Commercial
TOP 5 LIGHTING TRENDS TO WATCH FOR
Lighting design continues to push boundaries and embrace functionality and innovation, and there are several trends to watch in the industry, from eco-friendly options to smart technology and cutting-edge aesthetics helping to shape how we illuminate our favourite spaces, from our homes to our workplaces.
Here are the top five lighting trends to watch out for.
- AI-Driven Smart Lighting Systems
Lighting is rapidly becoming smarter than ever, with AI-driven systems adapting to your needs and preferences in real-time to personalise the lighting experience in your home. These setups are becoming more intelligent, now able to respond to your voice commands or remote controls, but they will use machine learning to optimise the lighting in your home based on your daily routine. AI-driven lighting systems are changing the lighting industry by ensuring lights are only turned on when necessary and only in the locations they are needed.
Through the power of AI, your lights could gradually brighten in the morning to reflect a sunrise or gradually darken at night before you go to sleep. Or, when you are watching a movie, your lights could dim automatically to offer the best viewing experience. AI-driven smart lighting will ensure your space is always filled with the best possible lighting, regardless of the time of day or what activity you are completing.
These smart lighting systems are also able to connect with other smart devices in your home, from thermostats to security systems, to analyse and optimise the lighting based on natural light or user preferences and provide an integrated lighting system throughout your home.
- Solar-Powered Outdoor Lighting
Sustainable answers to lighting come in the form of outdoor lighting, like solar-powered innovations, which are leading the way for change in the industry. Solar-powered lighting solutions are becoming more efficient and versatile and what was once a niche market is becoming more popular.
Powered by solar panels which absorb daylight and convert it to electrical energy, this type of outdoor lighting does not rely on electricity to illuminate your garden spaces at night. With a variety of solar powered lighting options, like garden lights, wall sconces and flood lights, homeowners and businesses with a flare for energy-saving lighting options will benefit from this trend. It is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint whilst still displaying attractive and effective outdoor lighting.
- Human Centric Lighting for Health and Productivity
As human beings, we are affected by light on both a visual and a biological level. It is important that lighting is used to improve visibility, but it is equally important to improve and enhance your wellbeing.
Human Centric Lighting (HCL) influences everything from your sleep to how you feel and perform. As it increases in popularity, HCL is becoming a staple feature in office lighting, education lighting and healthcare lighting because it mimics the natural progression of daylight throughout the day and adjusts colour temperature and brightness to support your body’s circadian rhythm.
Cool blue-toned lighting helps to energise you in the morning whilst warmer amber tones help you wind down at the end of the day, so more office spaces, education settings and healthcare environments will begin to adopt these systems to assist in optimising focus and wellbeing, as well as boosting overall productivity levels. By reducing blue light exposure at night when your body is beginning to wind down, your sleep quality will be improved because of installing HCL systems.
- Sculptural and Artistic Light Fixtures
Lighting fixtures will continue evolving into works of art through sculptural lighting, a type of lighting that integrates art, design and functionality to transform bland spaces with bold sculptural lighting which has a design so powerful that it doubles as a centrepiece.
Dynamic decorative light fixtures are surpassing plain lighting, with light fixtures made from materials like glass, metal and sustainable materials becoming more common in homes and even workplaces. You might choose pendant lighting for a certain room in your home or chandeliers for the entrance to your modern workspace, but both options are unique and bring character into any area.
As sculptural and artistic light fixtures become more common and this trend continues to grow, the lines between art pieces and lighting fixtures will begin to blur, especially as many fixtures can be customised to match different interior design styles and patterns to create an atmosphere that is functional but also deeply artistic.
- Mood Lighting with Colour-Tuning Capabilities
Traditional lighting options have limited choices to fixed colour temperatures, but basic white lighting is no more with the introduction and growth of colour tuneable lighting. Lighting plays a crucial part in creating ambience and setting the mood of a certain area, room or building, and lighting with colour-tuning capabilities will allow you to change the atmosphere of your space with just the touch of a button.
RGB LED lighting will be popular as both residential and commercial lighting options because it offers full-spectrum colour adjustments to suit any mood, event or time of day. You could be hosting a party for friends or relaxing with relatives and with colour tuneable lighting, you will be able to set the mood of the event with ease. Mood lighting can be used inside your home but also to enhance an outdoor space. This trend will expand into outdoor lighting systems, where colour tuneable lighting will be customisable to your preference, with colour-changing wall lights, recessed lights and architectural lighting increasing artistic expression through colour.
LED lighting is also the most sustainable form of artificial lighting, meaning this is a great option for homes and businesses looking to extend their eco-friendly operations.
Upcoming lighting trends will push the boundaries of design, technology and sustainability. AI-driven lighting systems will adapt to your needs, eco-friendly lighting will enhance your space and reduce your carbon footprint and artistic and sculptural fixtures will add a personal touch and character to your space. Whether you are looking to use lighting to enhance and transform your workspace, improve your health and wellbeing through more natural light or simply create a unique but beautiful space inside or outside your home, these lighting design trends offer something for everyone.
