Lighting has evolved far beyond simply brightening a room.
Today, it’s a key part of how a home looks, feels, and functions, shaping everything from mood and wellness to energy efficiency and everyday convenience.
We spoke with Melissa Andresko, Chief Corporate Brand Ambassador at Lutron Electronics, about the biggest trends in lighting and home automation, the mistakes homeowners often make, and how the right lighting can transform the way we experience our homes.
From wellness-focused design to the future of smart living, she shares practical advice for anyone planning a renovation, custom build, or simply looking to make their home more comfortable and connected.
Dimmers help spaces feel more comfortable, more flattering, and more functional throughout the day.
What are homeowners asking for today that they weren’t asking for five years ago when it comes to lighting and home automation?
We are seeing significant interest in motorized window treatments. Roller shades, honeycomb shades, and other automated treatments have become a must‑have in key areas like the family room, bedroom and bathroom.
Homeowners can add Lutron’s battery-powered motorized shades to any window with minimal pre‑planning, and without the need to open ceilings and walls to run wires.
And the benefits are significant: motorized window treatments are perfect for hard-to-reach windows, enhance privacy, improve TV viewing, protect furniture and flooring from UV damage, enhance comfort, and even supports heating and cooling efficiency. Once homeowners experience automated shading, they realize it’s one of the most impactful products they can add to their home.
We’re hearing more and more about wellness-focused homes. What role does lighting play in supporting health, mood, and sleep?
Lighting is one of the most impactful elements in a wellness‑focused home. When it’s designed intentionally—and paired with automated shading—it enhances architecture, creates warm, inviting environments, and transforms everyday living. Homeowners often don’t realize how powerful lighting is until they experience it. We’re seeing growing interest in wellness lighting in spaces like bathrooms and entertainment areas, where having the right light level dramatically elevates comfort, mood, and the overall experience of the space.
Soft, dimmable lighting can add warmth and depth to any room.
What are the most common lighting mistakes you see in otherwise beautifully designed homes?
The biggest lighting mistakes we see—even in luxury homes—are too many bright overhead lights, not enough layers of light, and a lack of dimming or control. Without thoughtful layering and the right control strategy, spaces can feel harsh and flat and lack personality. The right lighting design brings balance, softness, and intention to every room. You want a room to adjust to your needs – not the other way around.
If a homeowner is planning a custom build or major renovation, when should they start thinking about lighting control and automation?
Homeowners should start thinking about lighting control and automation at the very beginning of planning—as soon as they’re laying out floor plans or discussing electrical with their builder or designer. Lighting and shading are architectural elements, and the earlier they’re integrated into the design, the better the home performs and the cleaner the design becomes.
Many homeowners are interested in smart home technology but worry it will be complicated. What should homeowners look for or avoid when investing in this feature?
Homeowners should look for simplicity, reliability, and compatibility—and avoid anything that feels like a science project or won’t scale as their needs evolve. While there are many dependable DIY solutions, including those from Lutron, the “do‑it‑for‑me” approach is also an excellent option. A home automation professional can design a system around how you actually live, then handle installation, programming, and ongoing service so the experience feels effortless.
What trends are you seeing in luxury custom homes that builders, designers, and homeowners should be paying attention to right now?
We’re seeing a shift toward wellness, seamless integration, and design-led technology. Homeowners want lighting and shading that elevate the home’s design, automation systems that work together effortlessly, and technology that disappears into the background. The most successful builders and designers are leaning into solutions that deliver simplicity, beauty, and reliability and just make their homes better.
What’s a trend that you feel is underrated? Overrated?
One underrated trend is the shift toward invisible, design‑led technology, meaning clean walls and integrated systems that disappear into the architecture. It’s a huge upgrade in how a home feels, but it’s often overlooked because it requires early planning.
An overrated trend is the belief that luxury equals more gadgets. The most luxurious homes feel effortless. Homeowners don’t want to manage technology; they want technology that quietly supports their lifestyle.
If someone could make only one light change that would improve their living space, what would you recommend?
One easy addition to any home is to add a dimmer or motorized window shade in a key area, like a family room. The ability to fine‑tune light levels transforms how a space feels—more comfortable, more flattering, and more functional throughout the day. A single smart dimmer delivers an immediate upgrade in ambiance and room flexibility, and it’s the simplest entry point into a smarter, more personalized home.
Lutron smart dimmers can be plugged into an outlet to control table and floor lamps or can replace a light switch on the wall. Once you’re ready to expand, simply add more dimmers and switches to create a more connected home. Opt for a starter kit like Lutron’s Casėta Wireless, which gives you 1 or 2 dimmers to get started, plus app-based control from your phone or even voice control from a smart speaker.
A motorized shade can instantly improve the feel of the room by eliminating sun glare on the tv screen, adding privacy, and helping manage hvac by keeping the hot sun shaded from the room.
What’s one thing homeowners don’t realize about lighting until they’ve lived with a professionally designed system?
Homeowners don’t realize how a professionally designed lighting control system changes how a home feels—until they live with it. The biggest surprise is that great lighting doesn’t just illuminate a space; it shapes mood, enhances architecture, and makes everyday living feel better in ways they didn’t expect. When you have the power to transform the look and feel of a room with the press of a button, all of a sudden your home is adapting to your lifestyle and working harder for you.
How do you see lighting and home automation changing the way we live over the next 10 years?
Over the next 10 years, we’ll continue to see home automation and smart lighting and shading shift from something homeowners control to something that quietly and effortlessly supports their lifestyle effortlessly.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Controlling natural light and overhead light isn’t a luxury. It’s important to remember that Lutron lighting controls and motorized window treatments are available at various price points to accommodate every home size and budget. You can start small and add on as your needs and budget evolves, or work with an integrator to design and purchase a whole-home system during the design phase of your home.
