MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. – california lighting showroom Lightopia recently came up with a fun, tongue-in-cheek guide to regional preferences in lighting.
In past weeks, we’ve chronicled Southern and Northeastern tastes in lighting. Here’s what Midwesterners want in lighting (all findings, commentary and images courtesy of Lightopia):
The Midwest: Practical Illumination with Prairie Style
Ohio: Buckeye Brightness
Ohio blends industrial heritage with modern sensibilities, creating lighting designs that are as hardworking as its residents. Cleveland and Cincinnati homes feature fixtures that nod to manufacturing roots — think steel and glass pendants that would look at home in a renovated factory — while Columbus embraces a more contemporary approach with clean lines and subtle sophistication.
Local Luminaries Say: “I need my lighting to be practical enough for everyday life but nice enough for when the in-laws visit from the fancy side of the state.”
Indiana: Hoosier Highlights
Indiana embraces modern farmhouse aesthetics more enthusiastically than the national average, with black metal fixtures against white backgrounds creating contrast that’s bolder than a Hoosier’s basketball loyalty. Edison bulbs aren’t just a trend here — they’re practically a state emblem.
Local Luminaries Say: “If my pendant light doesn’t look good during both harvest season and basketball season, it’s not the right one for my home.”
Illinois: Prairie State Pendants
Chicago’s architectural lighting celebrates the city’s design legacy with geometric forms and smart technology, while downstate Illinois embraces warm, approachable fixtures that wouldn’t look out of place in a Frank Lloyd Wright prairie home. The dividing line seems to be whether your lighting fixture could convincingly appear in an architecture magazine.
Local Luminaries Say: “My Chicago apartment’s lighting scheme has its own Instagram account, while my parents’ farmhouse still has fixtures my dad installed when rotary phones were still a thing.”
Michigan: Great Lakes Gleam
Michigan’s lighting choices are as diverse as its geography, with Detroit embracing industrial chic while lake houses feature fixtures that could have been salvaged from a particularly stylish shipwreck. Blue accents remind visitors of the state’s watery borders, while practical design ensures they’ll still work after the worst winter storm.
Local Luminaries Say: “We need fixtures sturdy enough to withstand both Lake Effect snow and enthusiastic Michigan vs. Ohio State viewing parties.”
Wisconsin: Badger State Brightness
Wisconsin’s lighting approach is like its cheese — traditional, comforting and pairs well with beer. Updated farmhouse fixtures illuminate discussions about the Packers and passive-aggressive comments about the neighbors’ holiday decorations.
Local Luminaries Say: “Our lighting is like our disposition — warm, inviting and only slightly dimmed by five consecutive months of winter.”
Minnesota: North Star Illumination
Minnesota’s Scandinavian influences show up in clean-lined fixtures that provide maximum light during the state’s seemingly endless winter. Energy efficiency isn’t just preferable — it’s practically a moral imperative, along with never mentioning when it gets cold.
Local Luminaries Say: “Oh, for cute! That fixture provides enough light for clear visibility while remaining tasteful and not making too much of a fuss.”
