What should I look out for when buying luminaires made of natural materials?
Always think of the four key criteria when purchasing a luminaire made of natural materials: the actual material, the cable, the style and the right illuminant.
Find out more about the various materials:
Concrete Luminaires:
The material: Concrete is a very modern material. Concrete lamps are simplistic, grey, heavy and robust, giving them a very special appeal. Be sure that the luminaire is made of genuine concrete. Many luminaires are made of a plastic substitute that only looks like concrete.
The cables: Fabric-sheathed cables add a touch of luxury to the lamp round off the overall look.
The style: The minimalist design of modern concrete lamps makes them a perfect match for many interior design themes. They also look great alongside natural materials like wood and marble.
The right illuminant: Metal accents like copper, silver, gold or rose gold give the concrete lamp elegance and flair. A stark concrete luminaire needs an exceptional lamp – e.g. with a silver or copper-coloured crown mirror or with a filament look for a more retro style. Even more so if the lamp will be visible. Choose the right colour temperature for the lamp to ensure a cosy, warm white light: 2,500 to 3,000 Kelvin.
Marble Luminaires:
The material: Genuine marble looks super luxurious and is right on trend in terms of interior design. Marble substitutes will never have the desired effect. You should therefore make absolutely sure that it is made of real marble.
The cables: A luminaire made of an exceptional material like marble should not be combined with anything but high-quality materials. That also includes a fabric-sheathed cable.
The style: Modern marble lamps will look great with other on-trend materials like wood or concrete. They perfectly match a variety of interior design themes and create understated focal points.
The right illuminant: Marble looks particularly interesting in combination with metal. A crown mirror-lamp combined with the latest metal trend colours like copper, rose gold, gold and silver creates eye-catching design accents. The right lamp in combination with your understated marble luminaire will create a wonderfully cosy, warm white light. Make sure you choose the right colour temperature for your lamp: 2,500 to 3,000 Kelvin.
Wooden Luminaires:
The material: Genuine wood has the look and feel of quality and exudes warmth and comfort. Make sure that your luminaire is made of good quality wood veneer. Many luminaires are manufactured with a plastic substitute that only looks like wood.
The cables: Here too, you can find differences. High-quality, fabric-sheathed cables will look best in combination with genuine wood.
The environment: Wood is a valuable natural resource.
The style: Modern wooden lamps will match virtually any interior theme and look great in combination with other natural materials like marble or concrete.
The right illuminant: Rounds off the look of your wooden lamp. The design of the illuminant – e.g. when combined with a silver or copper-coloured crown mirror or with a filament look for a more retro style – is an important aspect of your lamp if the luminaire will be visible (for example in a pendant lamp). Colour temperature is an important factor for the light effect: choose a lamp with an output of 2,500 to 3,000 Kelvin for warm white light.
