How To Make Neon Lighting Work In Your Home

If you like your lighting fun, you’re in the right place. Lighting is SO much more than a functional necessity in your home - it’s a design choice that can transform the feel of a room, influence your mood and reflect your personality.

Nothing does this better than neon lights, which have emerged as a bold, vibrant trend in decorative lighting, and offer an eclectic and colourful way to light a room.

Whether you're thinking of upgrading your living room lighting, revamping your outdoor space or exploring quirkier lighting options, neon lighting offers versatile and visually stunning options, and are well worth exploring.

The Rise Of Neon Lights In Interior Design

Originally associated with shop signs and retro diners, neon lighting has found its way into our homes (and hearts) as trend-led elements of decorative lighting. Thanks to LED technology, today’s neon-style lights are energy-efficient, safe to use indoors, and available in endless colours and designs. These lights make a statement, acting as both art and illumination.

Whether you're using them for the living room or integrating them into your mood lighting set-up, neon lights serve as a dynamic component in contemporary home decor.

Lighting A Room With Neon: Where To Begin?

When lighting a room, it’s important to balance functionality with aesthetics. Neon lighting works best as accent or mood lighting, contributing to the ambience of a room rather than providing the main source of illumination.

Here are a few creative ways to incorporate neon lights into various parts of your home:

• Living room: Use a bright neon word or icon above a sofa as a centrepiece. This works particularly well in eclectic or modern spaces.

• Bedroom: A subtle glow from a pink or purple neon heart can add a rock n' roll yet romantic feel.

• Home office: A motivational quote in neon lighting can enhance energy and productivity while adding a splash of personality.

Neon lights work especially well when layered with other lighting solutions, such as portable lamps or LED strips, to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.

A Guide To Statement Neon Lighting

Neon lights are the epitome of statement lighting (often literally!) They focus the attention, start conversations, and set the tone of a room.

To use them effectively:

1. Choose a theme – Whether it's your home bar, the kitchen or the downstairs loo, there’s a neon light for that! Browse at your leisure to find a design that complements your decor.

2. Mix materials – Style your neon lights next to or with wooden or metal fixtures to create contrast and texture. Greenery works brilliantly, too.

3. Consider placement – Mount neon lights on blank walls to draw the eye, or use them to highlight architectural features like alcoves or shelves.

This guide to neon lighting wouldn’t be complete without recommending the pairing of neon with quirky and unusual lamps. Mixing a fun neon sign with one-of-a-kind table lamps can create a dynamic lighting scheme perfect for creative spaces.

Fun Lighting: Express Your Style

Neon is at the heart of quirky lighting - designs are generally bold, colourful, and unconventional. It's lighting that doesn’t follow traditional rules. Instead, it’s all about personality.

For example:

A cactus-shaped neon light brings a touch of desert whimsy to a minimalist room.

Lightning bolt neon lights work perfectly in a teen’s room or game room.

Neon speech bubbles or custom messages are a great way to express your personality.

To get the most out of neon lighting, layer it with other types of light sources, like battery-operated lighting options that provide flexibility and convenience without the clutter of cables.

The Best Neon Lighting For Small Rooms

Small rooms can feel cramped and dark if not lit properly. Neon lights can help open up these spaces with their soft, radiant glow and vibrant colours. 

Other points to consider are that: 

Slim, vertical neon lights elongate walls and create a sense of height.

Light-coloured neon lighting, such as white or pastel, helps reflect more light.

Combining neon with decorative pieces like mirrors and reflective surfaces can amplify light and create an illusion of spaciousness.

Mood Lighting For The Living Room

Mood lighting is all about setting the tone. Neon lights are great for creating a party vibe, but styled in the right way, they can also make a space feel relaxed or energising. Consider dimmable neon lighting signs or those with remote controls, which allow you to shift colours based on time of day or mood.

For example:

Warm colours (orange, pink and sunset corals) create a cosy feel.

Cool colours (blue, green) give all the calm and tranquil feels.

Bright or mixed colours can energise and uplift you.

Using neon lighting to set the mood in the living room, for example, not only adds a fun and contemporary twist but also helps you tailor the atmosphere to different occasions.

Wall Sconces + Neon Lighting = A Perfect Match

If you're on the hunt for lighting for the living room, kitchen or even the hallway, neon lights present a quirky alternative to traditional wall sconces. Unlike conventional lights, neon lighting is both artistic and functional. Mounting a neon sign or shape above a console table, behind the TV, or next to a bookshelf can subtly illuminate the room while adding an artful touch.

Wall-mounted neon lights also work really well in hallways, staircases, and landings – in other words, transitional areas that often lack visual interest.

Outdoor Neon Lighting

Neon lights aren’t just for interiors - they’re increasingly being used outside, too. Weatherproof LED neon signs can turn your patio, balcony, or garden into the most fabulous entertaining space that pops with personality.

Neon lighting ideas for outdoors include:

Using neon lights to illuminate the function of certain areas – bar, dance floor, or a cosy corner.

Framing garden entrances with neon to create a superstar welcome.

Hanging neon lights as part of your outdoor festive tableau for a modern seasonal look.

More Ways To Combine Neon Lights With Other Lighting Solutions 

Lighting for the garden often follows a natural aesthetic, using materials like stone, wood, or copper in its design. But when paired with neon lighting, it can take on a whole new personality. Imagine patio steps or a terrace where low-voltage pathway lights guide the way and create cosy pockets of illumination. Super-atmospheric, and perfect for partying long into the evening.

Using neon lights alongside battery-operated lighting in the garden means you can move pieces around easily - ideal for hosting, rearranging furniture (a RSG speciality), or decorating for special occasions.

Battery-Powered Neon Lights: Flexibility Meets Style

One of the biggest challenges in lighting design is dealing with wires and power outlets. Battery-operated lighting solves this problem completely and looks effortlessly stylish at the same time. Neon lights come in battery-powered and rechargeable versions, making them easier to install in unconventional spaces.

Whether you're shining a light on your favourite tomes on a bookshelf, decorating for a party, or enhancing your funky lighting set-up, cordless neon lighting offers freedom of placement and easy portability.

Fun Lighting That Complements Neon Lights

If you’re already using neon lights, why not double down on the uniqueness with other fun lighting solutions? Think lava lamps, mushroom-shaped lights, or animal-inspired designs. These pair brilliantly with neon to create rooms full of character and creativity.

In eclectic or bohemian spaces, this mix-and-match approach to lighting breaks all the rules - in the best way. Use a variety of textures, colours, and shapes to build a lighting scheme that feels curated and expressive.

Final Thoughts On Neon Lighting

Neon lights have evolved from retro signage to one of the most versatile and stylish lighting options. Whether you're exploring lighting ideas for the living room, kitchen, home bar or hallway, refreshing your outdoor lighting scheme, or experimenting with a completely new aesthetic, neon lights add flair, colour, and personality to any space. You won't regret your investment!