For more than half a century, Elstead Lighting has quietly built a reputation for blending heritage craftsmanship with a globally attuned design sensibility. Founded as a mixed engineering business in 1969 and shaped by much older craft traditions, the company found its defining focus when it committed fully to decorative lighting in the late 20th century. Today, under the leadership of Jonathan Lucas, Elstead Lighting has evolved into an international lighting group supplying more than 40 countries annually.
© Elstead Lighting
Elstead Lighting Group Managing Director, Jonathan Lucas.
'The Elstead Lighting Group is very proud of its 55 plus years of heritage but are very motivated by the future,' Jonathan says. That dual focus on legacy and forward momentum continues to guide the company's strategic growth, from expanding its international footprint to curating a broad portfolio of interior and exterior collections.
At the heart of Elstead's identity is a commitment to producing. While global manufacturing has reshaped the industry, the company has retained a production facility in the UK, where traditional welding and engineering skills are still practiced alongside shade-making, powder coating, wiring and assembly. This hands-on capability is not nostalgic; it is strategic. 'Knowing that we have these facilities at our fingertips, we find ways to develop products that will both suit the transforming market and make use of our skills; contributing to about 8% of total sales,' Jonathan explains.
© Elstead Lighting
Elstead's global reach has been shaped by a carefully built network of partnerships and regional operations. In addition to strong growth across Western Europe, including Germany, France and the Benelux region, the company continues to perform well in the UK, where demand for its more luxury-led collections is rising.
The opening of new permanent showrooms in Kraków and Dubai in 2026 will further strengthen engagement with European clients, offering a dedicated space to experience collections at scale.
Technological change has also been absorbed into Elstead's decorative DNA. The company has integrated LED solutions across a growing proportion of its portfolio, from bathroom fittings to fully integrated LED designs with concealed light sources. A new generation of rechargeable LED table lamps set for 2026 reflects a broader shift towards flexibility and user freedom. 'We have embraced many LED lighting models into the Elstead Lighting portfolio, whilst still maintaining our identity as a decorative lighting company,' says Jonathan, underlining that innovation is seen as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, atmosphere and form.
For designers and specifiers, Elstead's operational model is as significant as its design language. 'This allows designers and specifiers to be confident that what they order will be available very quickly,' Jonathan explains, pointing to reliability as a core value in professional collaborations. With distribution hubs across the UK, France, Poland, the USA and Dubai, the company has also invested in localisation to ensure speed, service and market relevance.
© Elstead Lighting
Sustainability, increasingly central to product development, is approached through material choices and operational practice rather than surface claims. The group works with sustainable wood sources and recycled glass, while packaging strategies prioritise recycled cardboard and reduced plastic use. Within the UK factory, recycling is embedded into daily operations and formalised through ISO9001 accreditation. 'Packaging is an area of focus with the use of recycled cardboard, reduction of plastics and the use of recyclable materials very much considered on all product development now,' Jonathan notes, framing responsibility as an evolving process rather than a fixed destination.
Looking ahead, Elstead Lighting is investing in people, partnerships and presence. An expanded international sales team, led by Director Walter De Court, closer collaboration with local agents, and the rollout of new B2B trade showrooms in key markets are all part of a strategy to deepen relationships across Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East. 'The partnerships with our North American brands, along with our growing UK and EU production and design resources provide us with considerable opportunities for exciting and innovative products,' Jonathan says. In a market shaped by rapid technological change and shifting design values, Elstead's confidence lies in its ability to balance scale with craft, and heritage with reinvention, illuminating not just interiors, but the evolving future of decorative lighting.
More information:
Elstead Lighting
Elstead House, Mill Lane,
Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QJ
+44 (0) 1420 590444
[email protected]
www.elsteadlighting.com
United Kingdom
