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Infusing ultimate sophistication into your living space is all about adding that perfect blend of elegance and light, and there’s no better way to make a statement than with luxurious lighting fixtures. Renowned designer Johanna Seldes, acclaimed for her unique perspective on high-end residential lighting, reveals the luxury lighting trends of today.

Luxurious lighting can turn your home into a true showpiece. Here, she shares her expert thoughts on how to illuminate your space in a way that proposes an intricate dance of light and shadow. 

“The right lighting can transform a space at the flip of a switch and breathe life into every corner. Designing the best lighting plan means painting with shadows and playing with reflections- It’s an art form that goes far beyond mere illumination. I believe lighting is completely reflective of the owner’s lifestyle.” -Johanna Seldes 

Our Lead Designer, Johanna’s world is one where luxury illumination lights the way to sophisticated living. This design journal highlights contemporary lighting trends and items curated at our recent trip to High Point Market, provocative fixtures that add not just light, but character to your high-end space; elevating your home’s overall aesthetic. 

Highlighting High-End Residences  

In 2024, luxury lighting trends are anticipated to be a blend of technology, sustainability, and aesthetics. 

The first trend Johanna saw at Market is the rise of smart lighting. With the progression of technology, lighting systems are becoming more intelligent and customizable. Homeowners can control the intensity, color, and timing of lights through their smartphones or voice-controlled devices, allowing for a personalized ambiance in their high-end spaces.  

Next, there is a move towards natural and organic materials in lighting design. Wood, stone, and even materials like seashells and feathers are being used to create unique, luxurious lighting fixtures. These materials can bring a sense of warmth and texture to a space, making it more inviting. 

Another trend gaining popularity is the use of sustainable and energy-efficient lighting. Luxury doesn’t have to mean wasteful, and many high-end designers, including Johanna, are incorporating LED lights. LED has expanded to every size, color and shape of light bulb, so you can have one’s that flicker simulating gas lanterns, round retro style that’s more reminiscent of mid-century modern design, or even Edison style for a more traditional, standard shape. Clients appreciate that they have a stunning look, but also substantial energy-saving solutions with our interior designs. These not only reduce the environmental footprint but also add a modern touch to the residence. These lights were everywhere at Market.  

Hidden lighting is a trend to watch out for. This involves integrating lighting into the architecture of a room, such as in the ceiling, walls, cabinetry, or floor. The light seems to come from nowhere, creating a sophisticated and modern look. This trend is all about subtlety and creating a soft, ambient glow. You can see how we were trendsetting with this Bold and Beautiful remodel.  

Architectural artistic lighting fixtures are considered art pieces on their own as sculpture lighting elements. Johanna saw many noteworthy statement lighting pieces when at Market. Today, lighting designers are creating not just sources of light but also pieces of art that add to the overall decor. From sculptural chandeliers to textures to hand-blown glass pendants and metal sculptures, these fixtures can be a focal point in a room, reflecting the homeowner’s unique style while accentuating the unique characteristics of your space.  

Overall, the luxury lighting trends of 2024 are about more than just illumination. They are about enhancing the aesthetic of a space, making it not only functional but also beautiful and unique. 

The Power of Light: How Lighting Influences Your Interior Design 

The effect of lighting is magical. When woven seamlessly into your interior design, it can transform a room.  

But there’s more to lighting than aesthetics and functionality. Emerging studies suggest that lighting can indeed impact us neurologically. Varying wavelengths and intensities of light influence your mood, energy levels, and sleep cycle, underlining the importance of careful curation in lighting choices. 

At IDC, we want our spaces to give a feeling and impact people’s emotions. Lighting plays a big role in that. Whether it is the curves of a piece of furniture, the texture of a wall, or the color gradient on a painting, an elegantly positioned light beam can bring these details to life, providing both depth and contrast. From there, grand chandeliers and sleek LED fixtures have a unique role in sculpting the ambience of high-end spaces. 

What’s Trending in Luxury Lighting – Our Favorite Finds at Market 

Luxury lighting in 2024 is expected to be dominated by two major trends. One is sculptural lighting inspired by natural shapes and the other, an emerging trend called quiet luxury.  

Sculptural lighting is primarily about fixtures that serve as art pieces in their own right, while also offering practical lighting solutions. These pieces are perfect for adding a dash of creative flair to any space, pairing both functionality and beauty. Expect to see light fixtures inspired by the organic shapes of nature, including wavy oceans, delicate leaves, curling vines, and the sweeping shapes of bird’s wings. These pieces will not only illuminate your spaces but also turn them into luxurious galleries.  

The second trend taking root is ‘quiet luxury’, a design movement that focuses on simple, elegant design and tasteful opulence. Luxury lighting trends in keeping with this concept often include light fixtures in cool white and warm gold, these more neutral tones offer a stunning blend of minimalism and luxe details.  

The real magic of quiet luxury, however, comes from its understated yet distinctive style, creating spaces that exude a serene elegance. For luxury lighting, this trend translates into uncomplicated contours and clean lines, contrasted with luxe materials such as crystals.  

(Image Gallery from HPM)  

Capturing the Essence: How IDC Uses Light to Define Spaces 

Lighting should be a statement — a talking point that draws the eye and captivates anyone who beholds it. We believe it’s not just about illumination, but the creation of unique atmospheres that capture the essence of the space, while staying true to your unique tastes.  

Accentuating the unique characteristics of your environment is emerging as a top trend in luxury architectural lighting. This trend draws attention to those fascinating architectural aspects of your home that were previously overlooked. By focusing the light on them, it’s possible to transform a space and give it a renewed sense of charm and elegance.  

Alongside these interior design choices, the ability to create a variety of atmospheres with lighting is what you can expect with IDC.  

Luxury lighting is constantly evolving, bringing along fascinating trends for high-end spaces. Whether you’re renovating or building your dream home, Johanna believes that with the correct lighting, you can illuminate not just your space, but your sense of style too. 

Portfolio Piece: One of Johanna Seldes’ Most Iconic Lighting Designs 

What matters most to the homeowner is what matters most to our designs. And for this family, it was all about the lighting. The owners leaned towards a clean, minimalistic, almost contemporary backdrop, something that would showcase their art and the beauty of the outdoors.   

In the kitchen, semi-waterfall installation allowed for hidden lighting illuminating the side panels, and the texture and metal accents of the cabinetry.  We selected flooring and artistic, ombre tile backsplashes for their colors, and natural reflective shimmering of light. Since lighting is such a huge factor in the design, even the Thermador appliance’s reflection imitates a subtle ambiance and complimentary glow.   

The final interior design evokes several contrasts. Striking yet soft, sophisticated yet welcoming, serene yet bold, impressive yet livable. Just like the art collection, the design of the home contains multitudes. The home now has it all, form, function, and design down to the details.