Furniture in a New Light

You may not notice it at first. A soft glow beneath a nightstand. A touch of light accenting a headboard or desk. Increasingly, lighting is becoming part of furniture itself—not simply to illuminate a room, but to make everyday living a little easier, a little safer, and often, more beautiful.

It was during my first walk-thru at the Riverside Furniture showroom on Main and Russell, that I noticed lighting incorporated into the design of several headboards. It struck me as a smart way to shape mood while adding function. 

“Furniture, especially in the bedroom, is deeply personal and should feel like an expression of the individual,” says Harrison “H” Kelly, president of Riverside, noting that the company has been incorporating integrated LED lighting into select bedroom collections for five years. “Incorporating soft, integrated lighting adds both ambiance and functionality. It creates a warm, inviting environment while also serving a practical purpose in everyday use.” 

Since that visit, I’ve been paying closer attention to examples where lighting is not really a necessity, but an enhancement—a quiet upgrade that shifts how a piece performs and how a room feels.

Interior designer Sharon Sherman of Thyme & Place Design in onto it too. “I love furniture that integrates lighting and power in both functional and decorative ways. It can elevate a piece beyond its original intent. Subtle lighting integrated into a bed is both sexy and safe.”

That safety piece matters. As awareness around aging in place grows—and with baby boomers holding significant purchasing power—wayfinding lighting is becoming less of a luxury and more of an expectation.

Lori Carpenter, founder of The 3rd Phase Podcast and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, has long prioritized lighting in her work. “Intentionally integrating lighting around furniture supports the safety, independence, and confidence of older adults,” she says. “Subtle illumination along beds, seating, cabinetry, and pathways helps define spatial boundaries and reduces the risk of trips and falls—especially at night.”

At Universal Furniture, integrated lighting has become standard in open-storage nightstands. This gentle glow is ideal for finding glasses, jotting down a dream, or simply avoiding the shock of a bright, direct light at 2 a.m. “It’s something we’ve done for years,” says director of Marketing Kayla Miller, “but starting in 2025, we made it consistent across the category.” The feature includes three brightness settings and a touch switch—small practical details that improve functionality without adding cost.

Lighting can also help celebrate the furniture itself. In Theodore Alexander’s Althorp House Desk, illumination within carved archways draws attention to the intricacy of the craftsmanship, playing a rather theatrical role. Conversely, Rodam’s Arkus desk from 518 North uses light as a wash, highlighting the warmth and grain of the wood and clean lines of the piece.

Whether it’s helping someone navigate a room at night, creating a more restful bedroom, or simply drawing attention to exceptional craftsmanship, integrated lighting is quietly changing what furniture can do. It’s another reminder that great design isn’t just about making a home more beautiful—it’s about making it work better for the people who live there.