Many interior decorators and home design stores compare lamps to pieces of jewelry – in terms of a room’s decor lamps aren’t the main attraction, yet they can pull together or pull apart what you’re trying to achieve. The key to finding the right lamp for any room is looking for that special piece that combines both form and function.
Form and Function
Form refers to the sheer aesthetics of a lamp whereas function refers to how much illumination the lamp actually lends to a space. Lamps, of course, vary in size, shape and style. The first step in selecting the perfect lamp for any room is making sure that the sheer size of the lamp matches the contours and dimensions of the room’s interior.
Measure Before Heading to the Store
To avoid buyer’s remorse you’ll want to measure the square footage of the room before heading off to the store to make your purchase. You’ll also want to consider where you’ll be placing the lamp and the dimensions of any surfaces the lamp will be resting on.
For instance, as a general rule of thumb it’s better to have bulky lamps in areas that receive high-traffic or have kids and pets running around. This is because the heavier the lamp the less prone it is to topple over and smash into a million pieces.
If you know that your lamp is setting on a table or desk that isn’t going to get jostled in the near future, then you could safely go with a more decorative or lighter weight lamp. Also, the ratio of the lamp’s size to the furnishing’s size does matter. Make sure that the furnishing on which the lamp is going to sit doesn’t detract from the lamp itself.
Different Types of Lamps
The following advice has largely dealt with table lamps but what if you want to install a hanging lamp or chandelier, say, in your dining room? Make sure that, whichever style you select, the lamp itself hangs two feet or more above your dining room table or other surface. The last thing you want is your guests to be distracted by a bright beacon during dinner.
Among modern lamp styles, materials like embossed porcelain or crystal can lend a fancy look to your space whereas having a lamp with a wood or polished metal base can add charm and texture to virtually any room. You will want to ensure that the texture and color of your lamp’s base doesn’t jar with the furnishing on which it’s resting.
More on the function side of things, you will want to ask the following question before installing any lamp – what’s the purpose? Are you planning to use this lamp to heighten your decor? For reading? If your goal is to find the best reading lamp for your space, illuminating the entire room or sending light up to the ceiling probably won’t be important.
If you’re going to use your lamp mainly for reading, you would want a fairly sheer lampshade that doesn’t trap light. A thin-fabric lampshade should do. As a general rule of thumb for reading and table lamps, you will want the lampshade to be just over half the height of the base. If the lamp is going to be set on the floor and let off more light, a lampshade that’s only one-fourth the base’s height would be better. Achat de lampe de chevet tactile