Light Fixture Upgrades for 2024

The lighting fixtures in your home can make all the difference. They help direct the eye, highlight your space, and even set the right ambiance.

So, if you have rooms that feel like they’re just missing that special something, it might be the lighting. You’ll be amazed how switching out a fixture or two can transform your home’s interior. 

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some trending light fixtures for 2024 and see how they can elevate any space.

Kitchen Light Fixture Ideas

Even more than living rooms, bathrooms, or even bedrooms, kitchens demand layers of light.

It’s a place where work happens. This means you need general lighting as well as more practical fixtures.

Your kitchen may also double as a dining space. It is the central hub of your get-togethers — a spot where wine and dinner give way to re-told stories, old jokes, and the feeling of true belonging.

So, your kitchen may not be saved by a single fixture. Luckily there are plenty of trending light fixtures from which to choose.

Mixing and matching metallic finishes throughout the working area of your kitchen can lend it an industrial feel. For example, if your appliances are stainless steel, choose lighting fixtures with a gold or brass finish.

Downlights are another popular choice in kitchens. They provide practical lighting and highlight exciting design features.

Be sure, though, to get a light with a cool white color temperature so it doesn’t wash out your kitchen.

There are times, though, when you want the lighting itself to be a focal point. If that’s the case, consider a unique pendant-style fixture directly over the dining space. 

For those wanting to skate on the line between trendy and traditional, a custom or antique chandelier will work. And if you prefer to brave the farthest edge of modernity, you can find something linear, curvy, or, dare we say it, dramatic.

Bathroom Light Fixture Ideas

The best bathroom light fixtures are all about balance.

If there’s too much light, the place feels antiseptic and sterile. Too little light, though, and suddenly everything feels grungy and damp.

Typically, most bathrooms will have at least two sources of light. One overhead that lights up the room, and another that, like the kitchen, is more practical and task-oriented.

While a plain-Jane chandelier in your dining room may not seem trendy, placing that same lighting fixture in your bathroom makes it a little more special. Since chandeliers tend to soften the light, they make an ideal overhead fixture.

Of course, don’t be afraid to make a statement with your lighting. For example, a quirky-shaped pendant fixture can show off your fun side while still diffusing soft light throughout the room.

Another trending light fixture for 2024 is backlit mirrors.

They help draw your eye to the mirror, which often serves as the focal point of the bathroom. They also serve as a source of practical lighting for style and hygiene-based daily duties.

Minimalist fixtures are also a way to add task-focused lighting and accent your bathroom’s features. In fact, something as simple as a well-placed LED strip light can help draw the eye where you want.

With the right lighting, you can transform your bathroom from something that feels clinical into a place of luxury.

Bedroom Light Fixtures Ideas

Layers of light can also benefit your bedroom. Soft overhead lights make it easier to get ready in the morning and decompress at the end of the day, but you’ll likely need bedside fixtures for when you’re in bed but not quite ready to sleep.

Your bedroom should be a place of renewal and where you can be your best self. So, why not reflect your ideals with the type of material your fixture is made of?

Fixtures made from bamboo, recycled glass, and other green materials are among the trendiest heading into 2024. Beyond their environmentally friendly nature, they can also add distinctive design features to the space.

So, for overhead lighting, consider a chandelier or pendant fixture made from recycled or sustainable materials.

Sconces are simple fixtures that can add bedside light without taking up space on any table. Instead of boring sconces, though, try ones made with a minimalist or industrial style, especially if you can pair them with warm yet soft Edison bulbs.

Some people may prefer the nightstand lamp over a sconce. To keep it trendy, find one with a simple design.

One final note on bedrooms: smart home technology is here to stay. So, regardless of what light fixture you choose, consider employing smart light bulbs, plugs, or other home accessories to give yourself complete control of your lights wherever you are.

An extra bonus: if you forget to turn off your living room light and don’t realize it until your head’s already hit the pillow, a few presses of an app or a single verbal command to your digital assistant will save you from leaving your soft, warm bed.

Should You Install New Light Fixtures Yourself?

Electricity can come off as scary. So, it’s understandable if the only DIY installation you feel capable of doing is plugging a lamp into an outlet.

However, in many cases, a few simple safety precautions and basic pointers are often all you need to transform a space with new lighting fixtures.

Even better, when you install lighting fixtures yourself, you can skip paying for an expensive electrician for what will likely amount to no more than an hour’s worth of work — especially if you’re swapping out fixtures instead of installing one where there previously was none.

So, if you feel comfortable using specialized tools like a wire stripper and voltage tester, as well as classic handyman fare like a drill and a ladder, consider embracing the DIY lifestyle and following some straightforward instructions for installing your new light fixture.

That said, if new wires need to be run or if the unique shape or size of your new fixture makes things tricky, there’s nothing wrong with calling for professional help.

Where’s the best place to buy trendy light fixtures?

When it comes to finding your new lighting fixtures, you’ll probably source options from both online and local sellers.

However, each source has its advantages and disadvantages. If you know what you want, you may have more luck focusing on one more than the other.

Perhaps the most significant advantage you gain from shopping online is there’s no geographical limit to your search. You’ll find both large retailers and quirky boutiques, and regardless of where you live, you should be able to find what you’re looking for.

Prices may often be cheaper online, too, as there may be manufacturer-direct options that skip over retailing middlemen to deliver less expensive items. On the other hand, companies that sell globally can take advantage of economies of scale, reducing their cost to produce and yours to purchase.

Unfortunately, lower prices can be negated by the cost of shipping fixtures which can be both heavy and fragile. 

While it’s not always the case, extended delivery times can also mean that you’re waiting a month or more to receive your fixture. If it arrives broken or otherwise not as expected, you’re looking at even a longer time while you are without your trendy new light fixture.

Shopping in person can blunt some of these disadvantages. You’ll get to see and touch and experience how the fixture lights a room without taking it home.

You can also find one-of-a-kind fixtures in your local area at antique shops, boutiques, or garage and estate sales. While it feels like every piece of inventory has been harvested by multi-tentacled e-tailers with algorithms for brains, it’s kind of amazing what you’ll find when you’re simply driving around town.

Additionally, there’s no more incredible thrill than stepping into a local shop and feeling that figurative spark when your eyes fall on the perfect light fixture for your home. It’s a sensation that shopping online can’t quite match.

Keep your finger on the pulse of 2024’s home trends

Trending lighting fixtures are only the top of the barrel for home upgrades, but even a minor update can transform a room. So, don’t leave your home in the dulled past when the future’s glow is so soft and warm.

For help navigating this year’s home and garden trends, bookmark AskWetAndForget.com.