10 Most Effective Lights to Create Great Interiors

Get the lighting right and your space will look amazing. Social media and the internet is not short of inspirational ideas, but what products are used to get the look?

Whether for hospitality or a home, we explain what the 10 most effective modern lighting products are and how they can be used to create great interior designs.

Table of Contents

LED Strip Lights

Lighting Services Design & Supply
Recessed LED Strip @ Skygarden London © Chris Orange Photography

LED strip lignts are a flexible strip or ribbon of LED chips that create a linear uniform illumination.

Key Feature: These thin strips of light can be easily installed in tight spaces or along curves, making them a versatile option for illuminating various areas of a room.

Uses: They can be used to highlight architectural features or add a pop of color to a space.

Recessed Lights

Lighting Example - Buckingham Gate
Downlights @ Taj Hotel Buckingham Gate © Chris Orange Photography

Recessed ceiling lights are a hidden light source, simply revealing the light with the bulk of the product behind the ceiling out of sight. Usually known as a downlighter.

Key Feature: Recessed lights are installed in the ceiling and provide a subtle, even lighting throughout a room or to create highlighted visual focal points.

Uses: They can be used to create a cohesive look and to highlight features like a painting.

Pendant Lights

Large scale high output pendants @ Isleham Church © Andrew Orange

Pendants are a light fixture that hangs from the ceiling by an electrical cord and can come in various shapes, sizes, colors, and materials.

Key Feature: Pendants are ideal for creating ambient lighting over tables or focal points in a room. They can be used to create striking patterns of light when hung in multiples.

Uses: Pendants can also be used for task lighting in a bar or kitchen area, by being hung low over the working surface.

Track Lights

Track Lighting @ Isleham Church © Andrew Orange

A track light includes a linear metal track along which multiple individual fixtures can be fastened, including spotlights and drop pendants.

Key Feature: Track lighting is versatile and directional, allowing you to focus the light where it’s needed most.

Uses: It is used to highlight artwork or other features in a room, often in galleries or museums as well as kitchens, hallways and bathrooms.

Wall Sconces

Buckingham Gate Reception Lighting
Classic Style Wall Sconces @ Taj Hotel Buckingham Gate © Chris Orange Photography

Wall sconces are decorative lighting fixtures that are mounted on a wall to provide accent illumination.

Key Feature: Wall sconces can be used to add ambient lighting or act as task lights in certain areas. They also have the added bonus of being a great decorative element, bringing personality and style to any space.

Uses: They can be used as accent pieces, providing focused illumination in a doorway or hallway.

Chandeliers

Banqueting suites RGB Coffer Lighting
Feature Ceiling Lights @ IBIS Banqueting Suites © Andrew Orange

A chandelier is a type of decorative light fixture that can more about it’s own aesthetic as it can be about creating illumination.

Key Feature: Chandeliers are ideal for adding a touch of glamour and elegance to any interior. They make for a great focal point, whether in the dining room or entrance hallway.

Uses: Chandeliers provide ambient lighting to a room and can be used in any space to create an inviting atmosphere and used to add an element of drama to a space.

In Ground Uplighters

Modern lighting design
In Ground Uplighters to create ambient lighting

In ground uplights are an effective way to add light and texture to a space, utilising lights that are embedded into the ground.

Key Feature: In-ground uplights can be used for outdoor or indoor illumination, creating an interesting effect as the light is softly diffused across the adjacent surface and ceiling.

Uses: They are great for highlighting pathways or walkways, or for adding light to entryways

Floor Lamps

Floor Light Illuminating a Chair Fabric @ Hilton Curio Kensington © Chris Orange Photography

Floor lamps are a type of lighting fixture that free standing on the floor rather than being mounted on the wall or ceiling.

Key Feature: Floor lamps can be used to add soft lighting in dimly lit spaces and are a great alternative to overhead lighting in some areas.

Uses: These tall, freestanding lights provide a warm, diffuse light and can be placed in any room to add a decorative touch.

Stair Lights

Lit stair treads with a warm white light
Linear Recessed Stair Lighting © Chris Orange Photography

These discreet stair lights are installed and hidden along the edge of steps and provide a soft, even light.

Key Feature: They are often used in modern homes to create an eye-catching feature.

Uses: They are commonly used in both indoor and outdoor areas, providing a subtle light that makes it easier to see each step. They also make a great feature, providing accent lighting in an area that would otherwise be dark.

Table Lamps

Table Lights
Table Lighting @ Skygarden © Chris Orange Photography

Table lamps are freestanding lights that sit on top of surfaces such as tables or desks.

Key Feature: Table lamps provide focused task lighting and can bring a warm, ambient atmosphere to a room.

Uses: They are perfect for use on bedside tables, desks, or side tables in living rooms and can be used to create an inviting atmosphere.

In Summary

With so many lighting options available, it has never been easier to create beautiful interior designs with light. By finding the right mix of lights and using the best lighting techniques, you can create a functional and stylish space.

Use these 10 modern lighting products as inspiration for your next project and better still ask us to help!

Andrew Orange, the owner of Orange Lighting qualified and worked as an interior designer in 1993 before specialising in lighting working on high profile projects based in London. Since starting Orange Lighting Ltd in 2003 he has been sharing his knowledge and unique teaching style mostly to his designer clients, offering practical real life advice born from running a busy consultancy and lighting supply business. Launching in 2020, his blog has evolved into Quick & Easy Lighting, curating some 25 years design experience into making the lighting choice and design process achievable and easy to understand for all.