Every year, different areas of the country host their very own Parade of Homes. This event is an opportunity for attendees to collect ideas and to see what is possible with a remodel or a fresh build. The trends from this springs Parade of Homes include bright kitchens, dark walls and beautiful shiplap accents. What took center stage in this years event was the lighting. With a wide range of styles including everything from industrial to ultra modern, there was something that wowed every taste preference.

We spoke with Laura Marrinan, the Twin Cities Parade of Homes Style Spotter along with several of the designers from the Parade of Homes around the country to get their insight on this year’s lighting trends.

Here are their 2017 Parade of Home Lighting Trend Tips:

What took prescience in this years Parade of Homes, were the pendants. Instead of going for understated kitchen pendants, large glamorous statement pendants are becoming the gems of the kitchen. Whether spherical in shape, an open orb or a sputnick fixture, pendant lighting was prominently seen throughout the model homes.

Christina Johnson, Selection Specialist at Addilay Homes states, “With vaulted ceilings in the kitchen and dining area, this home offers ample opportunities for statement lighting.  In keeping with the traditional styling of the home, fixtures with classic shapes yet unexpected details were selected to keep this home current and fresh. The use of large-scale, wood-look quatrefoil dining chandelier brings a touch of the industrial in its metal banding. The large handblown, open-barrel pendant lights feature wooden caps and industrial metal pins, making these lights both beautiful and visually interesting.”

Stacia Winkler from Vintage Elements Interior Design on behalf of Aspect Design Build explains her perspective on choosing dramatic pendants. “I am naturally drawn to bold lighting and often push the rules on scale, trusting the right light fixtures to establish a powerful message in the design’s form and function,” she states. As further evidence of this trend, she chose an over-scaled 15” globe 3-light pendant for the owner’s bath. Not to go unnoticed, it was paired with a smoke glass ceiling flush mount reminiscent of a constellation as the counterpoint to the pine beams and unexpected angles in the shower tile.

Sales and Project Director for Country Joe Homes, said in the kitchen of their Parade of Homes that it was the pendants that stole the show. “What really sets this room apart, as the focal point – is a  stunning set of pendants hanging above the island. The matte black finish and clear glass hurricanes of these fixtures, offers an abundance of light as well as on-trend design style that delivers a punch to this incredible kitchen.”

Industrial lighting creates a modern farmhouse look. The rugged and raw appeal works well with metals and wooden accents. Understated and elegant, pair it with white shiplap walls and add a pop of color, for a modern, yet timeless effect.

Geometric shapes with smooth finishes have been seen frequently throughout this years tour. The shapes give homes a sleek and modern look. Stacia Winkler, Vintage Elements Interior Design on behalf of Aspect Design Build, said that the stunning Arteriors Hanley fixture in glass and brass  geometric fixture she used, gives interesting light patterns while offering a balanced light delivery.  The contrast of a dramatic geometric shape, balances the natural stone and native pine used in her design. Choosing a fixture of this nature carries both the glamorous feminine and the mid-century messages in the home.

Gold is a color that isn’t going anywhere. This choice is an understated finish that pairs well with many color palettes. We have seen the finish in several of the homes this year because it fits in with a variety of styles. Brushed gold is also a great metal to blend styles. Home owners are not necessarily staying within a defined style, but instead are being bold in mixing and matching styles such as mid-century modern with traditional. Using gold as a base metal across the styles will marry them in a seamless manner.

“Gold is a design trend that’s a no brainer because it looks great in every room, and pairs well with a variety of palettes and styles. We suggest mixing it with other metals for style longevity and to ensure that every room stays special. To make sure your gold selections stay timeless, avoid polished gold and instead go with a brushed or satin finish.” Jayme Meyer, Senior Interior Designer for Martha O’Hara Interiors.

LED lights are nothing new. The technology has been around a long, long time.  They are small, efficient have an extensive life and will in the end be a cost savor. Today’s LED’s are stunningly beautiful and are used in any style. LED lights in the past would be correlated with a modern style – but not anymore! They can compliment any decor as they, just like their incandescent relative, are style agnostic. With new homes utilizing Smart home technology, LED’s are the simplest first step in this integration process.

Ryan Hanson, Partner at Sustainable 9 Design said this about LED integration with his Parade home this year, “The goal in this model home was to showcase our modern style, but with what we refer to as a softer “Minnesota Modern” style, and I believe we accomplished this through a conscious blend of transitional and modern LED fixtures used throughout the home.  This home has gone through extensive energy testing and has received an Energy-Star Certified Home designation, and is basically Net-Zero Energy ready, which is evident in all the highly-efficient LED fixtures we chose.  We have used Sonneman LED lighting fixtures extensively in many of the more contemporary homes we have built in the past, and this home is no different.

Wendy Weinert

Wendy Weinert is an HGTV addict and avid DIYer. When not working on a craft project, as an interior design blogger and enthusiast, she is passionately helping people beautify their environment by providing insightful advice and inspiration.