Industrial lighting borrows from the factories, workshops and warehouses of the last century: metal shades, thick glass, exposed bulbs, fittings built to be useful before they were built to be pretty. In a converted loft it looks natural. In a Victorian terrace or a new-build flat, it can look either brilliant or like a bar, depending on how it is done.
Here is how to bring industrial lighting into a home and keep it warm.
On this page
- The five elements of industrial lighting
- How to keep it warm, not cold
- The kitchen and dining table
- The living room and hallway
- The bedroom
- Mixing industrial with other styles
- In short
- Common questions
The five elements of industrial lighting
- Metal shades. Dome, cone and bell shapes in iron, black steel or copper.
- Glass shades. Clear, amber or smoked glass, often with visible ridges or a bell profile.
- Exposed bulbs. The filament bulb is part of the fitting, not hidden by it.
- Visible construction. Chains, rods, sockets, swivel joints and cables are on show rather than concealed.
- Repetition. Factories hung lights in rows; a row of identical pendants is still the most industrial gesture there is.
Any one of these says "industrial". Three together say "loft".
How to keep it warm, not cold
The risk with industrial lighting is a room that feels like a workshop. Four rules keep it a home.
- Warm light only. 2700K, or a warm amber filament bulb. Metal and cool light together are what make a room feel like a car park. Our guide to filament bulbs explains which shape and glass to choose.
- Pair metal with warm materials. Wood, leather, brick, linen, plants. A black iron pendant over an oak table is industrial; over a glass table on a grey floor, it is cold.
- Mix the metals. Black with brass or copper reads richer than black alone. Our guide to choosing a lighting finish covers the combinations.
- Add soft light low down. A fabric table lamp or a floor lamp in the evening stops the room depending entirely on hard metal pendants.
The kitchen and dining table
This is where industrial lighting works best, because it was born above workbenches.
Over an island: a row
Two or three identical pendants in a line are the classic look. Choose from the Vintage Globe Glass Pendant (25 or 28cm, in clear, amber or silver-grey glass), the Vintage Bell Glass Pendant or the Vintage Flared Glass Pendant 28cm in amber or smoke grey. For metal rather than glass, the Vintage Loft Iron Pendant, 27cm, in black or grey, is an affordable way into the style.
How many to hang and how far apart is covered in our guide to pendants over a kitchen island.
Over a dining table: one line
A single bar carrying several shades lights the whole table evenly. The 4-Bulb Dining Cluster Light has four smoke-grey glass shades on a matt black bar, with cords adjustable between 120 and 140cm. The Vintage Smoked Glass Cluster comes as a single pendant or a 3 or 4-light cluster. For sizing, see what size pendant for a dining table.
Copper for warmth
Copper is the warmest of the industrial metals. The Scalloped Copper Pendant, 24cm, and the Copper-Rust Dome Pendant, 26cm, bring the workshop look with a softer, more domestic glow.
The living room and hallway
A statement ceiling light
In a living room, one bold fitting does more than several small ones. The Vintage 6-Light Industrial Chandelier, 72cm, takes six E27 bulbs, ideal for a set of filament bulbs. The European Black Iron Chandelier and the Modern Black 8-Light Chandelier are lighter, more graphic options. In a low-ceilinged room, the Retro Industrial Ceiling Light, 30cm, sits closer to the ceiling.
Wall lights you can aim
Swing-arm and swivel wall lights are pure industrial design. The Retro Staircase Wall Light has a black cone shade on a brass-toned arm that swivels 180 degrees, made for an exposed filament bulb. The Retro Iron Loft Wall Light, 45cm, is available with an Edison bulb. Both work along a hallway or up a staircase; our guide to how high wall lights should be gives the heights.
A bulb on a stand
The simplest industrial lamp of all is a bulb on a base. The Black Socket style of our Wood Table Lamp is exactly that: add a large globe or ST64 filament bulb and it becomes a sculpture.
The bedroom
Industrial bedrooms need the most restraint. Keep the metal to one or two pieces, a pair of swing-arm wall lights or a glass pendant on each side of the bed, and make everything else soft: linen, wool, wood. Bare filament bulbs beside a pillow are uncomfortable to look at; choose a shade that hides the bulb from where you lie, or use amber glass on a dimmer. See our guide to lighting a bedroom.
Mixing industrial with other styles
| Mix with | How | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Farmhouse | Black iron and candle bulbs over a wooden table | Farmhouse Chandelier, Wrought Iron Chandelier |
| Victorian period | Brass and ribbed glass rather than raw black metal | Our antique brass and ribbed glass collection |
| Mid-century modern | Clean metal domes, warm wood, few pieces | Vintage Loft Iron Pendant over a walnut table |
| Outdoors | Carry the style to the front door | Vintage Industrial Courtyard Lantern |
The opposite of industrial is Japandi: paper, stone and hidden bulbs. The two do not mix well in the same room, but they can live happily in the same house. See our guide to Japandi lighting.
In short
- Metal or glass shades, exposed bulbs, visible construction, rows.
- Warm light only: 2700K or amber filament.
- Pair metal with wood, leather and linen.
- Mix black with brass or copper.
- Kitchen and dining table first; restraint in the bedroom.
- Add soft lamps low down in the evening.
Common questions
What is industrial lighting ?
Lighting inspired by factories and warehouses: metal or glass shades, exposed filament bulbs, visible chains, rods and sockets, and fittings often hung in rows.
Does industrial lighting work in a period home ?
Yes, especially in kitchens and hallways. Choose brass, copper and ribbed glass over raw black steel, and keep the rest of the room traditional, so the lighting reads as a deliberate contrast.
What bulbs go with industrial lights ?
Decorative LED filament bulbs, usually an ST64 teardrop or a globe, with amber or clear glass and a warm or extra-warm colour. Our filament bulb guide covers the shapes.
How do I stop industrial lighting feeling cold ?
Use warm light, pair metal with wood and textiles, mix black with brass or copper, and add soft fabric lamps at low level for the evening.
How many industrial pendants over a kitchen island ?
One under 120cm, two between 120 and 180cm, and three, or one linear fitting, between 180 and 250cm. Our guide to pendants over a kitchen island has the exact spacing.
Are industrial lights good for a bedroom ?
In small doses. A pair of swing-arm wall lights or two glass pendants beside the bed works well, provided the bulbs are hidden from the pillow or dimmed.
Still unsure ?
Send us a photo of your room at contact@thelightheritage.com and we will suggest the industrial pieces that suit it, and the bulbs to go in them. We answer every message ourselves.
Browse pendant lights, chandeliers, wall lights and kitchen lighting.
