Perhaps one of the most common materials in lighting, glass emphasizes luxury and crystal-like extravagance. With such versatility, glass can be textured or smooth, transparent or opaque, colored or clear. Glass lighting is easy to clean and displays a beautifully diffused aura.

Aluminum is best used for outdoor lighting and high-output fixtures, which is why this material made our top 5 list of contemporary lighting materials for 2019. As outdoor lighting becomes more curated and developed in the high-end design world, like our Rail Outdoor Lighting System, aluminum’s demand continues to rise. Aluminum can be anodized for outdoor durability and waterproofing. Aluminum is also a fantastic heat absorber for high-output light fixtures, like the Metropolis Collection. Naturally drawing heat out of the core of the fixture, aluminum serves as the best vehicle in keeping fixtures at manageable temperatures.

As one of this list’s most wide-ranging and versatile materials, using fabric with lighting is becoming undeniably popular. As markets begin integrating sound-proofing capabilities with lighting, fabric naturally serves as the variable in color palette. By utilizing high textures, and bright colors and patterns, fabric can be a playful solution to designs.

Acrylic sometimes gets a bad wrap as a cheap material, however it’s important to note there is a whole range of quality in acrylic out there. High-quality acrylic, such as the Evonik Satinice Acrylic used to product the Love Me Not Pendant, is used to create porcelain-like finishes, with a much higher flexibility than ceramic material. Acrylic’s durability and lightweight body even tops glass as a diffuser of light. Offering a delicate softness with moldable and durable attributes, frosted acrylic becomes a luxurious material for lighting.