Bright Ideas: New Lighting Trends and Why Every Room Needs the Right Glow
Updating your lighting is one of the best ways to modernize and freshen your design approach. As designers we think about each room and the role that lighting needs to play. From reading to food prep, there is a wide range of lighting requirements for your spaces. Lighting is one of the most powerful elements in interior design—it sets the mood, enhances function, and can completely transform how a room feels. Today’s trends go beyond simply illuminating a space; they blend style, technology, and purpose.
One of the biggest shifts in lighting design is layering. Instead of relying on a single overhead fixture, homeowners are combining ambient, task, and accent lighting to create balance and flexibility. Statement pendants and sculptural chandeliers are taking center stage in living rooms and dining areas, while sleek recessed and track lighting provide clean, modern lines. Warm-toned LED bulbs are also popular, offering both energy efficiency and a cozy glow. Smart lighting systems are becoming more common, too, letting you adjust brightness and even color temperature with the tap of a phone or voice command.
With the wood ceiling design, the chandelier becomes artful and a conversation starter!
This view provides an idea of how layered lighting interacts together. Recessed provides a base, the chandelier provides specific zone lighting and the wall mounts hone in on specific points of interest within the room.
Ceiling mounted lights pinpoint art and highlight the curved wall design. At the same time, they offer a layered option along with recessed lighting.
The key to great lighting is matching it to how you use each room. In the kitchen, bright task lighting ensures safe cooking and food prep, while under-cabinet strips add both function and style. Also, having ambiance for dining and kitchen party conversation is something to consider. If you have an island using down lighting can help provide both task and ambiance along with character and mood. However, new trends suggest you can consider ceiling options and create an entirely unexpected look. In some cases, a counter lamp can provide a touch of personality.
This cottage kitchen counter peninsula utilizes two hanging lights characteristic of the cottage era style. They add both detail and function.
An additional over the sink light provides more task lighting yet with its subtle design doesn’t deter from the outside view.
Custom birch wrapped pendants create downlighting for both ambiance and task lighting in our Balsam Lake project. Small ceiling mounted lights create yet another layer higher up to service the great room as a whole.
Undermount cabinetry lighting provides task lighting and augments the custom pendants over the island.
Both recessed lighting and over island lights provide layers for this open concept kitchen.
This project demonstrates how a single fixture with multiple arms can provide interest and a modern take over an island. In ceiling lights and under shelving layers ensure a bright and functional kitchen space.
Living rooms benefit from dimmable options that shift from bright family time to soft evening relaxation. In larger more open areas, layered lighting is used to create vignettes of liveable and usable space. Overall recessed lighting may provide a base layer with a dimming option, while table lamps can warm the space and provide reading zones. Floor lamps are also a good way to add lighting layers to the overall space.
A focal point chandelier pays off the coffered wood ceiling and brings a wow factor to this lower level.
An over the table chandelier style light provides additional light for both the kitchen and great room in this Sturgeon Lake project.
Floor lamps in our Forest Road project provide ample reading light.
Wall sconces are also an interesting way to frame entertainment units, shelving or fireplaces. Sconces can cast light upward to highlight a taller ceiling or when positioned downward can focus on art or other decorative accents.
An example of using sconces to highlight art.
Bedrooms call for warm, calming light, with bedside sconces or lamps perfect for reading.
Two gold hanging lights match and provide uniformity to flank the bed in this guest room. Creating harmony with matching styles, allows for flow and consistency in a small space.
The ceiling mount light allows for yet another layer and with exterior natural light filtering in, this room becomes a bright and airy space.
A darker room on a lower level, takes advantage of a decorative ceiling light that provides both form in a stylish way and functionality by giving the room lighting it requires.
Wall sconces create a reading light source on our Nahma build and also work together with the furniture design to balance all of the room contents.
This office space or extra guest room, uses the ceiling mount style along with a desk lamp. With optimal exterior light, this room can function for many tasks.
Bathrooms need crisp, natural lighting around mirrors for grooming, but dimmers are ideal for creating a spa-like atmosphere. When it comes to form, almost any kind of sconce can create an accent for your design approach. This can be further accented with a light above the mirror to provide a surround lighting solution.
An alabaster sconce provides balance in this design. With recessed lighting, the layers provide all the task lighting required by our client.
Sconces flanking double sinks provide another lighting layer. At the same time the style of the sconces match the home interior so that a design theme is brought to life through lighting.
In this design, we used sconces on the actual mirror wall to further reflect ambiance back into the bathroom space. The glow against the mirror is a reflective effect that provides a feeling of luxury and hotel inspired design.
When lighting provides personality!
Recessed lighting offers safety, providing waterproof fixtures designed for wet environments, and style, creating a sleek, modern, and unobtrusive look that makes small spaces feel larger. It also offers enhanced functionality by providing focused, glare-free light for grooming, and can be used to highlight shower features like benches and niches.
In a cottage, outdoor and entryway lighting ensures safety after dark. Beyond just safety, outdoor lighting can also showcase the best features of your property. Homeowners can train lighting to showcase trees, stonework, or architectural details, while soft lanterns or string lights create a warm, welcoming glow. A well-lit porch or garden instantly boosts charm and makes your home inviting to family and visitors alike. When done right, outdoor lighting is both practical and stylish—turning your yard, deck, or cottage exterior into an extension of your living space.
Entry lighting is also important to provide a first impression. In Project Corn Cob, an iron cottage style option helps to convey the historical connection that we wanted guest to have with the cottage.
Lights flanking an entry provide functional light but also present an opportunity to build a decorative and welcoming entry.
This exterior light example provides a subtle detail against the wood and timber frame entry. Its period design works to communicate a style that continues upon entry to the home.
A small cottage style light works in this porch because it continues the cottage design story! As part of a screened in porch, it becomes an accessory to play up the cottage feel and to keep in touch with the historical feeling of Project Corn Cob.
No matter the setting, lighting is more than just practical—it’s part of the design story. The right choices not only highlight your home’s architecture and décor but also create spaces that feel good to live in. At Home by Tim + Chris we are always exploring beyond the ordinary. We are excited to continue designing your Kawartha Lakes home and cottage lifestyle! Design, that is driven by us but highly influenced by you!
