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When we look at decorative items (shoes, sofas, decorative kitchen lighting) we frequently get overwhelmed by the options available to us and turn to experts to point out what is “hot” right now. In the decorative lighting world, the team at 1STOPlighting.com put their heads together to bring you the top kitchen lighting trends of 2022.
Let’s investigate what is “the new black” for kitchen lighting ideas in 2022. Some old favorites have swung back around, while other favorites are quite literally a mixed bag.
Gold or Warm Brass tones were a popular finish in Mid-century modern design (circa 1940’s to 1960’s) since its golden hue added warmth to the style’s aesthetic. Today’s warm brass and gold fixtures make a striking statement that utilitarian areas can have the luster and brilliance formerly reserved for a formal dining area. Some of our favorite kitchen lighting trends that use old/warm brass lighting today are smaller “mini-chandeliers” like the Kichler Morrigan which we hang in multiples to create a unique look. Kitchen islands love the fluted elegance of the Quoizel Zia linear island light, bringing promises of champagne to thirsty guests.
Starting just a few years ago the use of Black or White Accents to make a fixture pop started showing up in top designer showcases. Today, this kitchen lighting trend of 2022 has continued to gain strength, proving that contrast can be beautiful. Our experts love the black accents paired with the weathered oak look of the Quorum Silva which brightens a modern farmhouse whether the light itself is on or off. Over a kitchen island, we love the wavy light put off by the Piastra glass on the Kichler Rustic inspirations linear pendant.
Unlike metaphors, mixed metals is perfectly acceptable in polite company. Tying in the strength of black with the warmth of a softened brass finish is the key to Quoizel’s Kerouac’s allure. When looking for an industrial light over your kitchen island, it doesn’t get more industrial than rebar - check out the Elk Home Crossbar.
Over the last few years, some interesting materials have been crafted into decorative kitchen lighting. Craftsmen have looked past the traditional steel and glass, blending more exotic materials to add flavor and texture to an otherwise bland palette.
Popularized in the late 1960’s, clear glass with decorative texture or patterns once again adorns the finest kitchen lighting of the year. Take the Quoizel Genie, for instance, with its delicately wrapped striations which cast dramatic shadows for all to admire. Textured glass is a big trend as well too – it adds interest to a typical glass pendant light without color.
Gaining popularity in kitchen lighting trends for 2022 are finely crafted fixtures in a globe (spherical) shape, or those with unique shapes. Non-typical shapes such as these are sure to create a focal point in your kitchen. The Quoizel Ribbons pendant is beloved for its glam take on the globe motif. Our experts can’t get enough of the clean, modern take on tiffany lighting in the Elk Home Tetra pendant, one of our favorites for contemporary modern kitchen lighting.
It’s been said a thousand different ways… eventually everything old is new again. Whether you think of these top kitchen lighting trends for 2022 as new traditional or Grand millennial style, they define a resurgence of the traditionally classic styles of old. Folks in their mid-20’s to late 30’s are co-opting their great-great-grandmother’s favorite things (fringe, ornate trim, monogrammed linens and scalloped lampshades) and updating them to be convenient for today’s 30-year-old. One of our customers’ favorites, the diamond shaped crystals in the Maxim Lighting Alessandra float in a web of jewelry grade chain dangling from a metal frame finished in dazzling Silver Mist. Grand Millenials have embraced the French colonial style we love so much about the Quorum Salento when finishing out their kitchen design plans.
Rising in popularity in kitchen lighting trends for 2022 are modern and contemporary pieces designed to bring out the best in contemporary living. Modern design dates back to the 1930’s, focusing on a monochromatic palette and a near total absence of decoration, where a contemporary style (emerging in the 1980’s) uses simplicity merged with decorative options that feel right for today. Contemporary homes allow you to play with the design, and the Kichler Structures linear pendant fits in perfectly with the more open, less stuffy contemporary structure. The ET2 Larmes embraces the modern design’s “no frills” aesthetic, using extended profile clear glass shades to create a focal point above your kitchen island or table.
The best minimalist kitchen designs focus on stripping its elements to essential, core pieces using simple forms, limited materials and avoiding excess ornamentation to achieve a design that appears effortlessly simple… but achieving this shared simplicity is anything but easy. Look to the Quoizel Cutlas for a perfect example of clean, simple function over form aesthetics that are the hallmark of true minimalism. The simple white cylindrical styling of the ET2 Dwell pendant masks a unique functional feature: the bottom is gimbaled to allow the light to be adjusted 30° to direct the light exactly where you need it.
You’d think that the farmhouse movement would show signs of slowing down… but nope. Today’s farmhouse décor continues to be rustic, but steers clear of the cutesy motifs of farmhouses gone by (think too many roosters or pigs). Go for a look that says, “we’ve collected this stuff over time” that give a cozy, comfortable feeling that’s not at all stuffy or formal. Driftwood mated with black accents creates exactly this kind of non-ornate rustic look famous in today’s farmhouse kitchens, as perfectly evidenced by the Quorum Alpine pendant light. The Quoizel Kingsbridge echoes this design aesthetic with seeded glass shades complementing the wood and iron, adding a dazzling bit of sparkling interest to the light cast from it.
Tracing its roots to Bohemian free spirits of the past, modern Boho Style is an eclectic look that emphasizes natural elements with nods to the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. Maxim Lighting’s Bali emphasizes this eclectic aesthetic by combining dual spherical shades constructed of woven string in two tone/finish combinations. Adding to your eclectic ‘70s vibe… though you don’t have to wear bell bottoms while gazing at Elk Home's Illusions mini-pendant, it sure would be appropriate.
The combination of a chandelier with a high-quality ceiling fan has produced a unique and highly functional offspring – the fandelier. The reality is that fandeliers are ceiling fans made to look like ceiling pendants, with or without lights. The best kitchen design trends for 2022 frequently call for this new fusion look, and you gain the added function of airflow just when you need it. A 13-inch fan is integrated into a satin black chandelier with nickel accents to create a vintage, industrial two-tone style in Kichler’s Cavelli ceiling fan. Quoizel’s Dury fandelier features a century silver leaf finish that looks like it’s been in your kitchen for 50 years, a gorgeous aesthetic you can achieve right out of the box.
Not that steel and glass have become ho-hum (not by a long shot)… Steel envelopes the white drum shade on the Kichler Coral with an interesting design, giving it depth both in the design of the fixture itself, and the patterns the light throws on your kitchen wall. Sure, the Elk Home Whisp is a steel fixture, but it’s the blown champagne glass mated with a wispy streak of brown glass that gives the piece the dramatic character that we love.
Once the domain of cowboys, rope has made the transition from a purely functional item to the big leagues of lighting design. Rustic farmhouse flair meets Scandinavian simplicity in the Capital Lighting Jacob linear pendant. Intricate weaving on the Quoizel Casablanca pendant crates a global tapestry sure to delight your guests.
In 2022, you won’t just find concrete on the walls at your local gulag, you’ll find them as one of the strongest kitchen lighting trends. Concrete doesn’t have to be big and bulky – it can be intricate and (dare we say) soft. The Maxim Woven concrete pendant fuses concrete strength with the softness inherent in woven textiles to give you a truly unique look. For a longer table or kitchen island with an urban/industrial vibe, we like the Elk Home Brocca linear chandelier which features genuine concrete slabs that are cast directly into a solid iron cage.
Leather, specifically vegan leather (read: faux leather) have been making stunning appearances in the trendiest of kitchens in 2022. The Kuzco Valise, inspired by vintage luxury luggage, combines premium vegan leather with LED lighting and a metal base for an unforgettable kick. Inspired by classic Scandinavian design, the Maxim Nordic creates a simple but authentic look by combining metal spun pendants with leather straps.
Rattan and wicker have been used in home decorating for over 5,000 years, so when we say something old is coming back again, this is about as old as it gets. Blending organic and contemporary style notes, the Elk Home Bindan highlights hand woven natural rattan over a cream inner shade. Rattan is again featured in the Hinkley Luca permeating its coastal vibe with just a touch of the exotic.
In the last five years, lighting craftsmen have been crafting more and more designs with wood as the primary element. Strong, malleable and warm, wood fixtures bring a familiarity to your kitchen space. In Kichler’s Rustic Inspirations pendant we relish the fusion of the curved wood (available in two finishes) and diamond pattern accenting the black fixture. Starting with a fixture with a forged iron appearance, the Maxim Bodega is enclosed by rings of ash wood, distressed and finished in Antique Pecan for that old world feel.
We’ve looked at the top kitchen lighting trends for 2022, and our lighting experts have given you some food for thought. When pondering the right choice for your space, consider the finishes that will make your kitchen pop, the glass/shades that will throw fantastical patterns on your kitchen walls, the lighting style that fits in with your personal aesthetic, and consider the newer materials now available in designer lighting.
Whether your selections lean toward crisp minimalism or the grandeur of grand millennialism, you can trust 1STOPLighting to have all the options and colors you need to find your perfect match. And don’t forget that our experts are available to you if you get stuck or have a question – just give us a call and we’ll be right there with you, every step of the way.