Have you ever gone shopping for something as seemingly simple as a lamp only to be totally overwhelmed and completely confused? Or gotten your new lamp home only to find it looks awful in its intended place? Lamps are accessories with purpose–to bring light and ambiance to a room. I have searched books and blogs, and have established a few tips to clear up the confusion and make buying a lamp much easier.
1. Silhouette– or the style of the lamp. It should blend with the surroundings in the room. What is your room’s style? Traditional? Contemporary? Eclectic?
2. Color– a traditional room needs a lamp that blends or compliments the wall color and other furnishings. Contemporary rooms can handle a bold, unique lamp. Try buying the same color lamps with a different silhouette or vice-versa. Mix it up a bit.
3. Size- this is where most folks get it wrong. Table lamps are generally between 26″ and 34″ high. Generally speaking you don’t want to sit on the sofa and look up into the hardware. When determining the height of the lamp you must also take into consideration the height of the side table. The trend in decorating right now seems to be LARGE. Furniture is bigger, art is bigger and lamps are bigger. Before you go shopping take some measurements (the side table height, width and the height from the top of the side table to eye level when sitting). This is lamp “real estate”. Your lamp shouldn’t vanish into or over power this space.
Take your measurements and color samples shopping for the silhouette that reflects your room. Focusing on these three elements will help you to get the right lamp for your space. Here are some great lamps that I found at the local stores….
Bedside Manor
Cotswold Marketplace
Post & Gray
Next week I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about LAMPSHADES and introduce you to a great resource for finding the perfect shade for every lamp.
