While developing lighting design solutions for private objects, it is important to remember that each of them is unique and must meet the wishes of the customer. Unlike public or commercial spaces, where the primary focus is on norms, in private interiors it is important to create an individual atmosphere in which the owner will be as comfortable as possible, and which will also correspond to the design solution of the space. Thanks to modern technologies, lighting provides ample opportunities to work with living space. Regardless of what design solution is chosen – whether it will resemble the interior of the future from movies, will become a cozy interior in the Scandinavian style, or will it have ethnic elements – it does not matter, artificial lighting must simultaneously perform functional tasks and also correspond to the design solution.
Thanks to the development of technologies in the field of lighting, the emergence of new lighting devices and technological capabilities, trends in lighting and design are formed and developed. We present several main current trends in lighting that can now be highlighted in private projects.

10 current trends in lighting that, in our opinion, will be relevant in the next 5 years for private facilities:

1. Visual simplicity through technology
An established and current trend is the visual cleanliness of the ceiling and walls. Concealed lighting fixtures, such as recessed profile systems or frameless recessed luminaires, as well as very miniature spotlights with a diameter of only a few centimeters are often used in projects. They are practically invisible and do not distract attention, but their lighting effect appears in darkness. You won’t surprise anyone with cove lighting, but manufacturers have plenty of options for profiles that imitate the surface of a wall or ceiling and are integrated into the surface.
Continuation of the theme of “clean” walls are luminous surfaces. Illuminated ceilings or walls that emit light do not distract attention from the overall and holistic perception of space but create a special effect during evening. LED media panels are also sometimes used to form a wall, which can broadcast images or media content and even absorb noise.

2. Decorative effects
Lighting can act as decor when the interior space is decorated with a lighting effect. The unusual effects that light can create complement functional lighting, making the space more expressive and special. Typically, such affects you can create with the help of table or floor lamps, but an original lighting effect can also be achieved using recessed or ceiling lighting fixtures. Thanks to the special optics that are used in luminaries, it is possible to observe various shapes of the light spot, refraction and re-reflection of light, or original light patterns that form special gobo lenses. Interiors and even exteriors, in which lighting acts as an art object, always attract attention and create a special mood in the space.

3. Diversity of space
A person quickly gets tired of the monotony in space. Boring interiors are associated with office or public spaces where a person stays temporarily for a specific purpose. A home is a space where a person relaxes and, first of all, wants to feel comfortable. This is a kind of refuge in which he gains strength. For visual and emotional comfort, it is necessary to create a voluminous, non-monotonic, changing space. The desired effect can be achieved with the help of lighting. To make the space deeper, more voluminous and varied, lighting designers use various types of luminaries, as well as their location in space, light intensity and shades of light. You can create a variety of lighting scenarios not only with the help of lighting control systems, but also with the help of light groups, as well as dimming or varying color temperature or color.

4. Functional solutions
Modern living space is now not only a place for relaxation, but also for work. The issue of completing work tasks has become especially acute during the covid-19 pandemic, and now many continue to work from home or want to have this opportunity. Functional living space is a modern reality and necessity. Therefore, in residential interiors it is necessary to provide functional lighting solutions to make comfortable working conditions and will comply with lighting standards in such spaces and will also allow a person to feel at home.

5. Multispace
One of the urgent human needs has become the need for multi-space. Increasingly, interiors are designed not only as home theater rooms or multimedia game rooms where you can listen to music or use VR/AR gadgets, but also as exhibitional spaces or galleries. This diverse functionality imposes certain requirements on lighting solutions. For example, expensive paintings and art objects require lighting devices with high-quality light (high color rendering, minimizing the influence of light on art objects including UV rays, accurate light distribution, absence of aberrations, proper temperature conditions, etc.), while as for home theaters, light should not interfere with movie viewing, create glare and reflections; it should provide optimal illumination levels, be flexibly adjustable (dimming, group switching), have the correct positioning, wattage, lighting characteristics, etc.

6. Unity with nature
The modern rhythm of life and the abundance of technologies and gadgets are increasingly affecting human health. People began to feel a lack of unity with nature, they need a break from the technological environment and there is a need for the natural. Nowadays, designers and architects are increasingly design spaces in which nature and its natural laws become closer to humans – dynamic lighting and the HCL (Human Centric Lighting) concept are actively used in lighting; biophilic design is gaining popularity in design and architecture. In modern premium-class houses, architects try as much as possible to fill the interior with natural light, the boundary between the interior and exterior seems to be blurred, letting nature into the living space, the volume of landscaping increases, natural materials are used, and natural elements are imitated in decor and interior items.

7. Lighting control
You can use all the capabilities of modern lighting technologies using lighting control systems. You can control lighting in various ways: through conventional key switches or dimmers, through control panels, PCs, mobile gadgets, or using sensors. Home automation or a “smart home” system allows you to set up lighting scenarios, control individual lamps or groups of lights, create an immersive effect when you are not at home or turn off the lights completely. It is very easy to configure the option that suits you. For example, with sensors luminaries will turn on or off depending on whether a person is in the room or absent, when motion is detected, and even depending on external conditions (time of day – twilight, day, night, season or holidays days).
With the help of the “smart home” system you can create individual conditions that are most suitable for each specific person. By the way, control is possible in both automatic and manual modes.

8. High quality light
Just 10–15 years ago, the requirements for light sources were not as high as they are now. Few people paid attention to the quality of light and thought about why it was needed. In residential spaces, there were practically no requirements for light sources other than the form factor, suitable bulb base, power, service life and electrical safety. LED light sources with different color temperatures, varied light distribution, high color rendering index (CRI), low pulsation coefficient, and different efficiencies (light output) are now actively used. They also pay attention to the resource of led lamps (characterizes the degradation of LEDs), binning (color, luminous flux, voltage, temperature), and energy efficiency class.
The quality of light is influenced not only by the light source itself, but also by the luminaire in which it is installed. Only all components and accessories of the luminaire together – from the light source to the radiator or terminals – will characterize the light fixture as a high quality one. And of course, to get the final quality lighting solution (because even good lighting devices must be applied correctly), it is necessary to involve professionals: engineers, lighting technicians, lighting designers, lighting architects.

9. Caring for nature
Today, big cities have one common problem – light pollution. It is especially relevant for megacities, where artificial lighting works 24/7 – roads, public places are illuminated, shops and cafes are open, illuminated advertising is dazzling, media facades are working. Light pollution not only interferes with stargazing at night, but also disrupts the circadian rhythms of people and wild animals. Excessive amounts of light (especially artificial light at night) have a negative impact on humans and the environment (flora and fauna). In large cities, due to light, natural conditions and natural processes change – vegetation begins to bloom earlier, the period of day and night in birds and insects is confused, various disruptions and disorientation occur.
Following the Dark Sky concept of protecting the dark sky, it is possible to contribute even at the user level. For example, in country residences, where people are in maximum proximity to nature and its inhabitants, one can follow the key recommendations of the international community: minimize the number of outdoor lighting fixtures, choose lower-power lighting devices, direct the light flux downward, use lighting control systems, sensors and dimmers, use “warm” light sources with a color temperature of 3000K and below.

10. Sustainable design and closed-loop technologies
The green agenda has not lost its relevance for many years now, because the development of technology provokes an ever-increasing consumption of energy resources. Each person at his own level can influence the situation as a whole. The issue of energy efficiency is solved by reducing energy consumption, and by choosing, for example, high-efficiency lighting devices (due to the optical part and components), you can reduce energy consumption. Lighting designers also help improve efficiency through quality solutions, using light only where it is needed and in sufficient quantity. Control systems and sensors in addition to being convenient for humans, also help in saving energy in automatic mode.
World leaders in the production of lighting equipment are embarking on a path to produce CO2-neutral luminaires. While developing equipment, they try to follow the principles of the circular economy (closed-loop technologies), develop products according to the principles of eco-design and strive to use energy rationally. Using such lighting products even at home will be even more pleasant, knowing that you are making your small but very important contribution to the global trend of sustainable development.