Every year professional lighting designers and lighting architects from all over the world submit their best realized objects to international competitions, where distinguished jury members select the best of the best. Looking at the works of finalists and winners, as well as other projects presented on professional portals, you can judge the trends in the field of lighting and learn what they are the “best” lighting solutions according to the professional community.
In private premium properties, one can observe firmly established trends and the gradual emergence of new ones. This is always related to the architecture itself, the development of technology, as well as to changes in the social sphere and global world trends.

Let’s tell you more about the characteristics and features of lighting design solutions in premium private properties in the world:

1. Integration with architecture and invisibility
To achieve the best results, lighting in private properties should be planned at the concept development stage, which allows the architect and lighting designer to create a unique individual solution, without limits of architectural features of an already constructed building. Lighting devices, most often performing a functional task, professionals try to make as invisible as possible (for example, frameless, thin or miniature). Reflected or hidden light are still popular and actively used (backlighting along the perimeter of the ceiling, floor, structural elements of walls or objects). The tendency to minimize the visibility of functional lighting devices is relevant (not related to decorative lamps).
Integration and miniaturization create a symbiosis of the matter of light and architecture, which forms a harmonious human habitat. When it’s dark artificial lighting helps to reveal architecture, forms, materials, and colors. Some living spaces have a certain “museum-like” feel: when, with a minimum number of objects and decorative elements, the space becomes self-sufficient and decorated almost exclusively with light and the effects it creates. In such spaces, architecture comes to the forefront and does not require any additions to express itself.

2. Balance of natural and artificial light
Due to the global trend to maintain and improve human health, as well as the formation of a healthy environment (both in public spaces and private interiors), projects created according to the principles of “biophilic” design are increasingly common. One of the important components of such spaces is the maximum use of natural light.
Therefore, traditional walls in country houses are transformed into large glazing surfaces from the field to the ceiling. You can also meet mansard windows, atriums, open terraces, patios, translucent structures and glass blocks both inside the living space and acting as actual walls in such projects. All these architectural variations are designed to maximize the access of sunlight into the interior.
In such projects, lighting designers strive to create balanced lighting solutions considering natural light, combining it with artificial light.

3. Flexibility of lighting solutions
Flexibility is also related to the trend mentioned in paragraph 2. It is possible to create balance and harmony in the lighting environment only with the help of dynamics. That means that artificial light should not be static, but should change depending on the surrounding or weather conditions. With the help of the control system and the capabilities of the “smart home”, changes in artificial light occur automatically in the living space. Sensors and detectors record the characteristics of the environment and adjust the parameters of the lighting equipment. This is not only a convenient, but also an energy-efficient solution.
In buildings with large glazing areas and access to natural light, lighting designers need to find the right solutions for the quantity, placement and technical parameters of lighting fixtures, combining them into a control system that should work as a single organism, responding to the environment, preferences and habits of residents.

4. Light and shadow balance
There is a great attention paid to the balance of light and shadow in modern premium living spaces. The comfort conditions for life and human organism, which have been shaped by nature for millennia, provide a harmonious combination of light and darkness/semi-darkness. It is uncomfortable for a person to constantly be in a very bright space or in the dark. Such conditions negatively affect the emotional and physical state. Therefore, it is important to find the optimal balance and not go to extremes, even if it initially seems that you like a lot of light or prefer semi-darkness. To solve this problem will help not only automation system, but the presence of simple light scenarios, light groups or dimming.
Reflected light is often used in private projects, which is combined with direct lighting. Soft and diffused, it creates a sense of calm and tranquility, providing visual comfort. Light balance is provided not only in interiors, but also in the exterior. The use of lighting fixtures that meet the requirements and principles of the Dark Sky concept will help preserve the existing ecosystem and enjoy the starry sky.

5. Rational use
Modern lighting design solutions involve the rational use of light fixtures. Light should primarily perform a functional task; therefore, the number of lighting fixtures is now much smaller compared to the number of fixtures in projects 5-10 years ago.
Minimizing the number of lighting fixtures implies not only energy efficiency (reducing energy consumption and electricity costs), but also reducing the size of the estimate for the customer. Why buy and install luminaries that you will not use and if you do not need them? A well-thought-out lighting design solution that meets needs and functional tasks is what modern customers thinking about the future want now.

6. Unity with nature
There are more and more projects where you can see the desire to be in harmony with nature now. This trend is particularly noticeable in country residences, where the interior smoothly flows into the exterior and vice versa. The ground floors open up seamless access to the garden, and “green islands” appear in the interiors with plants (cachepots, pots, tubs with plants), and sometimes entire gardens with natural elements (trees, bushes, stones, water, etc.) are created.
There are natural light effects in the lighting of residential projects: a shading of foliage on the floor, walls or imitation of the light rays. Warm shades of light resemble the sun, creating a clear association with nature. Creating a well-thought-out uneven lighting environment with light accents, highlighted planes and linear curved lines of light characteristic for the natural environment help to create a pleasant atmosphere.

7. Quality of Light
Lighting in the premium segment is used thoughtfully, and the choose of lighting fixtures is also goes this way. Preference is given to quality, not quantity or variety. The use of traditional ceremonial chandeliers, which perform decorative tasks, is reduced to a minimum. Art objects such as paintings, installations, statues and other things that focus attention are chosen as art objects. The right lighting is important for them because it helps these objects to be «in a better light» and visually convey their value and uniqueness. The quality of light depends on various characteristics of lighting devices and light sources such as color temperature (including tunable white), color transmission, binning, quality LED sources and reflectors, no chromatic aberrations, wide range of different angles of light, filters, lenses, frames and other accessories.