Progressive Lighting | Blog

From statement-scale chandeliers to timeless gas lanterns, outdoor lighting is becoming a defining feature of the home. Manufacturers are treating exterior fixtures as integral design elements, combining durability with refined aesthetics.

Here’s how these trends are shaping exterior design.

Outdoor Chandeliers & Pendants: Architectural Impact

Outdoor-rated chandeliers and pendants bring interior-level design to exterior spaces. Built to withstand the elements, these fixtures provide scale and presence in covered patios, porches, and outdoor living areas.

Design insight: Larger fixtures help define outdoor zones and create a cohesive transition from interior to exterior.

Outdoor Wall Lights: Material-Driven Design

Wall-mounted fixtures are evolving with the introduction of distinctive materials and finishes. Elements like terrazzo add texture and visual interest, elevating exterior lighting beyond basic functionality.

Design insight: Material variation enhances curb appeal and contributes to a layered exterior design.

Gas Lanterns: Timeless Warmth and Character

Gas-powered lanterns offer a warm, flickering glow that feels both nostalgic and elevated. Their presence adds authenticity and architectural character, particularly in traditional or transitional homes.

Design insight: Gas lanterns create ambiance that electric lighting can’t replicate, making them a standout choice for entryways and outdoor gathering spaces.

Outdoor Ceiling Fans: Performance with Style

Outdoor ceiling fans continue to evolve with improved performance and refined design. Modern finishes, streamlined blades, and integrated lighting allow these fixtures to enhance comfort and visual appeal.

Design insight: Well-designed fans support airflow while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic across the space.

Why This Trend Matters

Outdoor spaces are increasingly viewed as extensions of the home. Lighting plays a critical role in defining these areas, supporting both function and atmosphere.

In 2026, the most successful exterior designs balance durability with style to create spaces that are comfortable, inviting, and visually impactful.

Visit a Progressive Lighting Showroom

Outdoor lighting is best experienced in person, where you can see how materials, finishes, and light output come together. Visit one of Progressive Lighting’s five Atlanta-area showrooms to explore outdoor fixtures up close and find solutions tailored to your space. Our team is ready to help you create an exterior environment that feels as thoughtfully designed as your interior.

Glass has long been a cornerstone of lighting design, but it is now reaching new levels of artistry and innovation.

Manufacturers are exploring color, texture, and sculptural techniques that elevate glass beyond simple shades. The result is lighting that feels dimensional, expressive, and architecturally engaging.

Here are the glass trends shaping the year ahead.

Amber Glass: Warmth with Vintage Influence

Amber glass introduces rich color and nostalgic character while maintaining a refined aesthetic. Its golden tint casts a warm glow that enhances comfort and atmosphere.

Design insight: Amber glass pairs beautifully with brass, bronze, and other warm finishes.

Draped Glass: Sculptural Movement

Draped glass designs feature pieces that cascade downward in a layered, overlapping arrangement. This creates the appearance of falling droplets or flowing fabric.

Design insight: Draped glass introduces motion and softens structured metal frameworks.

Layered Glass Construction

Layered glass designs combine multiple shades to create depth and visual complexity. Frequently, a textured or opal inner shade diffuses light while a clear outer shade adds dimension and protection.

Design insight: Layered glass enhances both illumination quality and visual richness.

Smoky Glass: Modern Drama

Smoky glass introduces moody sophistication while maintaining transparency. Many designs incorporate gradient or textured effects, adding subtle complexity to the finish.

Design insight: Darker glass tones create contrast and work well in contemporary interiors.

Strie Glass: Organic Patterning

Strie glass features delicate swirling patterns that produce soft visual movement when illuminated.

Design insight: The patterning creates dynamic light diffusion that feels artistic and refined.

Textured Glass: Depth and Tactility

From ripples to hammered patterns, highly textured glass surfaces add dimensional richness to fixtures while enhancing the way light scatters throughout a room.

Design insight: Textured glass provides visual interest while softening brightness.

Tronchi Glass: Italian-Inspired Retro Form

Tronchi glass consists of hollow cylindrical tubes that resemble small tree trunks. In fact, Tronchi glass is named for the Italian word for “tree trunks”! These tubes create dramatic clusters that evoke vintage Murano glass chandeliers.

Design insight: Tronchi glass combines retro inspiration with modern sculptural appeal.

Why This Trend Matters

Glass remains one of the most adaptable materials in lighting design. Through color, layering, texture, and form, it offers endless opportunities for creative expression.

In 2026, designers are using glass as a defining design element that shapes the entire fixture.

Glass lighting is especially captivating in person, where its texture, color, and light diffusion can truly be appreciated. If you’re inspired by these trends, visit one of Progressive Lighting’s five Atlanta-area showrooms to discover lighting featuring beautiful decorative glass up close. Seeing these fixtures in person allows you to experience their depth, craftsmanship, and glow firsthand. Plus, our knowledgeable team is always ready to help you find the perfect piece for your space!

From expansive chandeliers to evolving interpretations of the classic Sputnik silhouette, lighting is embracing scale and visual impact.

Large Lights that Define the Room

As homes continue to feature open layouts and taller ceilings, lighting must rise to meet the architecture. Large-scale fixtures provide the visual weight needed to balance expansive spaces.

These statement pieces are especially effective in:

• Great rooms with high ceilings
• Open-concept kitchens
• Primary bedrooms with vaulted ceilings
• Outdoor entertaining spaces

By occupying vertical space and introducing dramatic form, oversized lighting helps large rooms feel cohesive rather than cavernous.

Design insight: Scale creates harmony. Properly sized fixtures ensure lighting complements architectural proportions.

The Evolution of the Sputnik Chandelier

Few lighting designs are as iconic as the mid-century modern Sputnik chandelier. Its starburst structure provides a versatile framework that designers continue to reinterpret in new ways.

Sputnik styles showcase exciting updates like:

• Colored glass globes
• Strie and textured glass finishes
• Sculptural bead strands
• Variations that stretch, soften, or exaggerate the original form

These reinterpretations preserve the bold geometry that made Sputnik famous while introducing fresh texture and visual complexity.

Design insight: The adaptability of the Sputnik design allows it to evolve with contemporary materials and trends while maintaining its timeless architectural presence.

Why This Trend Matters

Lighting has become a defining design feature rather than a secondary consideration. Statement-scale fixtures and sculptural forms create focal points that shape the entire experience of a room.

In 2026, the most compelling interiors embrace lighting that is both functional and spectacular—pieces that illuminate while commanding attention.

After years of safe neutrals and streamlined silhouettes, lighting brands are exploring expressive color palettes and sculptural florals that blur the line between lighting and art. The result is dynamic, memorable design that commands attention.

Here’s how this movement is unfolding.

A Bold Return to Color

From rich, dramatic finishes to lighter pastel tones that feel fresh and optimistic, colorful lighting signals a broader shift towards personalization and creative flexibility.

Design insight: Color-forward lighting allows designers to coordinate fixtures with cabinetry, textiles, or architectural details, creating cohesive and highly intentional spaces.

Floral Forms Reimagined

Sculpted petals, layered blooms, and botanical silhouettes add softness and sculptural interest to chandeliers, pendants, and sconces alike.

Design insight: Floral lighting introduces organic curves and dimensional layering, offering contrast to angular architecture and minimalist interiors.

Why This Trend Matters

Fun in design doesn’t mean frivolous. It means fearless. The embrace of color and florals signals a renewed desire for interiors that feel expressive and personal.

Lighting is becoming a defining design feature rather than a supporting detail. In 2026, the most compelling spaces won’t shy away from personality. Instead, they’ll celebrate it.

At Lightovation January 2026, nature was influencing palettes and shaping construction, materials, and texture across lighting collections.

Designers are moving beyond sleek minimalism and embracing organic forms, tactile finishes, and materials pulled straight from the earth. Nature-inspired lighting feels architectural, grounded, and intentional.

Here’s how natural inspiration is defining the year ahead.

Stone & Quartz: Texture with Presence

Travertine accents, carved stone elements, and strands of quartz and crystal introduced striking dimensionality. These materials add visual weight and subtle irregularity, reminding us that true beauty often lies in imperfection.

Design insight: Stone brings contrast to streamlined interiors and enhances layered, material-forward spaces.

Shell: Organic Luminosity

Shell elements deliver shimmer with softness. Their natural iridescence diffuses light in a way that feels warm rather than flashy.

Design insight: Shell adds movement and light play without relying on polished metals or high-gloss finishes.

Wood: Structure Meets Warmth

Wood continues to prove its versatility in lighting design. Used as beading, framing, or accent detail, it introduces a grounded sensibility that balances contemporary silhouettes.

Design insight: Wood tempers industrial materials and pairs seamlessly with neutral-forward color stories.

Rope & Rattan: Layered, Livable Texture

Woven rope and rattan were prominent across categories, reinforcing the demand for layered, touchable surfaces. These materials complement trending neutral décor palettes (including soft whites like Pantone’s Cloud Dancer) to create calm, cohesive spaces.

Design insight: Woven materials add dimension while maintaining an airy, approachable aesthetic.

Why This Trend Matters

Natural materials resonate because they create emotional connection through softening interiors, introducing depth, and reflecting a growing desire for authenticity in home design.

Lighting inspired by stone, shell, wood, and woven elements invites you to slow down, notice texture, and appreciate craftsmanship.

Need help finding your perfect light? Meet with our lighting experts at one of our five Atlanta-area showrooms!

Lightovation, which takes place twice a year in Dallas, is America’s largest lighting show and the place to discover the brightest new trends. At the January 2026 Lightovation, one trend stood out across categories and styles: details are driving design. Instead of relying solely on bold shapes or oversized fixtures, manufacturers are using refined, tactile elements to elevate lighting into something more personal and architectural.

Discover the details shaping lighting design this year and learn how they can transform your space.

Perforations: Designed to Be Seen (and Felt)

Perforated elements are adding depth and craftsmanship to lighting in a subtle but impactful way. Whether featured in metal shades or backplates, these fine cutouts create visual texture while enhancing the way light is dispersed throughout a room.

Design advantage: Perforations add interest without clutter, making them ideal for clean, modern interiors that still crave warmth.

Rivets: Structure with a Story

Riveted details nod to industrial heritage while feeling fresh and intentional. They introduce a sense of strength and construction, especially when paired with matte finishes or streamlined forms. This is detail-driven design that feels confident and grounded.

Design advantage: Rivets bring a sense of authenticity and durability, perfect for spaces that balance form and function.

Pleats: Classic Craftsmanship, Reimagined

Pleated shades are proving that timeless details never go out of style. With their tailored lines and soft diffusion, pleats add polish while maintaining approachability. They feel considered, calm, and effortlessly refined.

Design advantage: Pleats create visual rhythm and elegance without overwhelming a space.

Chain: A Functional Detail That Doubles as Decor

Chain elements are redefining suspension by turning a practical component into a design feature. Used thoughtfully, chains add texture, movement, and a touch of glamour, blurring the line between lighting and décor.

Design advantage: Chain details draw the eye upward and add dimension, especially in open or high-ceiling spaces.

Leather: Texture That Transforms

Leather accents were a standout detail at market, offering warmth and customization in unexpected ways. From leather-wrapped arms to interchangeable straps in multiple colors, this detail brings a tailored, high-design feel to lighting.

Design advantage: Leather adds contrast and softness, making fixtures feel bespoke and intentional.

Why This Trend Matters

Lighting is no longer just about illumination. It’s about expression. These detail-driven designs allow homeowners and designers to make intentional choices that reflect their style, values, and attention to craftsmanship. In 2026, the most impactful lighting isn’t loud – it’s thoughtful.

When you focus on the details, the entire space benefits.

Need help finding your perfect light? Meet with our lighting experts at one of our five Atlanta-area showrooms!