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Buyer’s Guide to Vintage and Industrial Lighting
What is the difference between vintage and antique?
Vintage refers to clothes, objects and décor that represent style from olden times. The definition is more subjective than ‘antique’ but as a general guide, something is often considered ‘vintage’ if it is 40 years or older.
On the other hand, antiques are man-made items that are over a hundred years old – it will be harder to include antique lights into your home design. Antiques are good for collecting over time, adding ones you like when you find them. Vintage can refer to many different eras and styles like modern, mid-century modern or industrial.
There are lots of vintage style lights out there, so it’s easy to find something you can incorporate into your home design.
What is vintage industrial style
Vintage industrial style lighting is a design trend that has been popular over the last decade. It blends Victorian era factory style with sleek, contemporary style to create a striking and charming look.
Key features of industrial style
There are several distinguishing features of industrial style. When it comes to industrial lighting, keep in mind some key points to create the ideal look.
Factory Style Fixtures
Make use of vintage lamps that would have been found in old warehouses and factories. Their striking design focuses on functionality, typically with a wide base to provide a larger spread of light.
Pipes and brickwork
Exposed pipes and bricks give a room a rusted, organic look and work brilliantly with copper industrial lamps. Experiment outdoors first if you don’t readily have exposed brick and pipework inside – it’s more readily available outside, so it’s an easy place to play around with the look.
Spacious open-plan interiors
Wide open spaces are a staple of industrial design. High ceilings and hanging pendants help to recreate the factory-style look from the industrial era. Wider-based industrial style light fixtures lend themselves to larger spaces with a greater spread of illumination.
Neutral colour scheme
Go for neutral colours like browns and greys for an authentic warehouse look. Brickwork and exposed pipes help with this colour scheme. Simple black or copper light fixtures are common in industrial style so it’s easy to blend your lighting with the rest of the design.
Vintage lighting options
Enamel lamps – Often vintage-style lighting uses simple, natural colours but if you want some colour then consider enamel lighting. Popularised throughout the World War II era, they are one of the most popular vintage options today. They come in a range of colours like red, green and blue enamel shades.
Glass ceiling lights – commonly used in schools in the early 1900s, these glass pendants are a great alternative for the industrial look. They are a good choice if you want something softer looking than brass or steel.
Brass pendants – this is a classic industrial lighting option. Commonly used in factories during the industrial revolution, they have become widely popular in contemporary home designs.
Cage wall light – try using cage wall lights to lift your industrial style. These can be used as task lighting or accent lighting, complementing the overall ambience of a room.
