Following the visit to Maison&Objet by Jo and myself earlier this year, we’ve reflected on favourite light fittings and how we have seen elements of their designs in recent trends.
As noted in Jo’s blog, Maison is a hub for unique finds. Many of these we didn’t find relevant to our current client projects, though a highlight of the trip was the new lighting suppliers and designs. We also noticed a real bridging of the gap between affordable pricing and a high-end finish. Read on for our key takeaways:
Scale
Playing with the principle of Scale through lighting was one of the key trends seen at Maison – large lamps with oversized bulbs styled with furniture that was much smaller than expected for example, or angular lamps that would be expected in a large size, created in a small version.
We really enjoyed seeing various light fittings styled in unexpected ways, bringing an element of style and interest. We expect to see more of this in time – being a way that clients with stricter budgets can create long-lasting focal points in their homes relatively cheaply.
Texture & finish
Unique finishes dominated the market more than previously seen, which we really enjoyed – designers seem to be playing more with texture- such as using terracotta or stone-esque finishes (traditionally seen in tiles.) Linen & paper- embracing of traditional Japanese techniques and a reflection of more sustainable/ regenerative fabrications. Alongside the material being enhanced through manipulation techniques such as 3D printing.
We often see lighting being focused on purely from a functional point of view, though suppliers at Maison reignited the idea that the light fitting itself can be a feature of your design, adding to your texture and colour palettes.
Organic forms:
Organic Form is typically a term used for naturally sourced or manufactured products such as bespoke furniture. Throughout the show, Jo and I noted many lighting collections that seemed to take obvious inspiration from natural environments. It was also clear that designers created their collections with more of a focus on organic materials – being inspired by and building the design around the material itself.
This isn’t something we expect to see in every interior space, but it did show a way that our homes can reflect the outside environment (with a bonus being use of eco materials & processes in production).
We also noticed more high-end, luxurious-looking lighting created using and inspired by the organic form. Gone are the days of the only natural material fitting being a simple paper shade!
Shows like Maison are always a hub for inspiration, networking and turning key trends into products & services. 2024 was a season of no particularly fresh trends. What was evident however was a firmer understanding of what is popular in the industry and what is being re-invented to stay.
Lighting is a key player in any interior, but the show re-affirmed its value in being a key driving force of long-lasting colour, texture and design. We look forward to bringing elements of favourite designs seen into our current and future projects!
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