The discreet elegance of decorative light

This spring’s Light+Building and FuoriSalone events in Frankfurt and Milan respectively showcased some of the most innovation solutions on the market for harnessing the power of light in domestic, contract and outdoor spaces

The new decorative indoor lamps have wowed observers on account of their fusion of the latest technology – including the almost exclusive use of LED bulbs – and stunning aesthetics, based around elegance and a carefully calculated, sparing use of materials. Blown glass continues to be used widely by Italian brands keen to maintain a national and local tradition, but additional material such as wood, stone and metal are starting to be used, in addition to new patented, high-performance materials. Outdoors, the ethos is on low-impact structures combining hi-tech solutions with charming effects, with many systems succeeding in disappearing almost entirely, leaving nothing but a beam of light.