Our Top Picks For Lighting Made From Natural Materials

When you’re looking at redecorating your home and you’re picking out accessories to complement your décor, there are a huge number of decisions to make. What colours, materials and trends suit the style of the space, and the sustainability of the accessories you choose are all be likely to be on your mind.

Lighting and other accessories that are made from natural materials are often more easy to recycle at the end of their life – as opposed to plastics, which often simply end up in landfill – which means that many people are now opting to buy the accessories they want for their home more mindfully. While it is (of course) necessary to use metal and plastic for the wiring in light fittings, using less plastic is a good thing for the environment – and you get a great look in your home. Sustainability isn’t the only reason to choose lighting made from natural materials though, which we’ll see next.

Why Choose Natural Materials For Lighting?

There are some great reasons to choose accessories that are made from natural materials. When we’re talking specifically about lighting, natural materials are:

• Stylish and modern
• Able to behave as a neutral in your space
• Strong and durable
• Calming and soothing

Uncluttered spaces, with natural products in our home is better for our mental health. Most people know that a tidy home helps make a tidy mind. If you’re applying principles of colour psychology to create the right mood when you’re choosing colour schemes for a room, then picking lighting accessories and furniture that are predominantly made from natural materials is a good choice, since they can act as neutrals.

What Natural Materials Can Be Used In Lighting?

There are so many types of materials that can be used in lighting fixtures – and although wood is the obvious option, there are many others that you might not have even considered.

• Rattan
• Bamboo
• Cork
• Hessian
• Wicker
• Seagrass
• Feathers
• Stone
• Silk
• Cotton

What Types Of Lighting Is Available In Natural Materials?

You can find natural materials incorporated into most styles of lighting, and whether you’re looking for ceiling lights, wall lights, floor or table lamps, there are styles that feature all of them.

Our top picks for natural lighting

We’ve been through and picked out our absolute favourite options that feature natural materials from our catalogue of lighting. They’re in no particular order – but for each category, we’ve picked three great options for each type of light.

Ceiling Lights

Ceiling lights are absolutely essential to get right – they’re usually right in the centre of the room, after all! Natural materials tend to err on the side of discreet, rather than being extravagant, which makes them a great choice if you want other elements of your décor to shine.

Our top picks for ceiling lights include the Bambu ceiling pendant, which is made from rattan, this gorgeously simple ceiling pendant light (don’t forget to order your decorative bulbs!), and the Casper ceiling pendant.

Table Lamps

Wherever you’re using table lamps – on bedside tables, on desks, or tables throughout the home, there are styles to suit. The Lucide Ramzi table lamp is an on-trend, yet classic shape, and has a natural linen shade that suits décor throughout the home, while for a more edgy look, the Jantine table lamp in rattan is a perfect choice. For a fun nod to the natural (made from ceramic) we adore this cactus table lamp.

Floor Lamps

There are some gorgeous floor lamps made from natural materials. We love the Iluzzia Baracoa floor lamp, made from rattan but incorporating the simplicity of white. For a tougher look, the Joshua floor lamp is made from solid wood, with a metal cage shade, while for a softer texture, yet still natural lighting option, feathers are an option – we adore the Lucide Goosy floor lamp, and there’s a ceiling pendant too.

Wall lights

When it comes to wall lights, there are some gorgeous lighting options that incorporate natural elements, such as this wall spotlight, which a wooden back plate. We absolutely adore the Edit spectacle flush wall light, which is made from rattan, to create some drama too – look at how fantastic those shadows are! Finally, for an understated and rustic look, we love the Lucide wall light with plug. Super easy to install, with absolutely no wiring required, it doesn’t get much simpler.

Is Using Natural Materials For Lighting Really More Sustainable?

Using more natural products in your home is likely to always be a winner, but the answer to whether something is more sustainable because it is made from natural products isn’t always simple.

Whichever type of lighting (or other accessories!) that you choose for your home, the best way to do so is to pick the light fittings that you absolutely love. If you decide on pieces that you don’t truly love, you’re likely to end up buying replacements year after year, which still isn’t great for the planet – even if they’re made from natural materials. If you truly love a piece made from plastic, and you’re likely to love it for years and years, that is likely to be a better option for the planet than replacing pieces that are made from natural products, when you take into account manufacturing and transportation demands.

Getting the balance right is tricky, but ultimately, choosing good quality items that you absolutely adore (and that you’re likely to for some time to come) is likely to be a better option for the environment.

Our Final Thoughts

Whether you’re shopping for lighting with sustainability in mind or not, deciding that you want lighting in your home to be made from natural products is a great decision. There are an increasing number of incredibly chic styles that can either complement, or contrast with the home décor that you’ve selected.

As always, if we’ve inspired you with this post, and you’re choosing lighting made from natural materials, tag us on your Instagram posts (@online_lighting) when you’ve installed your piece – we love to see them!