them depending on the mood.

Add a bathroom glow

C.P. Hart

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.

Love this? These white bathroom ideas are so far from boring

Display huge light-up letters

Graham & Green

Letter lights make a bold decorative statement and are a fun way to brighten up a dark corner. Go for an evergreen word or phrase that will withstand the seasons – if you're opting for larger letters, stick to four or five-letter words for maximum impact.

Try out different shapes

Lights4fun

Adda a playful touch to your lighting scheme with some fun shaped designs. These sparkling stars feature strings of white LED lights wrapped around a metal frame. You could try mounting them on a wall or attaching them to a base to create a freestanding table lighting.

Make it magical

Graham & Green

Who says lighting can't be whimsical? This uncannily realistic mouse lamp conjures up all of our favourite fairytales – we can just imagine it in a modern-day Cinderella's attic room. Pop in on a hallway console to give guests a surprise or place it on a children’s nightstand as a reading light.

Choose a task lamp

John Lewis

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.

Loved this? Transform your outside space with these gorgeous garden lighting ideas