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The newest lighting fixtures incorporate natural materials in interesting shapes with sophisticated finishes and colors.
Natural Materials: Emphasis on nature and sustainability continues to trend upward in home design. Organic, good-for-the-environment materials, including open-weave shades in natural fibers like rattan and wicker on pendants, chandeliers and sconces, are top of mind. Wood is likewise a logical choice for lighting designs, and details such as wooden bead swags are especially hot.
 Geometrics: From small to large, all sorts of geometric shapes in lighting add visual interest to ceilings and walls. While orbs, spheres, and other round and oval silhouettes have been popular for years, now they are joined by hexagons, squares and diamond shapes in configurations that make a dramatic statement in a room. For a cohesive finishing touch, add table and floor lamps that repeat the same shapes as the ceiling and wall lighting.
Finishes: Black is trending in home design, especially in kitchens where lighting with a black finish nicely accents both dark and light cabinets. While always chic when used  by itself, black is often mixed with gold, chrome, and copper to offer a bold presence. Silver finishes are gaining in popularity, with subtle antique and softly shining silver leaf offer a new elegance to classic chandeliers and modern lighting silhouettes. And brass is back in a less glossy version.
Large Silhouettes: The popularity of open-floor-plan homes means that lighting needs to make a statement so that it does not get lost in the space. Oversized fixtures – the bigger, the better - are the way to go. Hang large pendants in twos and threes over kitchen islands and dining tables. Dramatically sized pendants, chandeliers, and even large ceiling fans take center stage in living areas while helping to create a necessary division of space from the dining and kitchen area.
Refined Industrial: Although still rooted in traditional warehouse style, industrial lighting is now lighter and more elegant, making it ideal for transitional and modern spaces. Metal frames are thinner and more sophisticated than earlier bulky styles. Style elements like working pulleys are often incorporated into the lighting's design, and lightly distressed wood interplays with metal for a look that is streamlined and modern.
For more inspiration on these trends, and to see all the latest lighting designs, visit an ALA-member showroom or go online to ALALighting.com.
Image above right: Canarm
Image above left: Fredrick Ramond
Quoizel
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