Illuminating Furniture: The Evolving Trends in Furniture Lighting Designs

FDT Bureau

Image credit: Aristo

There has been a rising trend towards incorporating lighting into the furniture itself, such as lighting built into the headboard of a bed, or in the display cabinets of a bookshelf as well. This not only adds to the aesthetic appeal of the furniture but also serves a functional purpose by providing ambient lighting in the room.

Backlit mirrors have become a popular trend in bathroom lighting. These mirrors have built-in LED lighting around the edges, providing an even and soft light that is ideal for grooming and makeup. Warm lighting is picked over cooler hues to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in bathrooms. “The use of warm colours in the space creates a homely atmosphere. Customers are making bold statements in their interiors, and they now want to extend it to their bathrooms. Top choices include the use of industrial chic designs and customisable solutions. Swivel lamps are a hit when it comes to this space,” confirms Singh. Recessed lighting is another popular option that provides subtle and even lighting without taking up too much space.

Image credit: Ebco

Kitchen spaces have to be functional and stylish. Such spaces demand well-lit and energy-efficient lighting such as LED lighting which is a cost-effective choice for homeowners. “Kitchen lighting should be bright enough to illuminate all tasks, including cooking, cleaning and food preparation. For 100 sqft, 3,000-4,000 lumens are a good reference point. Consider the number of windows in the kitchen so that you can adjust the lumen levels as needed,” elaborates Singh. Other than task lighting, cove lighting is another popular choice to enhance the ambience of the kitchen space. Often fixed above cabinets or around the perimeter of the ceiling, these lightings create a soft glow and add a touch of elegance to the space. Strip lighting is also used in kitchens to draw focus on the contents of the cabinets or to backlight the shelves. Furthermore, for Nair (read: Ebco, that started furniture light in association with a German company), “Under Livsmart brand, we have widened the range of furniture lights consisting Linear, Spot and Special Application Lights. These lights are specifically designed for drawers which activate while opening a drawer and cabinet lights which are indirect and sensor-controlled. Glass shelf with light is also new. We have recently introduced modular profiles and strip lights to enable customization.”

LED strips are also commonly seen as wardrobe lighting, though motion-activated and sensor lighting is winning hearts. Motion-activated lighting is a convenient and energy-efficient option for wardrobe lighting as the lights turn on and off automatically when you open the wardrobe door and turn off when you close it. Sensor lighting is one step ahead of motion-activated lighting where the lights turn on when they detect motion and turn off after a set period of time. “Aristo wardrobes come with invisible sensors and vertical LED strip lights that ensure the required light distribution within wardrobes. Paired with transparent or translucent shutter infills, internal lighting provides a classy look to match customers' luxury interiors,” informs Kurian. Additionally, wardrobe lighting these days also comprises dimmable lights, backlit panels, spotlights and wireless lighting.

The future is bright

The future of lighting for furniture, wardrobes, kitchens and bathrooms is bright. “Customers are narrowing down their choices for decorative fixtures for their homes so that they do not end up looking like commercial showrooms,” informs Singh. The lighting industry continues to transform at accelerated speeds as it moves towards sustainable options and materials, and innovative designs and technologies by also prioritizing the convenience and functionality of end-users. For Kurian, “Integrated lighting has been seeing the initial phase of hockey stick growth and we expect a much higher penetration of integrated lighting into our products.” The constant development in the efficiency of LED lights and IoT-based technologies is expected to continue further, thereby making architectural lighting more pivotal in interior designs.

This article is a part of our exclusive article ‘Lighting Feature’ which is originally published in Furniture Design & Technology (FDT Magazine) April 2023 print issue. If you want to read the full article, please subscribe Furniture Design & Technology Magazine here: 

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