The Lamp That Launched a Thousand Living Room Makeovers
When Sarah Jessica Parker — the woman who turned Carrie Bradshaw's closet into a cultural monument — endorses a home decor piece, the interior design world pays attention. But no one could have predicted that her latest obsession would be a pleated lampshade from IKEA. Yes, IKEA. The budget-friendly Swedish giant that has quietly been staging a design renaissance has found its unlikely celebrity ambassador, and the result is one of the most talked-about lighting moments of 2025.
The lamp in question is IKEA's KNIXHULT pendant lamp, or one of its close pleated-shade cousins from the brand's ever-expanding lighting collection. With its elegant, accordion-style folds and warm ambient glow, this modest piece has been spotted in Parker's home and across her social media presence — and the internet has not been the same since. Interior designers, lifestyle bloggers, and everyday homeowners are all asking the same question: how did a lamp that costs less than a dinner out become the must-have sculptural decor piece of the summer?
Why Pleated Lamps Are Having a Major Moment
The pleated lamp trend did not come out of nowhere. Over the past two years, maximalist design has been making a confident return after the long reign of minimalism. Statement lighting — oversized pendants, organic sculptural fixtures, handcrafted rattan forms — has been climbing every "trending now" list in the interior design space. But most of those coveted pieces come with price tags that can easily reach into the hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
That is precisely what makes the IKEA pleated lamp so revolutionary. It delivers the visual punch of a sculptural decor moment without requiring a designer budget. The pleating technique itself is inherently sophisticated — it creates movement, depth, and texture, casting layered shadows across walls and ceilings that shift as the light changes throughout the day and into the evening hours. This makes it especially magical on warm summer nights, when softer, warmer lighting creates the kind of atmosphere that expensive candles and elaborate tablescapes struggle to achieve on their own.
Sarah Jessica Parker's Influence on Everyday Style
It would be impossible to talk about this trend without acknowledging the specific weight that Sarah Jessica Parker's personal taste carries in the cultural conversation. As both an actress and a style icon, Parker has always had an uncanny ability to elevate the ordinary into the aspirational. Her fashion sensibility — mixing high-end designer pieces with vintage finds and unexpected accessories — is exactly the same philosophy she appears to bring to her home decor choices.
By incorporating an IKEA lamp into her interior, Parker sends a powerful message: great style is about the eye, not the expense. This democratization of design is something that resonates deeply in the current economic climate, where many people are looking for ways to refresh their spaces without overextending their budgets. The result is a validation that permission to be stylish does not require a decorator's invoice.
How to Style a Pleated IKEA Lamp in Your Home
Once you have decided to bring this trend into your own space, the real fun begins. The pleated lamp is remarkably versatile, working beautifully across a range of interior aesthetics from bohemian and eclectic to clean Scandinavian and even traditional spaces.
- As a bedside pendant: Swap out your standard bedside table lamp for a hanging pleated shade suspended at eye level. The warmth of the pleated fabric creates a cozy, hotel-like atmosphere that transforms the entire bedroom mood.
- Over a dining table: Group two or three pleated pendants at varying heights above a dining table for a gathered, organic look that feels curated rather than matchy-matchy. This works especially well over a natural wood or marble table surface.
- In a reading nook: A single pleated floor lamp or hanging pendant beside your favorite chair creates a dedicated light pool that feels intentional and inviting — perfect for long summer evenings with a book.
- On a covered outdoor patio: Several IKEA lamp styles are suitable for covered outdoor use, making them ideal for transforming a porch or terrace into an intimate evening space during the warm months.
- As a cluster installation: For a truly dramatic statement, install multiple pleated pendants at different heights in an entryway or living room corner. The layered pleating becomes an almost sculptural installation that rivals far more expensive art lighting.
The Perfect Summer Night Lighting Formula
Summer nights have their own specific lighting needs. The goal is almost always warmth — a soft, amber-leaning glow that flatters faces, creates intimacy, and slows the pace of an evening down. Overhead recessed lighting and cool-white bulbs work against this entirely. The pleated lamp, paired with a low-wattage Edison or warm LED bulb, does the opposite. It diffuses the light through layers of fabric or paper, softening it into something that feels almost candlelit but far more practical.
For outdoor entertaining, the pleated pendant adds a sense of occasion to even the simplest gathering. Strung beneath a pergola or hanging from an outdoor beam, it signals that the evening has been considered — that someone cared enough to create a setting rather than simply a space.
Affordable Alternatives and What to Look For
While the IKEA version is the most accessible entry point, the pleated lamp aesthetic has also inspired offerings from other retailers. When shopping for pleated lamps, look for these key qualities:
- Natural materials like paper, linen, or cotton for the most authentic warm glow.
- Accordion or knife-pleat construction for the most dramatic shadow play.
- A shade diameter of at least 40 centimeters to make a true visual impact in a room.
- Compatibility with warm-white bulbs in the 2700K to 3000K color temperature range.
Retailers like H&M Home, Zara Home, and Target's Studio McGee line all carry pleated options at accessible price points, though none have quite matched the combination of quality, price, and cultural cachet that the IKEA version now carries.
The Bigger Picture: Accessible Design Is the Future
Sarah Jessica Parker's IKEA lamp moment is about more than a single product. It is a signal that the conversation around home design is shifting. The idea that beautiful, meaningful interiors require significant financial investment is being dismantled — one pleated lampshade at a time. In a world where social media constantly presents aspirational spaces that feel out of reach, the viral enthusiasm around this lamp offers something genuinely refreshing: the reminder that good taste, curiosity, and a willingness to look in unexpected places are the most important tools any decorator — celebrity or otherwise — can have.
So this summer, before you spend a small fortune on a sculptural ceramic vase or an artisan-crafted pendant light, take a detour through the lighting aisle at IKEA. You might just find the piece that pulls your entire room together — and it might only cost you twenty dollars.