Lighting is like the jewelry on your home, and similar to how the latest necklace trends inform how we dress our décolletage, what’s in vogue for chandeliers and pendants determines how we decorate our spaces. “It’s what lights up your home,” says Kyndra Roth, a lighting specialist at St. Paul–based Creative Lighting. “You might have beautiful finishes, but if they’re not appropriately illuminated, you’ve wasted your money. Lighting is what creates the most ambiance in a space.” Here, she dishes on what we can expect to see in Minnesota homes—from fixture finishes and materials to new shapes and designs.
LED technology has changed the way fixtures can be designed. “With LED lights being so small, they can be laid into almost any configuration,” says Roth. “You can get shapes that were never possible before.” Think: lights that lean more delicate and architectural, or linear designs compared to the traditional round.
Bulbs are no longer simply a functional part of a light. With so many shapes and designs to choose from, they also add style. Show them off with a fixture that features bare bulbs, or if you still want some coverage, opt for a see-through glass shade. Pro tip: For Minnesota homes, an LED bulb in the 2700 kelvin range, which gives off a soft white glow, works best. “People can very easily pick out the wrong bulb if they are not aware of the color temperature,” says Roth. “It can really have a profound impact on how the light reacts in the space, how inviting the space feels, and how the fixture looks.”
While brushed nickel continues to be a popular finish choice for homeowners, it’s starting to be “traded out for gold and brass, and more of a polished silver, such as polished nickel or polished chrome,” says Roth. Black is also being used for its chic, modern aesthetic.
Metal isn’t the only option when it comes to lighting. Today’s fixtures are taking cues from cultures around the globe with organic materials and textures, such as wood, shells, and recycled glass and steel. The result is a piece with “more movement,” says Roth.
You don’t have to stick with one finish or style. To add visual interest, consider a fixture that incorporates wood and metal, or perhaps black and gold. This also applies to lighting throughout your home. “We really like to help people create a cohesive look with pieces that don’t match but coordinate,” says Roth. “It really helps elevate the level of design in a space.”
Taylor Hugo (taylorhugo.com) is a freelance writer and editor who has experience creating content for regional and national magazines, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. After spending most of her life in Minnesota, she recently relocated to Colorado, where you’ll find her hiking the Rocky Mountains and decorating her first home that she shares with her husband and dog.
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