Bespoke lighting is lighting that is custom designed to the specifications of the client or tailor made to fit and illuminate a certain space. It can be created from an idea the client has, or it can be made in the style of the artist who is creating the fixture. This type of lighting creates a space that illuminated exactly as the owner wishes, because nearly every aspect of the light can be configured to work with the space. Bespoke lighting can be used in a residential setting or applied to a large public space. It is not uncommon for a bespoke lighting installation to double as visual art.
There are many reasons to use bespoke lighting. Aesthetics — the desire to have a room illuminated in a specific way and to have the lighting fixture appear in a specific fashion — is the most popular reason. A custom light might be necessary for oddly shaped spaces where generic lighting fixtures would not fit or function properly. Public areas might use custom lighting because of unique requirements that arise from the number of people who could gather there. These same spaces also could end up with bespoke lighting to maintain continuity of design throughout the structure.
There are a variety of bespoke lighting styles. Some artists use reclaimed metal and wood materials, welding together parts to form chandeliers or standing lamps. Other artists have each piece meticulously machined in the desired finish before assembling the light. When considering bespoke lighting, the client might choose to provide his or her own designs or rely on the vision of the artist.
With the custom manufacturing of every aspect of a light, very innovative designs can be used and integrated into a room. Fixtures can be recessed or hidden and glass can be tinted to fit in with other aspects of the decor. Special lights can be placed under water or in wet areas such as a bathroom to provide a distinctive appearance.
Bespoke lighting has been used in buildings all around the world. Some of the designs that have been created include a three-story-high chandelier that illuminates a winding stairwell, a series of nebulous lights suspended by nearly invisible wires, and a group of small, square lights made to resemble cubes of ice and intended to act as accents for tables in a restaurant. Although considerably more expensive than generic lighting, bespoke lights are capable of defining a space within the context of its own design.