2026 is the year that the big light gets better PR.
Yes, it feels like you’re in an interrogation chamber when it’s on. Maybe it’s because you’re doing it wrong.
This isn’t just an opinion or a protest; it’s a reflection of our desire to go backwards in design. Antique and vintage finds flooded our screens and it’s a clear cry for the good old days (only in design, of course.)
We all have too many lamps
One of the most absurd trends to reach us was the placement of lots of lamps in a room. Cheap, yes. But so stressful when corded. Of course, rechargeables exist. But the idea of having to plug in five to six different lamps before guests come over sounds a little hectic.
It does produce a warm, ambient glow. On the other hand, there are so many other types of lighting that you could use to create zones in your space. The lazy option just seems to be finding lots of lamps and planting them in corners and on side tables that you wouldn’t have if you didn’t have so many lamps.
Wall sconces are awesome. However, if you have too many, it can be just as overwhelming as your cold white big light. Depending on the size of the room and window placement, I wouldn’t exceed two per wall and play with ambient (e.g. wall sconce), accent (e.g. picture light) and task lighting (e.g. wall-mounted search light) throughout the room to avoid needing too many lamps.
What if you’re just using the wrong shades?
I cannot tell you how many times people have hated on the big light only to be discovered with a terrible shade to accompany it (or no shade, which is something nobody should experience.)
Shades are more than just decorative. They diffuse the light and create a softer glow. If your big light feels too harsh, maybe it’s because like you, it doesn’t like the clothes it got for Christmas. A mistake that many make is having a shade with a material that is far too dense. The light has nowhere to go but down in this scenario, creating that conical, harsh, torch-like light over the head.
I’d recommend using frosted glass or muslin shades for a natural and soft warm glow. The light still bounces around the whole room this way but it’s much less intense. Frosted glass shades are commonly used in the 1910s-1990’s, so if you’re thrifting online or in person, look for these with search terms like “frosted”, “Capiz” and “hand-blown” for a range of styles.
Maybe your look is all wrong
There’s a reason that we’re returning to antique and vintage lights. Whilst they’re not as energy efficient, they are beautiful. You simply cannot compare an empire chandelier to modern spotlights that have all the allure of a hospital waiting room.
This is not a trend, but a rejection of modernity and mass anemoia. In a time where most might never own a home, it’s important to make wherever you are feel homely. It’s about a sense of ownership and not allowing yourself to be deprived of beauty.
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