Materials
As we step into 2025, lighting design continues to push boundaries, blending artistry, sustainability, and functionality. While many of last year’s trends remain relevant, new concepts are emerging that promise to define modern interiors for years to come. From handcrafted artistry to biophilic influences, here are the key lighting trends shaping 2025.
Sustainability has become a driving force in modern lighting design, with a growing emphasis on thoughtful choices that go beyond energy-efficient bulbs. Today, it’s about reimagining every aspect of a lighting fixture’s journey — from the materials used to the production methods and the lifespan of each design.
Designers are increasingly adopting circular design principles, crafting modular lighting with replaceable components that reduce waste and ensure longevity. This shift prioritises repairability and reuse, allowing lighting to evolve with its surroundings rather than be discarded. It’s a considered approach that champions craftsmanship and extends the life of each piece.
Indeed, as the conversation around sustainability and considered living grows, there’s a renewed focus on enduring design and the value of timeless craftsmanship. According to Homebuilding’s article ‘These 10 lighting trends for 2025 will help your home shine’, “Classic lighting that stands the test of time should be at the forefront of consumers’ minds when making lighting purchases.”
This sentiment echoes a broader shift towards quality over quantity — investing in timeless, well-crafted pieces that endure. By selecting durable materials such as brass, glass, and natural stone, homeowners are choosing lighting that not only stands the test of time but also supports a more responsible approach to consumption.
In an era of mass production, the desire for uniqueness has grown. Consumers now seek lighting that tells a story — one of craftsmanship, tradition, and authenticity. This has led to a rise in demand for hand-blown glass, artisanal metalwork, and hand-carved wooden elements.
As noted by Real Homes, “Artisanal fixtures, often sourced from local craftspeople, will serve as focal points in 2025, adding character and a personal touch to interiors.” These bespoke creations carry subtle variations, making each piece truly unique and distinct from mass-produced alternatives. It’s a shift that reflects a broader appreciation for meaningful, well-crafted objects that offer lasting joy and satisfaction.
Hand-blown glass fixtures are among the most sought-after, thanks to their versatility and ability to reflect and refract light beautifully. Interior Designer Parul Ghei of Studio Jai explains: “The historical techniques of creating hand-blown glass are versatile in shape, colour, and style which allows versatility in each design, you don’t and won’t see the same piece in every magazine spread,” she says.
Gone are the days of relying on a single ceiling light. In 2025, it’s all about layered lighting – a thoughtful approach that combines multiple light sources to create a dynamic and versatile space. Layered lighting typically combines ambient lighting for overall illumination, task lighting for focused activities like dining or reading, and accent lighting to highlight architectural features, artwork, or decorative elements, adding depth and dimension to the space.
In their article on ‘5 Lighting Trends You’re About to See Everywhere’, The Spruce agrees that ‘No matter your design style, you will want to prioritise a layered lighting scheme in your space’.
To achieve this, opt for multiple sources of light in each room. Use pendant lights to provide general illumination, floor lamps for task lighting, and wall sconces for ambient glow. This technique allows homeowners to tailor their lighting to suit different moods and activities.
While 2024 embraced the elegance of fluted designs, 2025 sees the rise of soft, curved forms that bring a sense of movement, fluidity, and quiet sophistication to lighting fixtures. These flowing, organic lines introduce a sense of ease to interiors, creating a balance of form and function that feels both modern and timeless.
Curved lighting reflects the scalloped design trend seen in furniture, but with a more dynamic, sculptural presence in lighting. Inspired by the natural world, these forms echo the flow of water, the arc of a wave, and the gentle curve of a leaf. The result is seen in wall lights, pendants, and table lamps that captivate the eye with their graceful silhouettes.
And the impact goes beyond aesthetics. Curved designs can diffuse light more softly, creating ambient, atmospheric illumination that transforms the mood of a space. The result is lighting that not only defines a room but enhances its emotional resonance.
Similarly, biophilic design continues to influence lighting trends in 2025, with designers seeking to bring the outside world in. Natural materials such as alabaster, travertine, wood, and natural stone are perfect for creating tactile designs that weave natural elements into interior spaces and echo the beauty of the outdoors.
These natural materials also the beauty found in nature’s irregularities according to Decorilla’s article on ‘20 Lighting Trends 2025: The Future of Home Illumination’.
This trend speaks to the desire for wellness-focused design, as natural elements are proven to promote relaxation and reduce stress. Alabaster lighting, in particular, remains popular for its ability to diffuse light with a smooth, marble-like glow.
Lighting is becoming more intelligent, with tuneable LEDs leading the evolution of modern living spaces. These fixtures allow users to control brightness, colour temperature, and intensity at the touch of a button — or even via voice command.
Unlike traditional dimmers, tuneable lights adjust the warmth of the light as it dims, similar to the glow of a candle. This concept, known as “warm-dim” technology, allows for a smoother transition of light, avoiding the harshness of older LED systems. Paired with smart home devices, tuneable lighting gives homeowners the ability to create multiple “lighting scenes” for relaxation, reading, or socialising.
This technology is also being used in colour therapy, where different colours can be used to promote well-being. Expect to see more interest in lighting systems that incorporate circadian lighting — a system designed to mimic natural daylight rhythms to support sleep and productivity.
Chandeliers are evolving into avant-garde art pieces, blurring the line between functional lighting and sculptural design. No longer confined to traditional crystal arrangements, modern chandeliers are taking on dramatic, eye-catching forms that act as bold focal points within a space. The use of asymmetry, fluid shapes, and layered elements adds depth and movement, making these fixtures just as captivating when unlit as they are when illuminated. In the words of Belgian designer Alain Berteau: ‘When you switch it off, you’re not looking at a dead machine’.
A key trend within this movement is the rise of “swagged pendants”, where light cords are draped from multiple ceiling hooks to create bespoke, suspended installations. This concept allows for highly customisable arrangements, whether it’s a dramatic cascade of pendants in a stairwell or a playful, asymmetrical cluster in a dining area.
The idea of illumination as art extends beyond form to include lighting effects. Certain chandeliers now use reflective or translucent materials, such as alabaster or prismatic glass, to create mesmerising patterns of light and shadow on surrounding surfaces. This interaction with light introduces an ever-changing visual experience, adding movement and texture to interiors. With lighting seen as a creative medium in its own right, homeowners and designers alike are embracing chandeliers as an artistic investment — a centrepiece that sparks conversation and elevates the character of a space.
Vintage lighting is firmly back in the spotlight, with its influence continuing to grow. From 1970s Murano glass chandeliers to mid-century modern wall lights, retro designs offer a timeless sense of charm and character. These pieces are more than just lighting — they are storytelling elements that bring depth and nostalgia to modern interiors.
In Vogue’s article on ‘The 7 lighting trends to know for 2025’, Coco Reynolds, founder of Byron Bay-based studio Marz Designs, states the fact that antique and vintage-inspired lights are enjoying a resurgence is obvious: “they add a touch of old-school elegance and sophistication, which I think a lot of our contemporary spaces crave.”
Lighting in 2025 goes beyond illumination — it becomes an essential element of thoughtful, purposeful design. Rooted in craftsmanship, sustainability, and self-expression, the trends shaping this year are as diverse as they are inspiring. From the tactile warmth of natural materials to the precision of tuneable LEDs, lighting in 2025 is no supporting act; it’s a defining feature of modern interiors.
These shifts reflect a deeper appreciation for design that endures. Every material, form, and finish tells a story — one of authenticity, innovation, and timeless appeal. As we move through 2025, lighting will continue to shape not just our spaces, but also our understanding of what it means to create homes with intent, integrity, and lasting beauty.