Anyone browsing websites looking for lighting fixtures to decorate their homes may be tempted to choose a style known as transitional lighting. The smooth curves and solid base of transitional lighting style fixtures make it a popular choice among today’s designers. But anyone trying to define transitional lighting for a friend might be surprised to find that there are few words to describe this elusive style.
Part of the problem with describing or defining transition lighting style is that it is a mixture of several styles. Combining the smooth, flowing lines of contemporary styling with the ornamentation of classic styling, Transitional Lighting is a child without a clearly defined pedigree. As a style on its own, the interior design industry doesn’t really recognize transitional lighting as a separate style. Transitional lighting seems to be more of a “trade term” that helps clarify the kind of light fixtures that aren’t quite traditional but aren’t quite contemporary either. Therefore, anyone searching the net for information on transition lighting will come across one of two possibilities:
1) you’ll come across a slew of sites trying to sell you transitional lighting fixtures without even really explaining the design features of the style itself, or
2) learn that Transitional Lighting refers to a slow but progressive increase or decrease in lighting between one location and another that reduces glare.
None of these search results get you close to understanding the nature of transitional lighting. A close inspection of websites dedicated to architecture and interior design reveals that these sites do not really recognize the transitional lighting style itself. Any style that combines different aspects of separate styles is generically called “transitional”. Therefore, what might be considered Transitional Enlightenment by one person may not necessarily be so by another. This fact is demonstrated when one looks at the various manufacturers and retailers and sees the wide variety of transitional lighting fixtures to choose from. Clearly, the category itself has become something of a “mixed bag” for describing and selling accessories that don’t fit conveniently into any formal design style.
What can be said about transitional lighting in a formal sense is that it is generally referred to as a “girly” style due to the smooth lines that characterize most fixtures of this variety. The style’s square base is borrowed from the Mission Lighting style and helps differentiate transitional lighting fixtures from those of the contemporary style. Those who want a “comfortable feel” in their homes often choose the transitional style, as it has a warmer feel than contemporary style, but not as formal as classic or traditional style.
Transitional lighting is really difficult to define, but its synthesis between the elegance of the old and the sterility of the contemporary makes it a functional but creative style to choose when decorating your home.
