Mankind has always preferred light to darkness. In their pursuit to beat darkness, they have created lamps with rocks, terracotta, metals and marble. From the primitive man who used friction to create fire and light to the contributions of Sir Humphrey Davy and Thomas Alva Edison, the evolution of lights has grown by leaps and bounds.

Lighting is an important factor in the interior design of buildings, be it restaurants, home or even offices. The right lighting creates the right experience for the end-user. Lights can be plotted on the historical timeline as contemporary or modern, retro, vintage and antique. However, the terms antique, vintage and retro are often used interchangeably.

The vintage-style bulbs are gaining momentum across the world and are making their presence felt in the home décor space too. Some out-of-the-ordinary illumination for sure happens with this vintage-style lighting. The popularity of these vintage-style lamps is no longer restrained to bars and restaurants. There is an increase in the number of people who are creating a unique twist in lighting their homes using these modern retro-style bulbs.

Retro lights are generally made of copper, solid brass, nickel and painted enamel. These lights have a vintage antique touch to them. Some common retro-style lights are hanging factory pendants and nautical fisherman's lamps. Pendant lamps, floor lamps and wall lights have retro-styled metal hanging from them and are ideal to be used in cottages. They are also ideal for open-plan living and loft-style apartments.

Both retro and industrial-style bulbs are coming back in forms that are more sophisticated and refined. Wondering what these industrial globe-style bulbs have to do with lighting in homes. Unlike their traditional counterparts, the modern industrial lights are sleeker and more aesthetic in appearance. These industrial globes are no longer a niche product and are finding their way into your homes as a perfect fit into your home decor. They generally have a rustic finishing with importance to the metal and seamlessly fit in as your wall lighting and in the kitchen and dining spaces.

Vintage Edison-style bulbs are currently very popular due to their nostalgic design. These cone-shaped bulbs are especially suited for your drawing room and kitchen and are further enhanced by the LED variations, although for the authentic retro experience, you still have the incandescent Edison bulbs available in the market. There can be a counter argument that LED lights are energy efficient and last longer, but these vintage-style lamps have a charm of their own. Vintage Edison-style lamps augment the introduction of a soft-retro or industrial style. There are a number of latest designs available in the market, which adds to a certain amount of warmth and comfort of your living space.

These Edison bulbs are extremely popular and are found everywhere - from restaurants to bars. The only disadvantage is that the amount of light emitted by these bulbs is lower than that emitted by the regular incandescent bulbs.

Steampunk is a genre of science fiction where technology is combined with designs inspired by steam power. Steampunk-inspired lamps are interesting, funny and sometimes weird-looking fixtures that are best suited for a room with a theme attached to it. Steampunk lamps give a fun look to the room blending the past with the future and try to narrate a story. These gorgeous lamps can also be gifted to people who love history, fiction and mystery.