Every year brings a list of lighting trends, and most of them are forgotten by the next. This is not that list. These are six directions we see across British interiors and across our own range in 2026, chosen for one reason: each of them still makes sense in five years, because each solves a real problem as well as looking good.
For each one: what it is, why it lasts, where it works in a home, and how to try it without redoing the room.
On this page
- 1. Natural stone and travertine
- 2. Ribbed and fluted glass
- 3. Soft, sculptural fabric shades
- 4. The mushroom silhouette
- 5. Cordless lamps everywhere
- 6. Glass globes on the wall
- The six trends at a glance
- Two trends we would not follow
- In short
- Common questions
1. Natural stone and travertine
What it is: lights made from or clad in real stone, above all travertine, the pale, pitted limestone that has moved from floors and coffee tables onto walls and ceilings.
Why it lasts: stone is a natural material with natural variation. No two pieces are identical, and it suits warm minimal, Japandi and traditional rooms alike, so it does not date with a single style.
Where it works: on a bare plaster wall in a living room, beside a bed, in a hallway.
Try it with: the Travertine Eclipse Wall Light, the Travertine Disc Wall Light or, overhead, the Travertine Semi-Flush Light. See the full travertine and stone collection, and our guide to Japandi lighting.
2. Ribbed and fluted glass
What it is: glass shades with vertical ridges, clear or tinted, often on antique brass fittings.
Why it lasts: the ribs break up the glare of the bulb and scatter the light into soft lines, so the fitting looks good lit and unlit. It also bridges period and modern homes: Victorian in origin, clean in outline.
Where it works: over a kitchen island, in a hallway, in a bathroom with brass taps.
Try it with: the Ribbed Glass 3-Light Round Cluster or the Ribbed Glass 3-Light Linear Bar, both in clear or green glass, and the wider antique brass and ribbed glass collection.
3. Soft, sculptural fabric shades
What it is: fabric shades that are shapes in their own right: layered tiers, pleats, scalloped edges, rounded drums.
Why it lasts: fabric gives the softest, most flattering light there is, and after years of bare bulbs and hard metal, rooms want softness back. A sculptural shade adds that without clutter.
Where it works: living rooms and bedrooms, over a dining table.
Try it with: the layered Pebble Pendant, Pebble Floor Lamp and Pebble Table Lamp; the Pleated Walnut Table Lamp; or the scalloped shade of the LED Floor Lamp. The Fabric Chandelier brings the same softness to the ceiling. Our guide to lampshade sizes keeps the proportions right.
4. The mushroom silhouette
What it is: a rounded dome on a slim stem or a softly curved base. A shape first drawn in the 1960s and 70s, back in glass, wood and metal.
Why it lasts: it is compact, it hides the bulb, and it throws light down onto the table where you need it. It also fits on the smallest bedside table.
Where it works: bedsides, shelves, consoles, a café-style dining table.
Try it with: the Amber Glass Mushroom Lamp in tortoiseshell glass, the Wood Mushroom Table Lamp, 40cm, or the cordless Rechargeable Mushroom Lamp.
5. Cordless lamps everywhere
What it is: rechargeable lamps that need no socket, carried from the dining table to the bedside to the garden.
Why it lasts: it solves a problem every British home has, sockets in the wrong place, and it suits renters who cannot rewire. The lamps have also grown up: fabric shades, brass finishes, warm dimmable light.
Where it works: dining tables, shelves, bedsides without a socket, the garden in summer.
Try it with: our rechargeable and cordless lights, and read whether rechargeable lamps are worth it before you choose.
6. Glass globes on the wall
What it is: a single opal or clear glass globe held by a graphic metal frame: a ring, a loop, a stem, a plate.
Why it lasts: a globe gives an even, all-round glow that flatters a wall, and the frame does the decorating. They work in pairs, in rows and on their own, in black or gold.
Where it works: either side of a bed or a mirror, along a hallway, beside a sofa.
Try it with: the Saturn Wall Light, the Hoop Wall Light, the Oval Loop Wall Light, the Gooseneck Wall Light or the Stem Wall Light, all with a 12cm globe. Our guide to wall light heights tells you where to fix them.
The six trends at a glance
| Trend | Best room | Style it suits | Easiest way in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travertine and stone | Living room, hallway | Japandi, warm minimal, traditional | One stone wall light |
| Ribbed glass | Kitchen, hallway, bathroom | Period, modern classic | A pendant cluster over the island |
| Sculptural fabric | Living room, bedroom | Soft modern, boho | A layered floor lamp |
| Mushroom silhouette | Bedroom, shelves | Mid-century, retro | A bedside lamp |
| Cordless lamps | Dining table, garden | Any | One lamp where there is no socket |
| Wall globes | Bedroom, hallway | Modern, mid-century | A pair beside the bed |
Two trends we would not follow
Colour-changing everything
RGB lights that cycle through every colour have their place, a child's room, a party, a garden in summer. As the main light of a living room, they tire quickly. Keep everyday light warm, 2700 to 3000K, and save colour for accents. Our guide to colour temperature explains why.
One huge statement and nothing else
An oversized pendant photographs beautifully, but a room lit by one fitting is flat however good the fitting is. Whatever trend you follow, keep three layers of light. Our three-layer method shows how.
In short
- Travertine and stone for warmth and texture on a bare wall.
- Ribbed glass over an island, in a hallway or a bathroom.
- Sculptural fabric for the softest light in living rooms and bedrooms.
- Mushroom lamps for small bedsides and shelves.
- Cordless lamps wherever the socket is in the wrong place.
- Glass globe wall lights, in pairs, beside a bed or a mirror.
- Whatever the trend, keep the light warm and in three layers.
Common questions
What lighting is in style for 2026 ?
Natural stone and travertine, ribbed glass, soft sculptural fabric shades, mushroom-shaped lamps, cordless rechargeable lamps and glass globe wall lights are the directions we see most in 2026, all of them warm, tactile and easy to live with.
Is travertine lighting a passing trend ?
We do not think so. Stone is a natural material that suits several styles, from Japandi to traditional, and lights made from it age well rather than date.
Are brass lights still in fashion ?
Yes, especially aged or antique brass paired with ribbed glass or fabric. Our guide to choosing a lighting finish compares brass, black and chrome.
Are rechargeable lamps a gimmick ?
No. They solve the real problem of sockets in the wrong place, and the best now have fabric shades and warm dimmable light. They complement plug-in lamps rather than replace them.
How do I update my lighting without rewiring ?
Change the shades, change the bulbs to warm LED, and add lamps: a floor lamp, a table lamp and a cordless lamp can transform a room without an electrician. Our guide to lighting a room without wiring goes further.
What is the most timeless type of light ?
A well-proportioned fabric-shaded lamp in warm light. Every trend above works best when it sits alongside one.
Still unsure ?
Send us a photo of your room at contact@thelightheritage.com and we will tell you which of these would suit it, and which would not. We answer every message ourselves.
Browse our bestsellers, or by type: pendant lights, wall lights, table lamps, floor lamps.
