By and large, modern spaces are fairly monochromatic. Glass and steel, black, white, and gray, simple lines and straightforward designs that all add up to a sleek, stylish – and very minimalist – decor. But if you ask me, as elegant as a very simple, sophisticated modern design can be, it isn’t always terribly inviting. Adding a little pop of color here and there can go a long way to cheering up a very modern room and making it look a little more friendly. One of my favorite way to do this is with bold, colorful modern lighting fixtures.
Add Color With A Fun Table Lamp
Pick any lighting fixture out of a lineup – be it a table lamp or a chandelier. Nine times out of ten, it’s will have a metal base and a fabric or glass shade, likely in a neutral color. But while this isn’t exactly a problem that needs fixing, it does mean that any light that doesn’t fit the traditional description will stand out. Even something as simple as a colorful table lamp stands out beautifully, adding a pop of vibrant color with no more effort than it takes to plug it in.
Making A Lamp A Focal Point
Shop Table Lamps by Zuo Modern:
More dramatic designs are even more eye-catching, especially set against a relatively neutral decor. This can, of course, go for really unique or unusual designs as well as bright colors. I’ve always been a big fan of steampunk style fixtures and pulley lights. But you don’t have to get too wild for your lamp to stand out. Think fun materials (like clear plastic) or unusually shaped bases, which will accentuate the color and help make your lamp a focal point.
Many modern lighting fixtures also use a combination of colorful parts, unique materials, and tongue-in-cheek re-imaginings of traditional and antique designs. PolArt has an entire line of urban chic decor featuring picture perfect antique designs made of neon-colored polyresin – including several ornate chandeliers. This eight bulb chandelier is modeled after old cast brass chandeliers, but comes in eleven different colors and two different finishes, including this beautiful glossy lavender. Here it’s used to compliment a purple backdrop, but some of their brighter colors – like red, pink, green, and blue can make for even more vibrant accents, especially in a primarily white modern living room.
Shop Pendant Lighting by Zuo Modern:
On the other end of the spectrum are modern lighting fixtures that shirk tradition entirely. I wrote a bit recently about cluster pendants, and these are actually a great example. Made of several decorative bulbs (often without shades) hung from spindly, flexible cords, cluster pendants are both daring and different, and the look is only improved by opting for cords that are colorful, too. Red is one of the most common colors, but a whole rainbow of different lines are available, and any color adds an eye catching touch to these decorative fixtures.
Arc lamps, too, make quite a good showing in a modern space. Taller, thinner, and more shapely than a traditional floor lamp, arc lamps curve outward, placing the lighting fixture front and center in the room even if the base is pushed off into a corner. Sometimes these lights come in a fairly traditional metal finish, but often they’re done in bright, bold colors instead. Combined with the already-unique look of the lamp, this makes a great way to add a cheerful, playful little pop of color while still keeping a sleek modern vibe.
Shop Chandeliers by Elk Lighting:
Of course, lights don’t have to be particularly modern in design to work well in a modern space. In fact, just about any colorful fixture has a big-time wow factor in a primarily white room. This Villa pendant with its cherry colored, flower-shaped glass shades looks stunning in this white-on-white living room, while just a few throw pillows and a decorative bowl pull the color throughout the room, creating a complete and colorful decor out of a totally neutral room. The best part? These are all easily added, easily changed, and inexpensive, making it supremely easy to revise and customize your space on a whim. These colorful lighting fixtures are inexpensive to buy, easy to set up, and add a whole lot of life and liveliness to any modern space. But what do you think of colorful lamps and other types of lights? Do you like the look of these bright pops of color?
