How to Select Lighting

A lamp is one of those home accessories that serves a dual purpose in a room. It delivers necessary lighting in a strategic location while its design provides your space with an added attraction. Your lamps — like your rugs, wall color, furniture, and pictures — make a statement about your style and creativity. Don’t pass on a chance to really make your room pop with personality. Seek out lamps that combine both flair and function. 

Before you begin the search for the perfect lamp, answer a few simple questions:

• What do you do in the room?
• How important is the light?
• Do you want atmosphere or visibility?
• Is there a spot you want to highlight?

Armed with your answers, you should be able to narrow down the functional aspect of your next lights glaring directly on your computer screen or television set. Similarly, a special painting or a corner filled with hand-blown glass will require its own unique lighting.

purchase. For example, if you’re primarily entertaining in the room, you need a lamp that can shine mood-altering ambient light as well as all-inclusive brightness to accommodate your guests. A room mainly devoted to reading requires directional lighting toward your favorite reading chair. In your office or den, you don’t want

Once you’ve developed a plan for the lighting you need, choose the type of lamp that’s most appropriate. Here are several tips:

• Floor lamps are ideal for highlighting your favorite art or for showing off the general design of the room. Floor lamps also increase the amount of table space you have.
• Task lamps work best to illuminate workspace on desks.
• Table lamps give you an opportunity to add color and design to your décor.
• Accent lamps can bring together your decorating theme.
• In addition, lampshades can change the level of lighting in a room. Opaque shades are best for directing light while transparent shades brighten the whole room.

The style and design you choose should follow your general theme in the room. For example, in a den lined with dark paneling and mounted animal heads, set nature-inspired lamps such as the lamps made of antler horns carried by Rug & Home. A sitting room surrounded by windows may best be suited for a lamp made of tree branches. A replica of an oil lamp ideally complements a bedroom with a four-poster bed.

One final word on lamps: they don’t have to match. The days when matching lamps were required as bookends to a sofa are thankfully gone. An eclectic mix of lamps makes a room much more interesting and allows you to indulge in various pieces. So go ahead and place that turquoise art décor lamp on one side table and the squat multi-colored glass beaded lamp that you fell in love with while on vacation on the opposite end of your couch.