As the saying goes, one day you’re in and the next day you’re out. That applies as much to jelly shoes and camo pants as it does to lighting trends, a category designers see at both its best and its most regrettable every day.
Most of us don’t buy lighting to be ironic – we’re hoping it adds atmosphere, maybe even a little magic. But even the most flattering glow can fall out of step with the culture, the mood, or the moment.
So you don’t end up with the lighting idea equivalent of a padded-shoulder power suit, Homes & Gardens tapped designers to weigh in on the fixtures that have lingered a little too long. Ahead, seven outdated lighting trends for 2026, you may want to dim.
1. Exposed Edison bulbs
Exposed Edison bulb fixtures had their heyday in the late 2000s and early 2010s, but you still see evidence of this dated lighting trend around now, and designers say it's time to leave it behind. ‘Once charming, these now feel more like nostalgic cliches,’ says Lumens CMO Dana Gers.
What began as a wink to history now reads as novelty. We’re not in the late 1800s, after all. ‘Exposed Edison bulbs and industrial pipe fixtures once carried the spirit of authenticity, but they’ve become reductive,’ Dana continues, ‘and like one-note gestures rather than meaningful design.’ Nostalgia has its place – design thrives on it – but this look has been done to death.
For Edison loyalists, there’s still a way forward. Dana points to Louis Poulsen’s Aged Brass Collection, developed in the 1920s by Poul Henningsen, which offers a similarly diffused, heritage-inspired glow.
The bulb may be hidden, but semi-translucent alabaster keeps the glow center stage in this softly streamlined table lamp. It’s an easy companion deskside, as bedroom lighting, or perched atop a stack of your most-treasured coffee table books.
If it was the industrial suspension look that first pulled you toward Edison lights, this Crate & Barrel floor lamp delivers the same tension with a curved arched silhouette and a dropdown linen shade. The bulb stays concealed, lending a softer, more forgiving glow.
The orb light trend is arguably the most literal descendant of the Edison. The focus remains on the bulb – only Thomas himself could never have imagined these impossibly sleek, milky glass globes that disguise their inner workings in such chic form.
2. Mid-century Sputnik pendants
Think of the mid-century Sputnik pendant as the more polished, design-forward sister to the Edison bulb – both built on the same exposed principle, both now past their prime. Andrea Goldman, founder and principal of Illinois-based Andrea Goldman Design, says even this icon has lost its luster.
‘Lighting trends like the mid-century Sputnik pendants have had their moment!’ insists Andrea. ‘While the original design is a beautiful blend of both retro and futuristic style, it has been an easy lighting design to imitate at lower price points. Unfortunately, the commercial appeal has caused replicas to show up everywhere.’ And once everyone has one – and they do – it may be time to move on.
3. Brass overload
Brass is the costume jewelry of lighting right now – everywhere, shiny, and arguably a little too obvious. Designers aren’t canceling it altogether, but in 2026 they’re urging you to break the habit of reaching for brass as the default.
‘Brass will always be a timeless, beautiful material, but we think its use might be a bit too omnipresent right now,’ say Joshua Evan Goldfarb and Michael Edward Moriano, the founders of Evan Edward, a New York and Miami-based interior design and architecture studio. ‘We think it’s time to mix things up and explore some different metal tones for a fresh look. If your heart is set brass, try burnished brass, antiqued brass, etc.!’
If you don’t banish the brass, tread carefully: the wrong finish will cheapen a room instantly. ‘We’d rather see a beautiful polished nickel than a bad (green or orange) brass,’ note Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett of Kobel + Co. Los Angeles-based designer Jessica Nicastro echoes the sentiment: faux distressing reads fake. ‘I’d much rather see materials that patina naturally over time.’
Burnished finishes like this prove you won’t miss run-of-the-mill brass for a second. This scalloped-edge sconce is artful and substantial, throwing a flattering glow that feels especially right flanking a bathroom vanity mirror.
There’s a world of difference between basic silver and the polished nickel that designers Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett champion. Glossier, higher impact, and far more luxe, it’s rare to find – but Ross Cassidy nails it here. A super-thin shade casts soft downward light, while a discreet diffuser keeps glare minimal, perfect for kitchen island lighting.
The trick with brass now is realism. Anthropologie’s Eloise lighting, a perennial best seller, gets it right with a convincingly nuanced antique finish made all the more striking by fluted green milk glass. This living room wall lighting idea is still on the accessible end compared to other, actually aged-looking options.
4. Harsh industrial fixtures
If you’re noticing a theme, you’re not wrong – a few of the looks on this list lean industrial, and that whole aesthetic is fading fast. Lumens CMO Dana Gers calls out the culprits as ‘utilitarian pipes and raw metals,’ which she says ‘lack nuance.’
‘Industrial fixtures were once bold design elements, but have now become dated and heavy,’ adds JoAnnah Kornak, SVP & Executive Creative Director at Holly Hunt. ‘I could personally do without overly industrial fixtures,’ she continues, ‘they feel out of step with modern interiors.’ The truth is, we’ve moved on from industrial kitchens and loft-like living rooms, and the lighting needs to keep up.
Even the newer takes – those severe, high-gloss cordless table lamps that once had a moment (and now live on Amazon) – are losing their appeal. ‘Super high-gloss finishes, especially in stark whites or blacks, they just don’t feel warm or timeless,’ says Los Angeles designer Jessica Nicastro.
What’s next are pieces that keep the edge but add some elegance. Dana points to Lambert & Fils’s Silo Atelier 03 LED Pendant, and the Float Wide LED Pendant by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio, both of which trade brute force for geometry, craftsmanship, and a more nuanced glow.
5. Incorrect scale
‘Another outdated lighting trend we would love to retire is the incorrect use of scale with lighting selections,’ says Illinois-based interior designer Andrea Goldman.
The instinct is often to play it safe, but in 2026, bigger is better. ‘Don’t be afraid to go big with your lighting!’ Goldman insists. ‘Way too often, small pendants or undersized wall sconces are used in grand, large spaces. Selecting the right scale chandelier is just as important as choosing the correct size dining table for your space.’
At 18 inches tall and 17 wide, this round ceramic table lamp is anything but petite – and all the better for it. This Studio McGee x Target whipstitched shade adds a subtle Southwestern note, giving it the sort of powerful presence that can ground an entire room.
If you love an oversized chandelier but don’t quite have the space to make one of a massive scale work, this Merve Kahraman x Anthropologie lighting fixture is the perfect compromise. It’s 26 inches in diameter – the width of a medium-sized chandelier, but a whopping 48 inches tall, which gives it the illusion of being much larger than it is.
Standing 56 inches (roughly the height of an 11-year-old boy), this floor lamp more than holds its own. Big enough to command an empty corner, but not so oversized that it bullies your furniture. In other words: perfect proportions.
6. Minimal ring pendants
There was a moment when slim silhouettes – from jewelry to shoulder straps – signaled cool. Midi rings were barely visible, and pendant lights followed suit with glowing circles suspended in space.
‘Endlessly repeated, their novelty has worn thin,’ says Lumens CMO Dana Gers. What once felt elegant has ‘been reproduced so extensively that their impact has flattened.’
Now, designers are pushing the form further. Pieces like Lee Broom’s Eclipse Chandelier reimagine the circle as a layered, mirrored, jewelry-like sculpture – a move that feels far less reductive.
7. Utility lighting
Task lighting belongs in garages and studios, not styled within arm’s reach of your velvet sofa or cozy bed. In 2026, utilitarian fixtures are officially out of fashion.
‘Lately, we’ve noticed more lighting that feels better-suited for offices than bedrooms or living rooms,’ say Joshua Evan Goldfarb and Michael Edward Moriano, the founders of Evan Edward. ‘Let’s leave the ultra-functional, three-arm desk lamps at the workplace where they belong and bring softness back to our homes!’
Be less practical, more playful. Opt for fabric-shaded pendants or sculptural fixtures that – unlike their soon-to-be-gone utilitarian buddies – could never be mistaken for an appliance. Lighting isn’t just a tool; it’s an accessory.
Forget tactical task lighting – unless you’re woodworking, who needs it? This folded paper lantern pendant is pure sculpture, more like jewelry for your ceiling. Hang it solo over a tiny table or cluster a few for maximum drama.
Ugly, utilitarian ceiling light you can’t stand? Skip the electrician. These UO Home flush-mount conversion kits are basically magic, and reviewers swear they’re a breeze to install. They come in multiple patterns and colorways, including a dreamy botanical we’re also eyeing.
While tassels and fringe might seem superfluous, they’re exactly the kind of excess that makes a room compelling. No, these details don’t improve the quality of light – but we'd argue that the drama they provide is non-negotiable. Think deco, regency, hotel-core, all rolled into one.
The key takeaway is that many outdated lighting trends are ones that lean overly practical, too industrial, and almost clinical. Lighting for 2026 is about adding character and personality with creative designs that are soft and playful.
As Lumens CMO Dana Gers notes, ‘What we’re seeing instead is a return to design that feels both innovative, human and emotive: pieces that honor heritage, celebrate craftsmanship, and bring nuance to form and material.'
