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Affordable modern lighting designs on the high street
Modern lighting is a fairly broad umbrella, owing to the fact that it can span a range of designs, materials and colours. Marble and brass are a well-loved combination in modern lighting design, especially when used in interesting and sculptural shapes. A lot of modern table lamps draw inspiration from mid-century styles, with chunky silhouettes updated in bright, contemporary colours. Proportions can be dramatically oversized which plays on the idea of modern lighting being a central design feature in the home.
There are plenty more practical considerations too in picking the right modern lights and lamps for you. The best lighting should not only illuminate your room but also set the right ambience for relaxation in a bedroom or productivity in a home office. It should also effectively counter low levels of natural light, which can affect our mood.
The drawback of all of these features however is that they can make modern lighting very expensive – if you're looking to add ceiling, floor, wall, and table lamps to your home, it could cost many thousands. But there are plenty of high street and lesser-known lighting brands creating more affordable options that use contemporary shapes and mimic premium materials that looks just like the real thing.
We turned to our favourite brands and retailers to find 18 of the best examples in affordable modern lighting, priced between £10 and £180...
For a long time, pleated lampshades were relegated to the same passé corner of interior design as peacock chairs and macramé wall hangings. But modern iterations, like this H&M pleated pendant light, are considerably sleeker and made from more contemporary and lightweight materials such as linen and brass.
This handsome brass floor lamp with large linen shade would look elegant and understated in most homes, and it is a total steal at just £54.99.
This Dunelm pendant light looks like the sort of rare vintage find you'd come across in a chic flea market. The decorative glass surface and antiqued brass flex are wonderful touches – especially in a rosey salmon pink.
It's the mix of materials here that makes this arched wall lamp look a lot more expensive than it is. Rich and reddish woods will generally look a little retro, reminiscent of midcentury French designers – here it has been paired with a brass arm and opalescent glass shade.
This kitsch table lamp from Marks & Spencer went a bit viral when it was first released, and for good reason. Its scalloped edges, checquered ceramic base and matching piping all part of the resurgence in sweet retro detailing.
HAY is renowned for their affordable and design-led modern pieces, and none more so than their insta-famous rice paper shade. Its lightweight outer shell and neutral colourway make it the perfect option for a serene bedroom.
Black might not be your first choice when looking at ceiling lights, and it does need a bit of design consideration to get it right. Most effective in grey or neutral spaces (shown here with the House Beautiful Freya Sofa at DFS,) a black ceiling light can be used as an accent piece, just as long as it's not too heavy. This Hiko light is a great example, with spindly metal threads and an undulating shape that makes it appear lightweight despite the dark colour.
There are so many brilliant modern lights that mimic premium materials such as marble, travertine and brass, and the quality is such that you really can't tell the difference.
Another great use of rich wood in this Sklum Acacia wall lamp. Despite a totally open bulb, its opal glass provides a soft diffusion of light. And you would never guess this design-led piece is just £44.95.
XL floor lamps are usually very pricey, but this Metal Arc lamp from John Lewis packs a big design punch for less. Arched floor lamps are great for choice for task lighting which is more directional for specific areas in the room.
Possibly the biggest steal on our list. The Habitat Core range looks like the sort of cool, retro kitchen pendants you can pick up in a vintage store, and they're just £10 each.
Lights & Lamps is a bit of a revelation in modern lighting – a new, online hub for design-oriented and affordable pieces, spanning marble table lamps, contemporary opal glass orbs, and hand-woven raffia floor lamps.
Modern lighting isn't just all brass and marble. For a more classic or Scandi-inspired home filled with natural materials and neutral colours, wood, bamboo or rattan lighting in interesting shapes can be a much better fit.
Wall sconces can be astronomically expensive, which is prohibitive in most homes as you usually need a pair. This fantastic piece from Graham & Green looks like a contemporary sculpture with a price tag of just £69.
We love finding statement pieces like this Uvol ceiling light on the high street. Available at Sklum in a warm brass finish, it's large enough to fill an expansive space but sits close enough to the ceiling to not feel overwhelming.
Small but perfectly formed, this faux marble LED wall light with articulated brass bulb holder can be moved around for effective task lighting. Designed with a handy USB port underneath, this piece doubles as a stylish place to charge your phone.
The Renwick wall light is crafted from textured linen and finished with a bronze fixture. Its unique shape directs light upwards and downwards, making it a great dual purpose piece for both ambient and directional task lighting.
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