Everyone Owned It In The '60s: The Living Room Lighting Trend That Needs To Make A Comeback

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Choosing the right lighting for your living room can be tricky, but you might want to look to the 1960s for some stylish inspiration. As the "big light" becomes the enemy on social media, homeowners are increasingly turning to softer lighting solutions. Instead of getting rid of overhead lighting altogether, one pendant light offers a gentle, diffused effect that won't overwhelm a space. This is the '60s globe pendant light, a vintage-inspired design that casts soft ambient light while maintaining a timeless look. It's one of the retro lighting solutions that's having a major comeback in 2026.

There is something beautifully simple about the single sphere. At the beginning of the year, Architectural Digest included the Marra Polished Brass Globe among its top picks for pendant lights, praising its frosted glass shade that creates a gentle, warm glow. Meanwhile, Homes and Gardens recommended a slightly more modern interpretation of the '60s globe — the Kloud 1 – Light Single Globe Pendant. While pendant lights are often associated with kitchens and dining areas, these retro globes give you good lighting in every room in your home – especially your living room.

There are plenty of globe pendant styles to suit different interiors. A rice paper globe, for instance, offers a softer, wabi-sabi feel and diffuses light gently. Midcentury designs include the Herman Miller pendant, which also takes inspiration from paper lanterns but in a more abstract, sculptural way. Another well-known example is the Verner Panton globe light, which has a clear sphere with space-age reflectors suspended inside. Some globe pendants are fully enclosed, while others are open at the bottom if you want more direct light.

For a budget-friendly option, consider the classic-looking KoKo&Yukina Mid Century Modern Globe on Amazon. If your goal is to take a more modern approach, the funky Lucande Modern Chrome Single Pendant Light is right up your alley. If you want to capture the authentic 1960s look, you can source a vintage pendant light secondhand on resources like eBay and 1stDibs. Creative homeowners can also explore DIY pendant light projects to recreate the look on a smaller budget.