Everyone Owned It In The '80s — Now It's The Soft, Retro Lighting We Want Back In Our Homes

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Neon may have had a strong revival in the 1980s, but it wasn't the only type of lighting that defined the decade's aesthetic. If you have seen music videos from artists like the Cocteau Twins, Bonnie Tyler, and Kate Bush, you'll notice a softer and warmer side to '80s lighting. And if you, at some point, have also wanted to romanticize basking in the soft light while the music plays, there is a way for you to achieve that. Not with large, open windows that require a ton of planning, but with a stained glass night light that can bring some retro character into your home.

Stained glass is a craft and art form practiced and preserved for centuries, with religious architecture worldwide holding some of the oldest and most intricate panels that tell stories and portray certain events or personas. However, the art form stood out in its own way in the '80s, showing up in restaurant chains and DIY crafting kits for kids. For instance, Pizza Hut's stained-glass overhead lamps and the Makit and Bakit stained-glass kits. While more modern night lights exist today, kitschy home decor like stained-glass night lights are perfect for adding a gentle, nostalgic vibe to any room in your home. 

Luckily, these stained glass night lights don't really break the bank wherever you choose to buy them. For starters, you can easily find plenty of pre-owned ones at thrift stores or websites like eBay at varying prices, with some listed for less than $10. On the other hand, if you want to support local artisans, some art studios sell more intricate stained glass night lights for $30 or more. However, if you're in the mood to connect with your crafty side, you can make one yourself with any Makit and Bakit suncatcher kit and a night light kit with a clip for attaching your finished piece — for about $18 in total.

Whether you buy a stained glass night light or make one yourself, match it with a light bulb that can highlight the design properly. Depending on where you place it, a warm bulb will create a more relaxing atmosphere, while a daylight bulb can show the colors more accurately, but at the cost of a cozy, sleep-friendly ambiance. More importantly, place your night light where its glow won't be overshadowed by solid furniture. Placing it by your bedside is the obvious and ideal option, but you can also see if it works as an artistic light fixture in other spaces like your hallway, your kitchen counter, or anywhere in your living room.