7 Ideas for Decorating with Floor and Table Lamps
Not only are lamps essential to a well-lit room, but they also make a big impact on a home's overall look and feel. Illuminate your space and amplify your style with these tips for choosing the right floor and table lamps for your home.
The importance of lighting Without proper lighting, even the most stylish space isn't truly complete. Every room needs a combination of general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting to set a mood and provide sufficient illumination. Table and floor lamps, which typically fall under the task lighting category, are especially important because they play both a functional and decorative role in your home. Size, shape and style all need to be taken into account when selecting lamps to suit both your lighting needs and taste in home decor.
Complement your decor Think of a lamp as part of the jewellery of a room. When choosing lamps, consider the style you're going for in your home first. Is it traditional? Modern? Eclectic? You need to select the right piece to complement the rest of the room.
Sleek shades If you're going for a modern or contemporary look, think simple and streamlined when selecting lamps. Slim bases and drum-shaped shades can add height and drama to a space without overpowering its other decor.
Choose shades with flair If you need to add colour or texture to a room, an interesting lampshade will add just the boost you are looking for. Look for a shade with a bold pattern, an interesting texture or decorative touches like beads or tassels.
Coordinate the components When pairing a lamp shade with a base, a good rule of thumb is to choose a shade that mimics the shape of the lamp itself. A round or drum-shaped shade works well with a round or bulb-shaped base, while a conical shade is a good fit for a tall, thin base.
Size it up Like anything else in decorating, you want to be mindful of scale. Make sure the size of your lamp is appropriate for its location. You don't want to put a massive lamp on a very small table — not only will it look disproportionate, but it might also be bumped into or knocked over. As for the scale of the lamp itself, the shade should be one-half to three-fourths the size of the base and should hide the internal hardware of the lamp.
Translucent vs. Opaque Another important factor to consider when choosing a lamp shade is how much light you need the lamp to cast. If you want the lamp to illuminate an entire room or provide light for reading, a translucent shade is the best choice. However, if the lamp is strictly an accent piece, try an opaque shade for a dramatic look.
Proper placement If you have a dark corner in a room, the simple addition of a lamp will work wonders for the way the room feels. Table lamps are great for filling out the rest of the room.
