2017 Lighting Design Trends For Businesses

Lighting design trends continue to fluctuate frequently and changing even just one lighting fixture can change your entire space’s aesthetic. Industrial design, nature-inspired lighting, and geometric shapes await the lighting design industry in 2017. Check out what will be in.

1. Smart lightbulbs

Smart lightbulbs are the most important on this list, and arguably the most important invention to the lighting industry within the last decade. We’ve said it time and time again, invest in smart lightbulbs will save you money in the long run. From aesthetic purpose with their color-changing feature and even built-in speakers, to efficiency boosting with smart scheduling and automation from your mobile phone, this lightbulb is what you want when lighting your business.

2. Industrial modern fixtures

It’s true that in 2016, industrial-themed lighting and interior design was a huge trend. But don’t worry – the design community suggests this is a style that will be around for many more years to come. For the best industrial aesthetic, look for:

a.     A raw look – Metal fixtures are the way to go. It gives it a rustic addition to bring out the unfinished look. Antique bronze or brush nickel is the most popular.

b.     Monochromatic – Accent your lighting fixture with neutral-colored walls and concrete, wood, or steel statement pieces to perfectly incorporate your metal fixture.

c.     Modern furnishing – Rustic medal shelving or cabinets paired with modern furniture will combine all the elements together.

3. Oversized fixtures

Most of the time, fixtures are proportionately sized for the space. But new trend is going in the opposite direction. Accenting a room with an oversized feature can be applied to any space. Acting as a centerpiece, the big fixture is a statement pendant, bringing boldness to an otherwise dull room.

4. Nature-inspired

Organic-shaped fixtures soften rooms to create a natural accent. Since the Messe Frankfurt’s Light+Design show in March 2016, this trend has blown up and will continue to catch the public’s attention in 2017 as the hottest upcoming trend.

Lighting trends expand every year, and 2017 isn’t any different. Be sure you’re not left in the past this coming year.

Find more on City Lighting Products' social channels!

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Houzz, Yelp, and Glassdoor!

(Source: 12vMonster)

Wood Ceilings and Lights: The Perfect Pair

Design trends in the workplace keep evolving with society’s preference to accumulate more clients. The trends now seem to be a minimalistic and lustrous aesthetic, but the challenge that many face is the space comes off as sterile and cold. To avoid this problem, many are opting for a design that uses wood ceilings to draw warmth and a sense of nature to their workplace. 

Many opt for the ceiling to be the highlighted art piece, while the rest of the space can remain fresh and hygienic looking. With this plan, lighting solutions must work within the precise confines of the wood without drawing unwanted attention. Concerns of glare and distracted lighting should always be considered, striving for a more “quiet” ceiling. Some experts believe that using install-from-below lighting products work best for this.

LED downlight that combines superior brightness control with energy savings and low maintenance costs are the best way to go when creating this kind of atmosphere. The result will be a lighting solution that accentuates the focal point of the room, while also providing illumination without overshadowing the ceiling.

Find more on City Lighting Products' social channels!

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Houzz, Yelp, and Glassdoor!

(Source: Hubbel Lighting)

Video Teleconference Quality Can Be Improved

Video Teleconferencing is a standard in every company. Businesses use it to connect with other co-workers, clients, and even as an alternative to the traditional face-to-face job interview. It's a pretty integral part of maintaining relationships within the company, which is why lighting designers and providers such as City Lighting Products know how important it is to have the best quality of lighting in your video teleconference space.



During a video conference, the computer camera doesn't "see" the way the human eye does, therefore producing saturated images or images that have shadows. This poor picture quality will be what the remote participants are seeing, which could hinderance you from doing things such as making a sale, engaging the audience in a particular training session, or even deter a qualified interviewee.

The perfect combination of strategically placed LED lighting fixtures not only improves vertical illumination, but also creates uniform lighting and enhances the ability to adjust contrast within the space. Some critical contrast areas include:

• Participant to rear walls
• Participant to side walls
• Participant to work surface
• Display wall to video display

Display of contrast areas needed for the perfect video teleconferencing lighting. Image from LEDs magazine.

Room color and color of furniture within the space also contribute to effective video teleconferencing room lighting. To ensure clarity for images, use LED fixtures with dimmable controls. 

The fact that these solutions can be easily implemented into any work space, as well as are cost effective and energy efficient through the use of LEDs, it's easy to experiment to get the perfect lighting into your video teleconferencing space. 

Find more on City Lighting Products' social channels!

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Houzz, Yelp, and Glassdoor!

(Source: LEDs Magazine)

City Lighting Products Showcase: PANDORA Times Square

A look inside PANDORA Jewelry, one of the world's largest jewelry brands, located in Times Square. City Lighting Products worked together with PANDORA to accurately execute dramatic and captivating lighting to help the store stand out in it's surroundings.

City Lighting Products Showcase: PANDORA Westfield World Trade Center

PANDORA Jewelry, one of the world's largest jewelry brands, has officially opened its new flagship store in the Westfield World Trade Center, the new indoor retail space located under the Oculus structure of the transportation hub. City Lighting Products installed overhead, dramatic, and balanced lighting for the perfect illumination for the jewelry store. 

Guests enter into the PANDORA store and are immediately welcomed with this beautiful display wall, illuminating some of the season's popular charms.

These lighting fixtures bring out the colors in the PANDORA brand, and also symbolize the charms themselves. 

A display wall unlike any you've ever seen. The design and lighting instantly draw people in. 

A special feature that displays a 3D hologram of charms. 

Customers can fully inspect each and every bracelet, necklace and charm thanks to well-lit cubicles for each product.

Find more on City Lighting Products' social channels!

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Houzz, Yelp, and Glassdoor! 

The Auto Industry Should Utilize LED Lighting, and Here's Why

The automotive industry shouldn't look over the rising trend of using LED lighting to take business to the next level. One should take into consideration the many positive aspects of making the upgrade from regular lights to LED lights. Want to know some of them? Here are the top 5 reasons auto dealerships should start implementing LED improved lighting.

1. They illuminate your cars in the perfect light

LEDs provide crisp lighting that makes them perfect for retail. They can be used to attract to attention to specific details in order to show of the item's full potential. Carefully placed LEDs will add a glamorous and high-quality touch to each car. Customers are more prone to making a purchase when they see a desirable or needed item in the best light, thus giving you the tools to affect the purchasing decision of potential buyers.

2. They enhance safety and security to your dealership

To ensure top-level protection, up-to-date luminaires are a perfect addition to your alarm system. They can be immediately switched on thanks to integrated motion sensors, which will cut down on the amount of times security guards will have to make rounds. Smart LEDs will enhance the quality and visibility to both cameras and guards.

3. They require zero maintenance costs

Think about how often you have to replace your regular lamps now. If it's a frequent occurrence, you will want to consider the big switch to LED lights because no other lamp can serve you for ten years without dimming. But not only do LEDs have a longer lifespan, they require less maintenance than regular lamps, which can be a benefit to the dealership as mosts utilize an abundance of lights.

4. They help you save on energy bulls

An auto dealership does business in outdoor and indoor spaces, requiring a high amount of light fixtures. Lighting your buildings during the day and auto lots at night means you have lights on 24/7. The efficiency of LED lights allow you to have brighter, cleaner light for less energy. They also allow dimming during the daytime when natural light is assisting customers, and brightening when it gets dark.

5. Substantial investment

Price is often the main reason why people tend to reject LED lighting. The initial investment may be significant, however thanks to the reasons listed above, LEDs completely outweigh any other lighting. LEDs guarantee return on investment in a short period of time. Not to mention, they can increase your sales while doing so.

In conclusion, LED lights are the perfect fit for the automotive industry, and auto dealers who have a vision for the long-term future. The investment will pay off easier and quicker than you might think!

Find more on City Lighting Products' social channels!

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Houzz, Yelp, and Glassdoor!

(Source: Global Energy and Lighting)

Restaurant Lighting Makes A Difference

What sets apart your favorite restaurant from all of the others? It could be the food or the fabulous wait staff, but what about the ambiance that the place creates? Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or just a relaxing dinner to forget your work week, proper lighting plays a major role in your dining experience. Not only does the lighting effect the entire mood of the restaurant, but also food presentation and overall gratification.

Mood

Not all restaurants are equal, and neither is the lighting in them. For example, think about what you see when you step into a fast food eatery. More often times than not, you see bright, vibrant colors, the top hits playing on the radio, and luminous light. Fluorescent lighting bulbs are most common in this scenario with higher color temperatures. With this, the color of the light appears brighter white, which makes the customer more alert. This could be why you feel rushed when ordering.

A recent Cornell University study looked at lighting and music in fast food restaurants. They found that those eating their meals in a brighter lighting and with faster music ate more food and enjoyed their experience less than those who ate with dimmer lighting and soft music.

But some problems come with dim lighting as well. Although dimmer lighting can enhanced your eating experience and create a more relaxed atmosphere, a lack of lighting can be a nuisance. What good is a big juicy steak if you can’t see it too? The challenge restaurants face is finding the perfect lighting balance.

Food

Did you know that lighting also plays an important part in how you perceive your food? Restaurants know that presentation is everything, that’s why more upscale eateries use indirect lighting in the dining area. If a meal looks unappetizing because of a large shadow cast by direct lighting, that is money lost.

Light control is also incredibly important to food presentation. Using dimmers to adjust relative lighting helps maintain mood and also enhances ambient light levels, creating a softer, gentler light.  

Turns out, lighting really does make a difference when picking out a place to eat. It can create an atmosphere of rapid movement or provide a calmer ambiance to dine in and enjoy. It also makes the difference between your food looking like a magazine cover and food found behind a dumpster. Next time your choosing a restaurant, reflect to see if the lights provide the best mood for your food.