Vintage Lighting: Retro Lamps and Antique-Style Lighting

Plan for one main light source per room: a pendant or chandelier on the ceiling, a floor lamp near an armchair, a wall light on the wall. Retro lighting is recognisable by its globe, tube or round shapes, its materials (metal, glass, fabric, rattan) and a warm white light, between 2700 and 3500 K, that warms the room without darkening it.

What is retro lighting and what light does it give?

Retro lighting is a light fixture with a vintage inspiration, in globe, tube or round shapes, most often in metal, sometimes combined with glass, fabric or rattan. The sockets are E27 or E14, the warm white light sits between 2700 and 3500 K and most models run on LED.

1950s and 1970s retro lighting: what really changes

The 1950s favour opal globes, slim stems and brass. The 1970s embrace black metal, larger volumes and fabric shades. The real difference lies in the source: today's models keep the silhouette and switch to LED, with far lower consumption. Both families appear in our metal models and in our LED versions.

Retro or contemporary lighting: what difference in the room

A contemporary model plays with clean lines and blends into the ceiling. Retro lighting takes up space: the globe is visible, the shade hangs low, the material stays readable even when switched off. In an already very graphic room, one strong model is better than three. If in doubt, compare with the design selection.

Which retro light should you choose for each room of the house?

In a living room, a pendant or chandelier placed in the centre creates the main light source, completed by a floor lamp near an armchair. In a bedroom, a wall light or a lower pendant works well. In a kitchen, a multi-light pendant lights the worktop.

For an original living room light, start with the ceiling height before choosing the shape: a wide chandelier overwhelms a low room, a slim pendant lets it breathe. Living room lights pair well with a wall light placed at the end of the sofa.

Retro kitchen lighting: pendant or wall light?

Above a worktop, the pendant hangs low and lights the prep area: a small diameter blocks the view into the room less. On a free wall, the wall light frees the worktop and stays out of reach of splashes. The choice depends mainly on the space available above the worktop.

Vintage leather armchair and floor lamp: how to match the two?

A dark leather armchair calls for light that does not overwhelm it: a beige or white fabric shade, a black or bronze base. The floor lamp goes behind the seat, never in front. The Elva articulated floor lamp adjusts in height and direction, which serves both reading and ambient lighting.

Pendant, chandelier, floor lamp or wall light: which type of retro light should you choose?

A pendant lights a dining room or hallway from the ceiling, a chandelier lights a large living room widely, a floor lamp stands near an armchair or a desk, a wall light dresses a wall or hallway and a spotlight lights a worktop.

Three models sum up the families well. The Orba metal pendant measures 40 cm in diameter and 36 cm high, with an E27 socket and IP20. The Calya light rattan chandelier comes in 40, 50 and 60 cm, in E27. To go further, the retro style pendants section gathers several of these silhouettes.

Which original hanging light should you install and at what height?

A retro pendant goes above a table or an island, with an adjustable cable that lets you set the height. The models in the collection range from 40 to 60 cm in diameter, in metal, fabric or rope, with an E27 or E14 socket and an IP20 protection rating for indoor use.

Can you make a hanging light yourself?

It is possible, provided you master three points: the cable routing, a solid ceiling fixing and the compatibility of the bulb with the socket. A ready-to-install model arrives complete, with its ceiling rose, cable length and two-year warranty. The time spent also counts in the calculation.

Retro pendant in metal, rope or fabric: what effect?

Metal reflects light downwards and draws a clean cone on the table. Rope and fabric soften it, giving a more enveloping light and a gentler mood in the evening. The Mila pendant combines fabric and metal in 40, 50 or 60 cm.

Which colour and material for retro lighting?

Metal is the dominant material in the collection, often combined with glass, iron or fabric. Black and white are the most common, ahead of gold, grey and beige. A glass light diffuses a softer light, a black model structures the room and a gold one warms a bright room.

Retro glass lighting: what effect in the room?

Glass lets light through and reduces the sense of mass: a glass globe lights widely, without a dark spot on the ceiling. It is the choice for rooms where the light must stay soft and even. Glass pieces pair well with a light wall.

Mixing a gold light and a black light in the same room

The duo works if one dominates: a black chandelier in the centre and small gold touches on the wall lights, or the opposite. Avoid mixing the two on the same visual plane. Gold lights warm, black finishes draw the outlines.

E27, E14, G4 or G9: which socket and which light should you choose?

The E27 socket is the most widespread, ahead of E14, then G4 and G9 on wall lights. An E27 socket takes bulbs that are easy to replace and allows dimming on some models. In warm white, between 2700 and 3500 K, the light stays close to old lighting.

Screw bulb or LED: what the product sheets say

E27 and E14 sockets take a classic screw bulb as well as an LED with the same base. The difference lies in consumption and lifespan, not in the effect. The wattages listed in the selection range from 10 W to 40 W depending on the model, for everyday indoor use.

Warm white or cool white: which mood for a retro interior?

Warm white, around 2700 to 3500 K, leans yellow and suits living rooms in the evening. Cool white, between 4500 and 6500 K, lights whiter and is mainly used in work areas. In a retro interior, warm white remains the safe choice.

Where to install retro lighting, even in a small space or outside?

In a WC or a narrow hallway, a wall light or a small diameter pendant takes up little space. For outdoors, only a wall light with an IP44 protection rating is suitable: the other models in the collection are IP20, reserved for dry indoor rooms.

Original WC light: which model should you choose?

A small format is enough: the Nari wall light measures 7 x 12.3 cm and fits on a narrow wall, with an E27 socket. A 13.5 x 15 cm wall light like the Mona also works. Hallway wall lights follow the same logic.

Outdoor retro lighting: what the IP44 rating changes

IP20 protects against contact with fingers, not water: keep it for dry rooms. IP44 adds protection against splashes, which allows installation on a sheltered facade. The CharmeRétro outdoor wall light is IP44, in metal, glass and aluminium, with an E27 socket.

Where to see retro lighting in Lyon, in clearance or online?

Seeing a light in person is still useful to judge the material and size. For a project in Lyon, compare lighting shops, clearance sales and online stores: the product sheet must state material, dimensions, socket and protection rating, which lets you check compatibility before buying.

Lyon lighting shop: what to check on site

Bring the measurements of your room: ceiling height, table width, distance to the wall. Ask to see the light switched on, not only off, because the effect changes. On site, check the weight, the cable length and whether a dimmer is included. The Designix catalogue repeats this information sheet by sheet.

Lyon lighting clearance: good deal or incomplete model?

A Lyon lighting clearance can be interesting, provided you check what is missing: ceiling rose, cable, instructions, socket. A model without its fixing part often costs more to complete than a complete model. All our lights state material, dimensions and socket, which avoids bad surprises.

Delivery, returns and payment: ordering retro lighting with confidence

Payment is secure, delivery is tracked and returns are possible. Designix customer service answers questions about dimensions or compatibility before the order. Every light in the selection is guaranteed for two years, which covers the socket, the wiring and the fixings. To choose between several shapes, compare the globe shapes and the longer models: the pendant lights section brings both together. Once the size is confirmed, installation usually takes less than an hour.