Press releases

Maxxing is a building trend on socials with over 12,300 TikTok posts now using the tag #maxxing.

As interest in our berry, burgundy and navy lamps increased by 200% this week, we know the longing for autumn has started to set in and are predicting autumn maxxing will be the next social trend.

Layer your light sources

Autumn maxxing is all about going beyond a token pumpkin and instead maximising your surroundings to create the cosiest, warmest sensory environment at home. Layered ambient lighting, soft furnishings and warm, earthy tones are all part of the look.

For lighting, the goal is to build a warm, layered glow from multiple sources at different heights. These can be table lamps for intimacy, floor lamps for filling dark corners and creating height, and sconces for framing and symmetry. Combining all of these elements without turning on a bright overhead light or spotlights will create a cocooning feel which is exactly what you want to maximise autumn cosiness.

Choose a warmer bulb temperature

The temperature of a bulb plays a surprisingly big part in creating an autumnal feel. A bright, cool-toned bulb is useful for intricate work like sewing, but for day-to-day cosy activities and relaxing in your home as the nights get darker, a warm-toned bulb is best. Aim for bulbs with a colour temperature between 2700K and 3000K. This range creates a comforting, amber glow reminiscent of autumn sunsets.

Build cosy zones with task lighting

Focused lighting like a swing-arm lamp by a reading chair or a pendant over the dining table creates designated cosy zones perfect for reading, crafting or other autumnal hobbies. Having a few different options around your home, like our Layla or Preto, means that the cosiness isn't confined to just one space, which is a core part of the 'maxxing' trend. Going above and beyond to achieve the feeling.

Smart and atmospheric lighting

We're seeing atmospheric lighting as one of the defining features of autumnal home decor this year, and smart bulbs and dimmers mean shifting a room's mood on demand is easier than ever. The control of having a remote that instantly turns on autumn mode is a brilliant way to relax and de-stress without having to go around your home switching on and off different lights. Plus, a dimmer gives greater control of the atmosphere in a room, allowing it to be changed in accordance with the weather or lighting coming in from outside.

Rechargeable lamps

A rechargeable lamp creates cosiness on the move. Transport the soft, ambient light throughout your home to really go all in on creating the autumnal feel. I particularly love using a rechargeable lamp in a bathroom for those long bath soaks with a good book - my favourites are Lowe and Avery for this. The way the soft low light bounces off the tiles is really relaxing and means I can continue it into my bedroom for the rest of my night-time routine.

Fabric lampshades

Autumn is synonymous with softness, slow-living and a return to indoors as the nights draw in after a long hot summer. Tactile furnishings are key for adding comfort and softness and fabric lamp shades are an easy swap to achieve this. Berry and navy shades add comforting colour without overwhelming a space, and gingham, stripes, ruffle and velvet details add personality without big contrast. Our Arabella, Jamie or Martha lamps are perfect for this.

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After years of minimalist interiors, searches for 'Grandma aesthetic' are up by 250% from last week, according to Google Trends. People are starting to embrace spaces that feel more layered and personal, as though they've evolved over time rather than been designed and bought all at once.

Lighting is one of the easiest ways to capture that feeling, and you don't need to completely redecorate to make an impact. Rather than relying on one bright overhead light, layer several smaller light sources at different heights, using table lamps, floor lamps and wall lights to create the soft, cosy glow that works so well with this aesthetic.

The style of the fittings matters too. Ceramic lamp bases, antique brass finishes, chandeliers and vintage-inspired wall lights can all introduce a more traditional feel, while pleated, scalloped and patterned fabric shades add decorative detail. The Arabella burgundy ceramic table lamp, for example, combines a ceramic base with a pleated gingham shade, making it an easy way to bring several elements of the trend into a room through one piece.

Lampshades are also a simple way to experiment with the trend without committing to wallpaper or new upholstery. Florals work particularly well - the Abel large tapered pleated floral shade, for example, combines a delicate floral pattern with soft pleating, while the Peony floral scalloped shade with tassels brings in the decorative trims and playful detailing that are so characteristic of Grandma chic.

Beyond lighting, focus on materials that make a room feel warm and established. Dark or aged woods, rattan and wicker sit beautifully alongside traditional textiles, while details such as embroidery, quilting, fringing, pleats and scalloped edges can bring extra texture and interest.

Pattern is also central to the look. Florals might be the most recognisable choice, but gingham, stripes and heritage-inspired prints can all work just as well. If florals feel like too much of a leap, a striped design such as our Hallie large striped linen drum shade is a subtler way to nod to the trend while still bringing pattern and texture into the room.

Most importantly, avoid making everything match perfectly. Grandma chic works best when a room feels as though it's been built up gradually, so don't be afraid to combine different prints and textures that share similar tones. Wallpaper, curtains, upholstered furniture, cushions and rugs can all build on the details introduced through your lighting, creating a space that feels individual rather than overly coordinated.

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Market leading decorative lighting supplier, Festive Lights, have become the exclusive UK seller for the innovative, app-controlled light system Twinkly.

Epitomising the future of lighting décor, this impressive and unique range of lights allows you to customise your lighting display, including both the colour and pattern sequence of the lights, with full control of each individual LED.

Invented by Marco Franciosa, and launched in 2017, social media exploded for Twinkly last year with millions of views worldwide, and 2019 is set to be another record breaking year.

Simple to use, the lights are controlled using an iOS or android compatible app from your smartphone. The revolutionary computer vision technology is possible thanks to the high computational power of current mobile phones. The impressive spec list also includes a light and music sensor, compatibility with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, plus much more.

The lights have been used to create huge, commercial displays, such as the main stage at Belgium’s biggest electronic dance music festival Tomorrowland, and the goal for 2019 is to move further into the commercial market.

Stephen Alty, General Manager at Festive Lights, said, “We are so pleased to be the UK’s exclusive supplier of these incredible lights, and we’re honoured that the lovely people at Twinkly believe that Festive Lights is the right company to represent the Twinkly brand.”

Festive Lights will be exhibiting the Twinkly range at the Harrogate Christmas Fair, from the 13th to the 19th of January 2019, where you’ll be able to see and purchase the products, and to see live demonstrations of the lights in action.

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Chorley Firms Strike Fulfilment Deal

Exact Abacus, an ecommerce systems, ERP software and fulfilment specialist based at Matrix Park, has struck a mutually beneficial agreement with lighting specialist, Festive Lights, to maximise its warehouse fulfilment capability.

Adding a further 2,500 pallet positions, equivalent to 12,500 sq ft, the joint venture will increase capacity for Exact Abacus, allowing continued expansion of its outsourced fulfilment services, which already enjoyed 100% growth in 2016.

Through the deal, Festive Lights, headquartered at Charnock Richard, will optimise year round fulfilment at its Wigan warehousing facility. Each year, the global lighting distributor experiences high demand during the Christmas period, with sales typically growing by 40 per cent. Working with Exact Abacus, and other local firms in need of additional space, means that warehouse resources will be maximised throughout the year, and not just over the Christmas season.

Stephen Alty, General Manager at Festive Lights, said, “This is a strategic move and a two-pronged route to market. When we expanded our warehouse, we deliberately acquired twice the space we needed, since we aimed to use third party fulfilment to balance seasonal demand, year round. In the past, we have needed to employ seasonal staff, from November onwards, in order to cover surging increases in orders for Festive Lights.

“By working with other companies, we can match this demand throughout the year and provide experienced staff, and a tested infrastructure, to fulfil the needs of other companies. This is great news for our core workforce, and other local companies in need of similar fulfilment support, as they know they can trust our ability to deliver fulfilment services all year round. Exact Abacus chose us as we have proven fulfilment experience and they have established clients for whom we can ease the load. They know that they can rely on our strengths in seamless picking, packing and distribution.”

The firms have a long-standing relationship, with Festive Lights using Exact Abacus’ multi-channel software to import transactions from their website and marketplaces, as well as monitoring inventory. The warehouse management module allows Festive Lights to keep track of order fulfilment in real-time.

Lee Thompson, Sales and Marketing Director at Exact Abacus, said, “Improving processes, platforms, infrastructure and organisational structures brings significant benefits and creates a lasting legacy. No matter when, or where, in the world a purchase is made, our software means that different platforms are able to integrate seamlessly.”

Exact Abacus plans to attract additional ‘network partners’ on a sub-contract basis. Linking to other fulfilment centres, potentially nationwide, will eliminate the need for Exact Abacus to invest in new warehousing facilities, whilst enabling it to keep up with growing demand for its fulfilment services. Network partners will be able to connect their facility with the warehouse management tool and start maximising their space and resources.

Stephen Alty added, “Offering third-party fulfilment and warehousing solutions to other firms enables them to utilise the space to save money and streamline operations by eliminating the need for long-term leases, additional staff and costly shipping. It’s a no-brainer!”

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Popularity of Christmas proposals means couples need to start wedding planning now!

Recent research by an online lighting company shows that Christmas and New Year are one of the most popular times of year for engagements. This means to secure the venue you want, you need to get planning as soon as possible, before the Valentine’s proposals start happening in February.

To understand more about how couples plan their weddings, Festive Lights ran a survey of 1009 people in the UK, asking those who were engaged, or were married, when the proposal had happened and whether it was on a special occasion. This revealed that the most proposals happen around Christmas, with 33% of people answering that they’d put a ring on it around Christmas Day and New Year. The festive period was more popular for proposals than birthdays (22%) and more than twice as popular as Valentine’s Day (15%). As a result, January sees a spike in couples beginning to plan their weddings.

Stephen Alty, General Manager at Festive Lights, commented, “Many couples don’t realise the extent of the planning that goes into organising their wedding until they get engaged. They have plans of grandeur based on photos they’ve seen on popular image-based social media sites such as Pinterest and Instagram. It’s only when they begin their research that they start to understand how much needs to be done.”

Festive Lights’ top tips on how to get a head start on your wedding:

Book early The more you do at the beginning, the less stressful it will be as you reach the last few months’ approach. Securing the venue, photographer and florist are the 3 main things you need to get checked off your list. Then you can move on to the finer details:

Lock down a theme Festive Lights recommends creating a wedding plan, choosing a general idea of the theme and atmosphere you want to have when you have booked your venue. After this, you can start to gather materials towards that theme as early as possible.

Use lighting to your advantage When lighting is done correctly, it can create an atmosphere all on its own without the need for other expensive decorations. As day moves into night, you can transform a room, marquee or tipi into a totally different environment with lighting. In summer, create exquisite outdoor party areas to make the most of long summer nights, and in winter, create cosy vibes inside that keep guests feeling warm.

Festoon Lighting Ideal for every venue, festoon lighting can be used indoors and outdoors to brighten, enhance features and create a slightly retro or rustic ambience. The beauty of festoon lighting is that it is completely flexible and can fit any style of décor.

Wrap them around trees and bushes, use them to line pathways and entrances; string them around the interior of a marquee. However you choose to use festoon lighting, it’s a budget friendly way to illuminate and decorate.

Fairy Lights For a romantic atmosphere like no other, Festive Lights recommends using fairy lights. Not only can these be strung around the venue to decorate, they can also be used more creatively too:

• Use fairy lights as a centrepiece by gathering them in a glass vase.

• Drape them amongst your greenery.

• Create a fairy light canopy within a marquee, or under stars for an outdoor celebration.

• Highlight your seating plan with a frame of fairy lights.

Details The lighting details are how you really nail down the ambience of your wedding. These additional features will make sure your celebration really stands out from the rest:

• Make a statement with LED circus letters of your initials on your top table - these can be purchased or even DIYed using fairy lights.

• Candles flickering as centrepieces on your table will help guests feel relaxed and will enhance the romantic atmosphere. Make sure to check with your venue about having open flames, but LED battery operated candles will have the same effect with more peace of mind.

• Twig lighting can be an effective way to add more detail whilst still keeping the look natural and pretty.

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