I truly appreciate a well-designed and functional lighting design with some aesthetic value. But besides these three holy grails, it also helps if the light is compact and doesn’t occupy too much precious real estate on your desk, bedside table, or wherever we place it. Besides that, a well-designed lighting fixture should not only have the ability to illuminate any living space but also add that extra oomph factor! I mean, of course, we need them to see in the dark, but as highly functional as they should be, a lighting fixture also needs to be aesthetically pleasing, adding an attractive and visually soothing element to your home or office space. And, we’ve curated a bunch of compact and exceptional lighting designs that will make excellent additions to your home.
1. MINI Sphere
The Sphere in Las Vegas was opened to the public last year and is now one of the most visible buildings on the north end of the Vegas Strip. It has become a sort of a meme because of its massive size, and the hilarious emoji that often looks around and interacts with different objects. YouTuber Carl Bugeja created a homemade version of the Sphere by merging a number of LEDs and some clever programming.
Why is it noteworthy?
Called the MINI Sphere, this little light is a cute replica of the massive architectural wonder. The tiny sphere lights up, displaying varied graphics such as an eyeball, emojis faces, or even the planet Earth. It features a built-in accelerometer that detects when you lift the sphere off the table, and the sphere then makes a scared emoji face!
What we like
- Creates a miniature and accessible version of an impressive architectural structure
- Creates cute emoji faces
What we dislike
- It has less than 1000 pixels, so it is difficult to perceive clear images
2. Japanese Lantern Candle
Meet the Japanese Lantern Candle – a soft and gentle lighting design inspired by the traditional Japanese ‘chouchin’ lantern. This lighting product features a billowy pillar shape which casts a calming and ambient aura. The lighting design is created to add some peace and tranquility to your living space, while also being quite easy to move around.
Why is it noteworthy?
This candle design is designed to be a contemporary take on a beloved Japanese object. It features a tiny and minimalist ethos which doesn’t take up much space in your home. The lantern candle has a rather ethereal-looking glow which instantly puts onlookers at ease.
What we like
- Non-melting wax which provides a surreal clarity on the candle
- It is handcrafted by artisans in Kurashiki
What we dislike
- Since it is a lantern candle, it is a fire hazard and must be kept away from children and pets
3. Anywhere-Use Lamp
This portable lighting design is called the Anywhere-Use Lamp, and it is a minimalist table lamp that offers gentle lighting in a world filled to the brim with large glaring screens and harsh lighting. Featuring a mushroom-inspired head, the lamp radiates an elegant and soft glow, which creates a pleasing ambiance.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Anywhere-Use Lamp has a modular form that offers impressive atmospheric enhancement, no matter where you place it. It is equipped with six high-color rendering LEDs, which provide a soothing luminescence, converting any living space into an oasis of calm and peace.
What we like
- Equipped with 4 brightness levels
- It can be easily disassembled, placed in a bag, and carried with you
What we dislike
- The lighting design isn’t water-resistant
- It needs four AA batteries to function
4. AwesomePre
Dubbed the AwesomePre, this reading lamp was designed for the LED technology development startup MemsLux. The reading light is designed to foster an emotional connection between the reader, and his book after the sun goes down. It is shaped like a big window that you can place on the page you are reading!
Why is it noteworthy?
The AwesomePre utilizes MemsLux’s LED tech to radiate a light wavelength which helps you to read in the dark, creating a private reading experience. It creates the experience of gazing into your favorite fictional world through a compact portal.
What we like
- Portable design that lets you read in low light, anywhere
What we dislike
- It isn’t very ergonomically comfortable for readers who like reading in a laid-back and comfy position
5. Harmony Flame Fireplace
Dubbed the Harmony Flame Fireplace, this elegant brass lamp allows you to build a safe fire within your home. You can enjoy the experience of an outdoor fire in the comfort of your own home. It uses bioethanol to light up your home, spreading warmth within it. It was built using the same technique used to make musical instruments.
Why is it noteworthy?
The fireplace was designed to elevate and uplift the mood and ambiance of indoor space. It features reflective surfaces that work with the vivid flames to create a play of shadows and lights, forming a decorative piece that is quite aesthetically appealing as well.
What we like
- You can enjoy a warm and lovely fire safely within your own home
What we dislike
- Since it is powered by bioethanol, there is a risk of fuel dependency, since you need to purchase fuel again and again
6. Tomori Lantern Kit
Say hello to the Tomori Lantern Kit – a unique kit that helps you build your own little lantern. Once you’re done using the lantern, you can easily put it aside. The lantern kit cannot be utilized as a ready-made lantern, and you can collapse it once used. A conventional flashlight can be integrated into the lantern.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Tomori Lantern includes a foldable cardboard piece as the base of the kit, and as a flashlight holder, while providing structure to the lamp. It includes an LED flashlight which you can use separately when it isn’t fitted within the lamp. However, the base can support any other cylindrical flashlight as well.
What we like
- You can fold the kit into a flat A4-sized package, and pack it away
- Has a portable and easy-to-carry form
What we dislike
- The Tomori Lantern Kit cannot withstand rain and other harsh weather conditions
7. Port Collection
Called the Port Collection, this ethereal-looking lighting collection is designed by Tom Fereday and Rakumba. It includes two shapes – the circular Round design, and a lozenge-shaped Stadium design. You can pick a tabletop or a wall-mounted version, and each variant is equipped with a solid glass block and a metal base.
Why is it noteworthy?
The metal base offers support to the glass block which features an intriguing conical shape, marked by an internal stepped form. This rather interesting form facilitates the refraction of light when switched on, creating a mesmerizing and alluring effect that draws attention.
What we like
- The lighting designs have an otherworldly appeal to them and will make interesting additions to your home
What we dislike
- Since they’re made from glass, they must be handled with care and could be easily damaged
8. Matin Lamp
Called the Matin Lamp, this rather quizzical-looking lamp was designed by Inga Hempe. The lighting design is intended to be a contemporary and refreshing interpretation of a common lighting piece that utilizes a steel wire frame to condense the form to its most basic and raw. The result is a unique lamp with a design language of its own that seems quite familiar.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Matin Lamp features a unique pleated lampshade which offers a distinctive and impressive character to the lighting product. This lampshade creates an interplay of shadows and shapes, which interestingly contrast with the plain block of color. The lamp would be a welcome addition to any home, sparking conversation and discussions.
What we like
- It is designed to be a harmonious contrast of order and chaos with repeating patterns of flowers, petals, and leaves
What we dislike
- The lamp may be too quirky and eclectic for some, caters to a niche audience
9. Z Lamp
Meet the Z Lamp, this unique lighting design is truly one-of-a-kind. It features a collapsible design which makes it portable and easy to carry about. It is equipped with a ridged silicone shade, which enables the lamp to expand or contract at will, allowing you to have complete control of the lamp’s overall brightness.
Why is it noteworthy?
If you expand the silicone cover, the lamp serves as a large diffuser, and light is scattered in different directions. Once the lamp is contracted, the diffuser’s size reduces and the light’s intensity is diminished.
What we like
- Unique collapsible feature that converts it into an easy-to-carry design
What we dislike
- You can’t have the lamp fully expanded but with low brightness
10. Current Task Light
Designed by UK-based Jones and Partners, the Current Task Light is a small and compact lighting design that perfectly merges with the brand’s collection of highly functional and simple products. The Current Task Light is peak minimalism, and it serves as a valuable lighting design that occupies minimum space.
Why is it noteworthy?
It is an award-winning task light & charging concept that serves as a multifunctional product designed to help you with your daily multitasking. The versatile and thoughtfully designed product works well in both residential and commercial spaces. It looks like an ideal addition to your workdesk!
What we like
- Co-workers can plug their devices across a big desk and work together
What we dislike
- Since it is a concept right now, we are unsure of how the final product will be
