While decor trends can get away with having a shorter shelf life, lighting styles need to stand a longer test of time, while keeping current with their shifting surroundings — particularly when it comes to fixtures that will be hardwired into your home, like wall or ceiling lighting. (You can have a more fun with table lamps and floor lamps than, say, sconces or chandeliers).

The good news: Some of today's biggest lighting design trends are actually more reinventions of classic styles than entirely new ideas — meaning they're way more likely to age gracefully. Before investing in new fixtures, read up on 4 shifts in lighting design that our gut says are here to stay.

Space need some sparkle? Skip the now-default brass or aged bronze and opt for high shine nickel. This finish is seeing a huge resurgence lately, especially in more formal spaces. Look for all-metal fixtures in mirror finishes for major impact. Or for a more subtle look, choose pieces that pair the silver metal with white linen or opal glass shades. Either way, nickel is the new go-to for refined styling.

We're sucker for a classic lantern, so naturally, any new spin on the shape gets a big "yes" from us. The latest iterations keep the metal framework of the standard lantern silhouette, and the traditional candlestick-style bulbs, but ditch the glass, leaving the sides and tops wide open. The result is an airy pendant with a lightweight-look that floats in the room — perfect when your rooms calls for a light fixture that's substantial in size but with less visual weight.

After decades of smooth drum shades, designers are finally ready for something new — actually, make that something old. Pleated linen and silk shades are everywhere we look right now, and we are here for it. Many interior designers with access to custom sewing work are taking the look above and beyond with lampshades in boldly patterned fabrics, but we're just as enamoured with the timeless texture of an off-the-shelf white or beige option.

(More breaking news: Lampshade shapes are evolving too, with straight-sided drums taking a backseat to conical designs, whether tall and skinny or widely flared.)

If you think all-white fixtures should be confined to contemporary or minimalist spaces, think again. Classic lighting styles from table lamps to wall sconces to chandeliers are now being clad from top to bottom in solid white enamel or matte textured plaster, and look so fresh in transitional rooms. Without the distraction of coloured metal, the contours of these pieces really pop, especially when layered against patterned wallpaper or textiles. For a softer take on the trend, try it out with a curvy white ceramic table lamp with matching white shade, and see how beautifully the form is enhanced by its surroundings.