“What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?” –E.M. Forster

Imagine stepping into a home that feels like a sanctuary, where every corner echoes the beauty of the world outside. That’s the magic of organic modern design. It’s a canvas that celebrates the elegant simplicity found in nature, weaving it seamlessly into our personal spaces.

What is Organic Modern Design?

This nature-inspired design trend has been growing in recent years and is all over social media and in interior design publications – and for good reason! Organic modern design is an interior design style that harmoniously blends contemporary aesthetics with elements of the natural world. It emphasizes clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and an abundance of natural light. 

This design style celebrates the relationship between humans and the natural world, incorporating organic shapes, textures, and colors into modern, clean-lined living spaces. The goal is a warm, inviting space that creates a sense of tranquility, balance, and a connection to nature.

After the rollercoaster of the past few years, many of us are craving a deeper connection to nature and the outdoors, and the enduring popularity of the organic modern design philosophy is here to deliver. So, if you’re ready to pay homage to Mother Nature in your space in the coming year, take some inspiration from the gorgeous, earthy interiors below!

 

This boho-inspired bedroom leans into the organic modern trend with great use of warm tones and natural accessories; including a rattan pendant light hanging over a bed of simple cotton textiles, a textural jute rug, a display of dried grasses, and simple wooden roman shades. The decor pieces elevate this otherwise rather minimalist space.

 

An excellent way to bring an earthy texture and feel into your home is with fixtures and decor pieces made with natural materials – such as these pendant light fixtures made from woven rattan. Other materials to consider include bamboo, wicker, jute, seagrass, limestone, clay, cork, cotton, wool, and leather. 

 

This space seems simple but makes wonderful use of organic, flowing shapes and a subtle punch of color. The sage green wall color and credenza pair well with the soft off-white chair, abstract artwork, and clay vases. Changing up your paint or displaying a few thoughtfully selected decor pieces is an easy way to breathe life into a room.

 

This living room features a neutral, yet well-balanced color palette – commonly seen in organic design.  The layering of clean-lined furniture, lush green potted plants, and minimalist decor pieces keep the space airy and welcoming. 

 

Bathrooms are a great place to start your journey into the organic modern design movement. This bathroom retreat is characterized by a seamless blend of neutral-tones and wood textures. A freestanding bathtub sits beside rustic wood shutters, inviting in the lush plant life outside. A floating vanity keeps the lines in the space clean while leafy potted plants infuse the space with a calming, spa-like ambiance.

 

White they are a staple of organic design, you don’t have to make live house plants the focus of your space if it’s just not your vibe or if you don’t have the space (or the green thumb). You can still bring a little bit of the outdoors in with a few small, well-placed plants adorning your space – such as those seen on these raw wood bookshelves. 

 

Since we’re on the topic of plants and greenery, we can’t forget to talk about the drama that is a plant wall! Plant walls and vertical gardens are a unique way to honor nature and truly blur the lines between indoors and outdoors. The rest of the pieces in this chic space are neutral enough to keep the focus on the wall while still being eye-catching in their own right.

 

In this organic-inspired kitchen, natural wood-grained cabinetry, stone countertops, and carefully curated decor take center stage. The open wood shelving, wide plank wood floors, and wooden beam add a touch of rustic, artisanal charm.

 

Natural light should be emphasized whenever possible in organic modern design. Capitalize on the natural light streaming into your home and create an oasis in your bedroom sanctuary. Balancing out bold plant life with subdued, natural-toned bedding creates a harmonious look and feel.

Pro Tip: Maximizing the use of daylight not only reduces reliance on artificial lighting but also improves mood, productivity, and overall health. Consider the strategic placement of windows, skylights, and glass doors to flood your space with sunlight. 

 

Furniture and fixtures made from natural elements set organic modern interiors apart from other design styles. This beautiful, rustic driftwood light fixture with warm Edison bulbs in varying shapes is simply stunning and unlike anything you’ve likely seen before. For help finding your own unique, nature-inspired light fixtures, check out Lit Living! 

 

This bohemian-chic bedroom almost feels like a spa! A folding bamboo screen, simple wood bench, dried pampas grass, wicker lanterns, a wood basket, and earth-toned textiles bring warm, organic charm to the space. 

 

Color reigns supreme in this golden, earth-toned living room. Using nature-inspired artwork is an easy way to add a bit of the organic design trend to your own home. Also, how charming is that mushroom-shaped side table/ottoman?

 

The last few inspiration photos featured a lot of earthy accessories. You can embrace nature more simply, however, by showcasing your home’s architectural features and location. If you have amazing windows with a gorgeous view of the lush outdoors and ample natural light – like this swoon-worthy home – that’s all you need! Sometimes less truly is more. 

 

Gorgeous is an understatement when it comes to this expansive living room! Nature and organic elements can be emphasized through more than houseplants and decor alone. This space features breathtaking views through the floor-to-ceiling windows, an expansive natural stone fireplace, and beautiful warm wood flooring and bookcases. Don’t you just want to curl up here to soak in the snowy view, a warm cup of tea, and a good book?

 

As we move forward in a world seeking balance and harmony, organic modern design stands at the forefront of interior design trends. It’s a testament to our connection to nature, a reminder that our well-being is intertwined with the environment around us. Infuse your home with the beauty and energy of the outdoors. Let it be a place of solace, a sanctuary that replenishes your spirit, and a canvas that celebrates the wonders of the natural world.

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Ready to transform your space? Contact us today for a personalized consultation and let’s bring nature’s beauty into your home!

 

Have you ever stepped into a room and immediately sensed something felt weird… but couldn’t quite put your finger on it? Without proper scale and proportion, a room’s design can crumble quickly, and leave it feeling… off. If you want to get it right, you need to learn how to balance the objects in your room with each other and the room itself.

Scale vs. Proportion

Scale refers to the size of objects in relation to the room, or how well they seem to fit together in the space. Proportion is the relationship between items, or how well they seem to fit with each other. In order to get it right you need both – the things in your home need to look right with each other and with the room itself. 

Having a home that looks balanced is easier said than done, so we have some expert tips to help you avoid some of the most common mistakes and create a home where everything works together in harmony.

Mistake #1: Choosing the Wrong Size Rug

One of the most common mistakes is choosing the wrong rug size. Rugs can be a significant investment, and novice designers might be tempted to cut costs by going with a smaller size – but don’t fall into this trap! A too-small rug can make your room feel cramped. On the other hand, a too-large rug can leave edges in awkward places and feel bulky. The right size will balance with your furniture and your room. 

Rug placement and size needs will be different in every room, so following a rug guide like this can steer you in the right direction. For example, in the living room a good rule of thumb is to select a rug that’s large enough to either accommodate all the furniture completely on top of it or have only the front two legs of each furniture piece placed on it. 

Why This Doesn’t Work: The rug and furniture chosen are noticeably undersized for the space! Relying on a floating rug island with a single chair and side table to carry the design is ineffective (and a trip hazard). To achieve balance, this room needs more furniture. You’d either need to choose seating that matches the scale of this rug to create a small conversation area, or use a larger rug to anchor larger furniture to fill the room.

What to Do Instead: We cannot emphasize this point enough: selecting the right size rug is everything! This gorgeously balanced room proves it’s worth it. This large living room has plenty of furniture, and a large rug like this provides an essential foundation that anchors the space and ties the room together. In any room, a well-fitted rug will ground the space, making it feel cohesive. 

Mistake #2: Not Enough Light

Another common mistake is to use lighting that’s mismatched with scale of the room or in proportion to the furniture. Yes, scale and proportion matter in lighting too! Lighting that is too dim or overpowering can really mess up the feel and functionality of a space. 

The key is layering your light – using various sources and types of light throughout the room to give a well-balanced light throughout the space by addressing common issues like dark corners and poorly lit work areas. A well-chosen array of light fixtures will make your home look like a designer’s been through, but how do you know how exactly much light is right for your space?

To determine your lighting needs, first you’ll have to understand a few basic light measurements. Lumens are a measurement of the amount of light emitted by a light source. A foot candle is a measurement that describes how bright a light source appears to be from one foot away. You’ll need to use both of these to calculate your lighting needs!

Larger rooms need more light than smaller rooms, and task-oriented spaces within those spaces (like a kitchen counter, office desk, or reading chair) will need more light than the rest of the room. To get an idea of how much light you’ll need, start by measuring the width and length of the room, then multiply those two numbers to find the room’s square footage. Next, use the chart below to determine how many foot candles your room or space will need. 

The last step is to multiply your room’s square footage by the recommended foot candle requirement to determine the number of lumens your space requires. Most modern light bulbs have their corresponding lumens included on the packaging. Simply add up the lumens for each bulb in your room to see if you’re in the right range. 

Example: A 20’x20’ living room has 400 square feet. The recommended foot candles for living rooms is 10-20. 400 x 10 = 4,000 and 400 x 20 = 8,000. In this room, you would want to add up the lumens for your light bulbs and shoot for somewhere between 4,000 – 8,000 lumens for the entire space.  

Keep in mind that this recommendation is for typical use. You also need to take into account all of the ways you’ll use the room, and plan balanced lighting for each situation. If the living room above was also used for movie nights and has a home office in the corner, you would need a way to accommodate those activities too. You’ll need fewer lumens for movies (dimmer switches or small lamps are a great option) and extra light for work (a desk lamp, extra overhead light, or wall sconce would work well). 

Remember, these numbers are general recommendations. In addition to being balanced, your lighting also needs to be comfortable. Start with the recommendations, then tailor your lighting from there to get what works best for you.

Why This Doesn’t Work: These small lamps are undersized for the scale of the bed and the room, which is both an aesthetic and a practical issue – nobody likes squinting at their late-night read or tripping over the black shoes on the floor in the middle of the night. 

What to Do Instead: Using a variety of light sources ensures sufficient light coverage and adds depth, enhancing the room’s overall atmosphere. In this particular space, the lamp, pendant, chandelier, and accent lighting have been thoughtfully chosen to provide just the right amount of light and are in perfect proportion with the room’s other features. Whether you’ll be using the space for a late-night book or preparing to take on your day, this room promises to exceed your expectations functionally and aesthetically.

Mistake #3: Picking the Wrong Size Chandelier or Pendant

In addition to getting the amount of light right in your space, it’s also important to get a fixture that’s to scale. Since chandeliers and pendants typically serve as a room’s focal point, it’s especially important to get it right! To avoid picking the wrong size, a few tips:

1. Measure your room’s width and length in feet, then add those two numbers together to determine the width of your chandelier or pendant in inches. For example, if your room is 10 feet x 16 feet, your chandelier or pendant should be around 26 inches wide (except in a dining room – no head bumps please!).
2. Measure your room’s height. We recommend adding 3 inches of height to your fixture for every foot of space between your floor and ceiling. For example, if your ceilings are 10 feet tall, your chandelier or pendant should be around 30 inches tall.

Why This Doesn’t Work: We can understand why this room doesn’t have a chandelier with those gorgeous windows as a focal point. But in the evenings, this room’s focal point will disappear into the shadows and the high vaulted space above will feel empty. A chandelier would fill this void and give this room a gorgeous 24/7 focal point. It would also provide essential lighting for the evening hours and create a cozier, more intimate atmosphere than a grid of bright recessed lights.

What To Do Instead: Use the guidelines above to find the ideal fixture size for your space. In this room, the pendant is slightly oversized, but it’s okay to make judgment calls when deciding what’s going to work best in your space since you’re the one who has to live with it! In this room, the pendant serves as the focal point and creates a more intimate conversation area. By occupying the vertical space, it brings harmony and balance to the design. If you need extra help selecting the correct size fixture or installing it, don’t be afraid to ask an expert!

Mistake #4: Small Wall Hangings on a Large Wall

We love how art and other wall hangings add personality to a space, but we often notice inexperienced designers or homeowners creating a tiny island of art in a sea of empty wall space. It’s a common mistake, but is one that is easily avoidable with a few essential tips!

When it comes to hanging pictures on a large wall, you generally have two options: creating a gallery wall or opting for a larger piece of art. Whichever you decide on, the resulting arrangement or artwork should be around 60-75% of the width of the furniture it’s above and take up 60-75% of the wall height above it for a perfectly balanced look! If you’re using multiple pieces, space them out to get the right scale. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different layouts and art pieces – you may be surprised by what combinations work.

Why This Doesn’t Work: The frames above this bed are too small, throwing off the whole balance of the room. Luckily, the solution to this problem is simple!  You can either keep the existing frames and incorporate more pieces for a gallery wall or replace them with something larger. Whichever you choose to do, getting the scale right is a non-negotiable!

What To Do Instead: The art in this room is a much better size for the room and the bed! While it might be a touch more than 60-75% of the bed’s width, it’s spaced appropriately and doesn’t hang so high that you’ll need a stepladder to see it. The result is a gorgeous room with perfect proportions and scale. Hanging the right art in the right place is critical to a design that drops jaws.

Mistake #5: Not Styling with Scale in Mind

If we could give one tip to aspiring homeowners/designers it would be this: details are everything. To achieve a beautifully designed room, you need to pay attention to both scale and proportion when it comes to accessorizing. 

When curating pieces to display in your room, some basic principles apply. First, create little moments by using your decor in groups! For example, pair a small vase with some books and a frame. Most designers say that groups look better in odd numbers, so shoot for 3 or 5 rather than 2 or 4. Second, stagger the heights and sizes of the objects in a group. Playing with proportions can help you to get a design that’s both balanced and visually interesting. Last, use a variety of colors, materials, and patterns to keep things interesting and achieve the perfect balance!

Why This Doesn’t Work: While this kitchen is full of vibrant personality and patterns, the overall effect is a tad overwhelming and disorganized. The island feels slightly overrun with a bunch of small items similar in size (although the flowers at the end do add some much-needed height). The top shelf is unbalanced and half empty, while the bottom shelf is stuffed with a row of, again, similarly-sized items. In both places, creating groups with space would give the decor a bit of room to breathe, and give each design moment a chance to shine.

What To Do Instead: This room beautifully showcases the result of investing time in thoughtful styling! Items on the counter are grouped to the edges, leaving plenty of work space. Items on the shelves are spaced out to fill the shelves without blocking the light, a must for this stunning storage solution that maximizes shelf space without sacrificing the view. Even the large shelving feels unobtrusive because it’s to scale with the rest of the room. While this kitchen has a more minimalist vibe, paying attention to scale and proportion can give you a balanced look with any style from a traditional living room to a maximalist bedroom. 

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Understanding scale and proportion is essential for making design choices that lead to a balanced and harmonious home. Whether choosing the correct size rug to ground a room, selecting a beautiful light fixture, hanging wall art with precision, or curating decorative pieces thoughtfully, every detail matters. By avoiding these four common mistakes and following our tips, you can transform your home into a space that’s the perfect blend of form and function. For more personalized advice, call Lit Living! Our experts would love to answer your questions and help you as you design a home you love.

Lighting a commercial building isn’t a simple task. The needs of a business are often complex, and meeting those needs requires a solid understanding of how light works in a commercial space. Much like a business plan has several objectives, a commercial lighting plan typically has several objectives or goals.

Common Goals for Commercial Lighting

• Increased productivity, performance, and morale of workers
• Safety of employees and customers
• Comfort and ambiance
• Smooth transitions from space to space
• Cost savings on utility bills
• Branding and cohesiveness

To achieve all of your goals simultaneously, your best bet is to consult with a lighting expert with a thorough understanding of the best practices for commercial lighting in your area. But before you do, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the basics of commercial lighting.

Know How Much Light You Need

First, consider usage. Factory work zones will have very different lighting requirements from restaurant dining areas. Areas where detailed or dangerous work will be done need brighter light for accuracy and safety. Always remember to refer to your industry’s regulations regarding commercial lighting as a part of your planning.

Light recommendations for commercial spaces are given in foot-candles, which is a measure of the intensity of light. If you were to hang a single bulb in a room and measure foot-candles throughout the space, you’d find that the foot-candles are the highest directly under the bulb. You can even out light coverage and increase the overall intensity of the lighting by spreading several lights out across a space.

Light output for bulbs and fixtures is measured in lumens, with higher lumens correlating to more light. To determine how many lumens you need in a space, multiply the square footage by the foot-candle recommendation. For example, a 100sqft office, which needs 30-50 foot-candles, will require 3000-5000 lumens. Lumens are cumulative, meaning you can add the lumens for each fixture together to determine the overall lumens in a space. 

Commercial Foot-Candle* Recommendations

While these may vary a little depending on usage and safety requirements, these recommendations will get you to a good starting point that you can tweak if you want more or less light.

*Foot-Candles is an Imperial measurement. Lux is the Metric equivalent. To convert from Foot-Candles to Lux, multiply the foot-candles by 10.764. 1 foot-candle = 10.764 lux. 

Pay Attention to Durability 

The fixtures you choose need to be appropriate for the conditions in which they’ll be installed. Weather and humidity should be considered for outdoor spaces like patio dining, and indoor spaces like showers and laundry. In areas where a fixture could come into unwanted contact, such as gyms and classrooms, choosing fixtures with strong coverings that protect the bulbs is a must. Also, consider the amount of time the lights will be used each day – not all fixtures are designed to be on 24/7/365.

Use Consistent Light Temperature

The temperature, or color, of light (measured in Kelvins) significantly affects how a room, and the people in it, will feel. At lower Kelvins, light appears warm and yellow. Light at high Kelvins appears cool and blue. The temperature of the light you use needs to be consistent to avoid awkward and clashing transitions. A warm yellow bulb in a sea of bright white will look out of place. 

Natural light changes color throughout the day, from warm dawn to cool midday and warm dusk. Because of this our brains are wired to respond to light temperature, which is important to consider in a commercial setting. Cool light makes people feel more alert, awake, and focused – great for labs and workspaces. Warm light makes people feel relaxed and at ease – the perfect choice for creating a mood in a restaurant dining room. Warm light is also much easier on the eyes at night, which is something to consider for outdoor lighting (if you’ve ever driven past an electronic billboard at night and been blinded by the whites and blues, you’ll know what we mean!)

Determine the Type of Light

Light Layering is an important lighting design concept that references the need for light to come from several sources to make a space more comfortable and functional. Layering light is a universal trick, but it’s especially important for commercial spaces. 

The Basics

• General / Ambient Lighting – the overall light in a space, usually provided by overhead lighting.
• Task Lighting – additional lighting for areas where work is done, such as a desk lamp or a pendant hung over a countertop.
• Accent Lighting – decorative lighting focused on a particular area or object, often used to highlight architectural features, artwork, exhibits, etc.
• Direct Lighting – Light that shines directly from a fixture to an object or space. This type of lighting is perfect for illuminating important areas, but can cause headaches for employees that must work underneath them
• Indirect Lighting – Light that is diffused or reflected into a space. Indirect lighting generally lights larger areas with a softer (but not necessarily dimmer) light that is easy on the eyes.

An effective lighting plan should include a combination of the above types of light, coordinated to get the right light to the right places. This will “layer” light across the space. 

Other Things to Consider

• Natural Light – natural light is a mood and energy booster, so it’s important to include it whenever possible. It can also be counted as a light source, which means you can sometimes get away with using fewer lights during daylight hours.
• CRI – Short for the Color Rendering Index, CRI is a measure of a light’s ability to reveal the colors of objects. CRI is measured from 0 to 100 – lights with a CRI of 100 will show colors in their truest form, and lights with a CRI of 0 will make all colors look the same. In retail especially, it’s very important to have lighting with a high CRI to attract customers to displays and make products look their best. High-quality LEDs are typically the best option if CRI is important to your business. Aim for a CRI of 90-100.
• Bulb Type – The most popular bulbs for commercial use are LED – they’re energy-efficient, can be dimmable, and come in a wide range of color options. Fluorescent or CFL bulbs are also popular, but they’re not usually dimmable, and they often have a noticeable flicker that can give some people migraines. Halogen is another option commonly used in commercial lighting. An important thing to note is that halogen bulbs produce a lot of heat, and can be a fire hazard if the fixtures are installed near flammable materials. 
• Glare and Reflection: Light will bounce off reflective surfaces. You can use this to your advantage, and use mirrors or gloss finishes to help reflect light around a space. It can also be an issue if the light bounces in unintended directions, like into employees’ eyes as they work or through a window into traffic.

Energy Efficiency and Savings

Keeping the lights on costs money, but there are plenty of ways to save. Lights with dusk/dawn sensors keep lights off during the day and turn them on when it gets dark without you having to flip a switch. Lights with motion sensors are a great option for places with regular (but not constant) use, like exam rooms and restrooms, because they’ll only use power when the room is occupied. Smart lights can be programmed to turn off and on at a certain time of day. Many can be controlled remotely with an app, which makes them an attractive option for those long days when you can’t remember if you flipped the switch on the way out of the office.

As you shop for lighting, you may notice that some options have a blue Energy Star logo on the packaging. Energy Star is a U.S. government-backed organization that certifies fixtures and appliances that use less energy. The Energy Star certification makes it easy to identify options that will use less power, which will translate to a lower utility bill.

Always Consider Safety

The safety of customers and employees in a commercial environment is always one of the most important things to consider. Always check your industry’s laws and guidelines regarding safety requirements to be sure you’re in compliance. Some of the things you’ll want to use lighting to protect against include: accidents and falls, fire hazards, discomfort, crime, employee productivity, and emergencies.

Indoors, you’ll need to be sure that your exit signs and directional signage are in highly visible locations. Choose lighting that is both adequate for the work to be performed and comfortable for those that work in it. Poor lighting won’t just decrease productivity and make accidents more likely; it can also hurt morale and lower employee satisfaction. It’s also important to keep stairwells well-lit to prevent falls and deter crime in less visible areas. Replace old wiring and faulty fixtures to avoid fire hazards. 

Outdoors, be sure to light all areas regularly used from dusk to dawn, including walkways, paths, and parking areas. Ensure any trip hazards, such as stairs or a raised sidewalk, are well-lit to avoid accidents. Install adequate lighting around exterior entrances to keep employees safe while dealing with door locks. Motion sensor lights can also be a helpful crime deterrent near doors, windows, or important outdoor features. Always be sure that all outdoor fixtures and bulbs are rated for outdoor use.

Aesthetics Matter

After slogging through all of the requirements, recommendations, and acronyms, it can be easy to forget that aesthetics matter too – and they have a huge impact on your business! Lighting that looks good makes your business comfortable and memorable. Once you’ve met the safety requirements, it’s time to bring some life and character to your space.

Make Your Building Shine

When choosing lighting, pay attention to the style of the building. Match the finishes and styles of your fixtures to the building’s architecture as much as possible so they don’t feel out of place with the rest of the building. Use accent lighting to highlight beautiful features, like an original brick wall or a water fountain. 

Lighting and Branding

You can also use lighting to emphasize your branding! Don’t be afraid to go bold or playful with a statement lighting piece in your brand’s colors in the foyer. High CRI lighting around signage and branded decor like furniture or murals will keep your brand colors in sharp focus. Use accent lighting to spotlight things that matter to your brand, like a memorabilia collection, company history display, community outreach projects, employee recognition, etc. To really kick it up a notch, consider installing color-changing lights around the exterior of your building that can be lit up for holidays or with your brand colors for special occasions. 

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

The most important thing to remember with your commercial lighting needs is that you don’t have to do it alone. As a business owner, you understand the need to rely on subject matter experts for specialized tasks. You wouldn’t want your accountant to design your logo, and you shouldn’t rely on just anyone to get your lighting right. At Lit Living, we specialize in making homes and businesses shine – and we’re passionate about getting it right. For your next commercial lighting project, let us handle the heavy lifting. Check out our website, or give us a call and schedule a consultation. 

Have you ever watched a television show or movie set in a time period that made you want to hop in a time machine? Opulent architecture and fabrics from the Edwardian age, bohemian vibes in the 70s, smoky dens and midcentury furniture in the 50s… they all have style aspects that are still popular in homes today. 

While you may not want to redesign your home completely in a particular period’s style, a bathroom is a small space where it’s easy to incorporate your favorite era’s designs. Let’s take a jump into the past, present, and future with some fun bathrooms that might serve as real inspiration for your own renovations!

 

 

The Gilded Age 

When more was more, the 1870s was a period full of ornate designs and a whole lot of gold. While you may choose not to go as maximalist as some of the fashionable folks of this period, oversized mirrors, sumptuous linens, and gold and glass fixtures make for a truly luxe lavatory. 

Always wanted a dramatic chandelier in your home, but felt it was too “much” in your regular living spaces? Put it in the bathroom! Feel free to experiment with gold handles, doorknobs, and towel bars – they’ll make a big impact, and they’re really easy to swap out if you change your mind down the road.

 

 

The Edwardian Era

If you’d love to trade places with the Countess of Grantham, a bathroom with touches of the Edwardian Era may be perfect for you. Rich woods, freestanding tubs, and beautifully arched architectural details were the norm of the time. 

While you probably don’t have a crew of “downstairs” staff to tend to your every need, you can still feel like an aristocrat when you install vintage-inspired fixtures that provide a warm glow.

 

 

Mid-Century

If you watched Mad Men more in awe of the décor than Don Draper, then a bathroom in a mid-century modern style is right up your alley. Tapered legs and natural wood tone vanities combine with colors like olive green, rust, soft pink, or blue. 

While you might not enjoy a 10am scotch accompaniment to your Zoom meetings, you can bring a little 50s flair into your life through bathroom decor. Choose furniture with clean lines, abstract art and fixtures, and organic shapes (like a round or oblong mirror) to really instill the room with a mid-century feel. 

 

 

The Hippie-Vibe 70s

Peace, love, and macramé! The 70s were a time of exploration, advocacy, and a laid-back design style that is experiencing a resurgence today. Beaded or woven light fixtures, fiber wall hangings, and plenty of plants help set a casual, bohemian vibe in your home. Grab some incense, pull the beaded curtain closed, and turn on some Grateful Dead for a very chill soaking session.

 

 

The 80s

The 80s were all about the party, which meant not shying away from bold colors, textures, and fixtures. Olive green bathtub? Sure! Stairs leading to an oversized Jacuzzi tub? Why not? Patterned carpet in the bathroom? Uh, ok, let’s never revisit that. 

Designers are bringing some of the 80s attitude into bathrooms again, embracing colorful toilets and tubs and saying “more is more!” Maybe you wouldn’t use teal tile in your kitchen, but a little playfulness in bathroom design never hurt anyone. In fact, one might say it’s totally rad.

Want to add a touch of (the good part of) the 80s? Consider a pink or green toilet, terrazzo tile, or a bold light fixture to bring pizzazz to a functional space. 

 

 

Turn of the Century

While teens of the Y2K era were busy covering their rooms with colorful posters and blowing up their inflatable chairs, their parents had very different ideas for the rest of the house. The 90s ushered in an era of minimalism with warm browns, satin nickel and brassy gold, and honey oak. And in the bathrooms – who could forget all of that glass block? 

For many, this era is still a little too fresh to want to do a repeat, but we think there are some great opportunities to bring the best of the Y2K bathrooms into today. For example, including warm undertones can make modern minimalist bathrooms feel more cozy and comfortable, and today’s modern light fixtures are popular in both silver and gold finishes. 

 

 

The Present

It’s fun to turn back the clock, but we have to give credit to the current era of design. We’ve kept the focus on creating a peaceful retreat, but allowed a little more life to enter the chat. Homeowners today are sticking to their natural materials and earth-toned palettes, while also finding ways to add a little bit of personality to their bathrooms using things like houseplants, wallpaper, paint, funky mirror shapes, unique light fixtures, and even colored tile to brighten up their space. 

In a home designed in the trends of the 2020s, you’ll notice twists on previous eras of style. Mid-century-inspired mirrors mingle with wood laid in herringbone patterns (a trend from the 16th century!) and hexagon tiles. Modern appliances and light fixtures are nestled in between old-world-inspired wall molding and trim. Today’s bathrooms are designed with style, health, and sustainability in mind – saving the planet while promoting wellness. 

 

 

The Future

Tech enthusiasts and aspiring space travelers, this is the bathroom for you. You’ll be amazed by the features available for bathrooms these days, from deodorizing washlets, to heated water-proof flooring, smart mirrors and smart lights to smart toilets and smart showers, and more. 

While we don’t know what the future may hold, this rendering gives us a glimpse at the possibilities! Futuristic bathroom designs tend to lean more minimalist, focusing on functionality over style – but that doesn’t mean the room needs to feel sterile. We hope to see people incorporate natural materials (and maybe a houseplant or two) to keep their homes from feeling like a bathroom on a space station. (Unless astronaut-core is the next hot trend – only time will tell!)

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Whether you’re a vintage vixen or a tech maven, the bathroom is a fantastic room to incorporate more flashy or fun features that you might not choose in the rest of your home. Considering humans spend an average of 2+ years in the bathroom in their lifetimes, it’s a room worth making your own!

No bathroom is complete unless it is well-lit. When it comes to lighting your bathroom or powder room (or any other space for that matter), checking in with a lighting specialist who can give expert tips and style suggestions will help you to get your shopping right the first time. Stop in today to browse our selection and speak to an expert who will help make your dream bathroom a reality.

 

Beyond its functional role in cooking and entertaining, the kitchen is where memories are made and lasting bonds are created. If you find yourself glancing at your kitchen and sensing it needs a refresh, you’re not alone! Getting started can seem like a daunting task to undertake, but with some inspiration from these curated spaces and expert insights, you can transform your kitchen into a space you genuinely love. From sleek and modern to charming rustic kitchens, each of these spaces is begging to be replicated in your home and infused with your personal style. It’s time to breathe new life into your kitchen!

Moody Modern

Dressed in sophistication, this kitchen features dark marble backsplashes, gorgeous wood accents, and thoughtfully styled glass floor-to-ceiling cabinets. This space deserves lighting that highlights every square inch. The under-cabinet lighting and strip lighting in the glass cabinets create a moody ambiance with dramatic shadows and highlights that will have guests’ jaws on the floor the minute they step into this kitchen.

Cozy Corner

The contrast of the stark white against the warm earthy wood in this kitchen is enough to make anyone green with envy (like this daring backsplash)! The light and shadow of the sunlight brings beautiful dimension during the day, and when the sun sinks low, this trio of pendants takes center stage, bringing just the right amount of light to make this cozy kitchen corner glow.

Teal-Accented

This kitchen’s not short on space, but this clever play with colors makes the room feel even bigger. The color from the cabinets is carried seamlessly across the ceiling, creating the illusion of extra room height, and the white upper cabinets gracefully recede, creating the appearance of a wider space. The herringbone floors and luxurious marbled countertop and backsplash add layers of texture, personality, and warmth, and to crown it all, a stunning globe chandelier serves as the pièce de résistance, tying each element together into a harmonious display of creativity. Our love for this kitchen knows no bounds—it’s a masterclass in design ingenuity!

Charming Cottagecore

This kitchen is giving irresistible countryside cottage charm! The neutral color palette places the spotlight on the beautiful textures covering the backsplash, wood, and walls. The careful styling also pulls out all the stops, transforming this space into a haven perfect for late-night intimate conversations. Picturing a midnight snack beneath the glow of these pretty white pendants is nothing short of a dream!

Linear Kitchen

Clean lines give this kitchen a modern and industrial look where the natural beauty of the materials shines through. Every element – from the sleek cabinetry to the stone floor to the gorgeous linear light fixtures – contributes to a streamlined environment where form seamlessly meets function. In embracing clean lines, this kitchen stands as a testament to the timeless appeal of modern design, where simplicity becomes the ultimate sophistication.

Light and Airy

In this Scandinavian-style kitchen, light natural wood, subtle linear accents, and the inclusion of cozy chairs create an atmosphere that seamlessly marries modern design aesthetics with a warm, inviting aura. The light color palette brings airiness that feels both fresh and timeless while the linear accents (such as the backsplash and light fixture) bring order and simplicity. Adding cozy elements like the chairs brings a sense of hygge – a term embodying coziness and contentment – to the design, inviting guests and loved ones to come together and create lasting memories.

Monochromatic Kitchen

This small kitchen embraces the power of a monochromatic color palette where texture and scale are the unsung heroes. It proves that with a little creativity, gorgeous style is possible in any space! The ingenious globe wall sconce serves as a focal point that adds a touch of personality and is the perfect lighting solution for this small kitchen. By carefully selecting the right size features, every inch of the space was maximized for functionality and gorgeous aesthetics. Thoughtful design makes all the difference!

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These seven kitchens not only showcase the transformative power of design but also emphasize that thoughtful choices can give you a kitchen that has it all – functionality and beautiful aesthetics. There are so many possibilities for a kitchen where creativity and connection thrive! Whether you lean towards the cozy charm of rustic aesthetics, the simplicity of a Scandinavian style, or a sleek and modern space, these kitchens prove that the heart of your home can be a reflection of your unique style and personality, and none of it could be possible without great lighting. Give All-Phasea call when you’re ready to create a space that truly feels like the heart of your home!