Lighting Legend Tom Raffield’s Top Getaways

Tom Raffield is one of a new generation of designers and makers, using his craft in innovative and contemporary ways. Leading the charge in sustainable design, he’s forging a path to excellence with minimal environmental impact as possible along the way. By Serena Templeto.

With longer days and summer evenings approaching, now’s the time to embrace relaxed nights in the garden, hosting with open patio doors, or unwinding with a book as the sun sets. Portable lighting makes it easy to embrace an indoor-outdoor lifestyle - and all the moments in between. It’s an effortless way to set the mood, add comfort, and extend those sought-after golden hours well into the night.

Tom Raffield, Creative Director and Founder, delves into the many benefits of portable lighting, sharing his top tips on how to incorporate this versatile lighting style into your design scheme.

Dining in Style

From alfresco dinners to movie nights, portable lighting adapts to every setting. Designed to move with you, it brings the perfect glow wherever it’s needed - whether dining under the stars, sharing a drink at the kitchen island, or winding down in the living room.

“One of the many benefits of portable lighting is that it can elevate everyday moments, adding a decorative touch and soft glow wherever you need it. In the summer months, the versatility of portable lighting truly shines.

Our Skipper Portable Table Light is the ideal addition when hosting, both formally and informally. An eye-catching centrepiece to a tablescape, you can choose to add one light to a small bistro table or introduce two or more to a long dining table, creating both height, texture, and practical low-level ambient light. Dimmable with the touch of a button, the delicate twelve wood petal design allows golden light to illuminate both upwards and outwards - ensuring your guests have just the right amount of light to socialise and enjoy a meal in a warming ambience.”

Which room? You choose

From bedside to balcony, portable lighting can be introduced throughout, complementing an existing lighting scheme or adding an extra glow to hidden corners of the home.

“The great joy of portable lighting is that it doesn’t have to commit – call it frivolous, but it can go wherever the mood or light takes it. The versatility of portable lighting means that a design doesn’t have to fit in with a particular interior scheme or room, allowing you to choose a unique light that can either stand out in contrast or work in harmony within a range of different settings.

Choosing a minimalistic design, like our new Kanna Portable Table Light, is a perfect choice. Refined and elegant, the drum shade highlights the delicacy of the materials, showcasing both the strength and organic grain of the sustainably sourced wood. If you prefer an eye-catching design, choose our Verso Portable Table Light with its swooping form, reflecting the motion of falling leaves in the wind.

Thoughtfully designed portable lights are works of art, adding a beautiful design element when the light is both on and off.”

Conveniently Cordless

A great portable light should do more than look good - it should suit your lifestyle too, with reliable battery life, intuitive controls, and a design that takes you from dusk till dawn, season after season.

“Practical as they are beautiful, a cordless lamp allows for effortless placement without the worry of unsightly wires. Easily carried from room to room, indoors and outdoors, these versatile lights are made to follow your routine - from office spaces to laid-back evenings outside, always adding just the right amount of light.

Before you decide on your portable light, be sure to check the inner workings, including recharge time, battery life, and dimmability. Each of our designs is rechargeable using a supplied USB/USB-C cable and comes with dimmable settings offering up to 144 hours of gentle illumination, or 8 hours at full brightness. Allowing you to create the perfect ambient lighting no matter where you are.”