Trend Alert: Bringing the Outdoors in Through Lighting

One of this year’s hottest event trends is “Bringing the Outdoors In.” Designers are incorporating all of the elements that clients love from nature and turning indoor spaces into homages to the Great Outdoors. One way to achieve this is through your lighting design.

When adapting outdoor lighting concepts for indoor use, try to capture what people love about outdoor events—endless night skies, an ambient and even romantic glow, and simplicity in an already magnificent setting.

Photo Angela Cardenas Photography

Candle light

Cluster candles en masse on the backdrop of your indoor bar area for a bonfire effect, or suspend them from elaborate hanging installations to bring the stars indoor. When safety is a consideration, long-lasting, battery operated LED lights are a good substitute for real flame. They come in a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles and many even flicker like real candles do.

You can actually use outdoor home and décor pieces like portable fire pits in your décor to bring the outdoors in. They give dimension and a unique look to catering stations and can be filled with traditional or LED candles for an extra source of ambient light.

If part of your client’s passion for the outdoors is eco-minded, choose Earth-friendly candle options like soy and beeswax. Widely available, they minimize an event’s environmental footprint.

Photo Mackensey Alexander Photography

Bistro light

Another great outdoor lighting look that can be mimicked indoors is bistro lighting. String bare Edison bulbs back and forth over a dance floor, or an area where you would like to focus your guests’ attention and you can create the impression of sitting in an outdoor café or a tiny street in a quaint Old-World village.

Camping has developed an entirely new appeal in the past several years, and hosts have embraced the idea of bringing lush greenery and natural elements indoors. You can complement this with candles in a variety of lanterns—they are great accents for focal tables and catering stations and are even handy as centerpieces. Lanterns come in an incredible number of styles from farm rustic to Moroccan elegant—there is a lantern out there for every kind of event.

The popularity of the “Bringing the Outdoors In” trend gives event and lighting designers so many new opportunities to stretch their creative talents and find new ways to transform spaces. Give your imagination permission to run wild as you explore your upcoming events and incorporate these hot lighting trend ideas.

Audrey Isaac is the spokesperson for 100 Candles, a wholesale market for candles and lights. Since 2002, thousands of event professionals have entrusted 100 Candles with their wholesale candle accounts. For more information, please visit https://www.100candles.com

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