LIGHTING STYLE TERMS 

Art Deco
Art Nouveau
Contemporary
European
Mission
Modern
Tiffany
Traditional
Transitional

Art Deco: An "industrial" aesthetic used in lighting design, with roots in the eclectic style popular in the 1960s. Art Deco lighting is characterized by man-made materials, and symmetry/ simplicity in design.

Art Nouveau: A highly ornate style popular in early 20th Century art and architecture. Art Nouveau lighting is typically characterized by intertwined "organic" forms, like stems and flowers.

Contemporary: Contemporary design refers to products designed to be "of the current time." As current styles change, contemporary design sometimes becomes less "modern" in feel. Like fashion in clothing, fashion in lighting (and all home furnishings) consists of cycles.

European: Refers to traditional lighting styles that are elaborate, "heavy" in appearance and crafted of fine materials like crystal, alabaster and bronze. To learn more, see European Lighting 101.

Mission: Lighting style defined by simple, geometric angles and handcrafted elements. Mission style is an outgrowth of the Arts & Crafts movement.

Modern: Modern light fixtures tend to have clean lines, forms that follow the intended function, and new materials. Many of the fixtures we think of as modern have their inspiration in the International Style of the 1930s-1950s. See Modern/Contemporary Lighting 101 to learn more.

Tiffany: Lighting designs with brightly colored, bound glass or other material forming a mosaic pattern. Tiffany lighting was named for renowned American artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. See Tiffany Lighting 101 to learn more.

Traditional: Traditional light fixtures have origins in a specific historical period. In North America, traditional light fixtures most often reflect styles from the 18th and 19th centuries, themselves inspired by Greek and Roman design. See Traditional Lighting 101 for more information.

Transitional: Transitional light fixtures are compatible with a number of décor styles, from traditional to contemporary. See Transitional Lighting 101 for more information.