How To Decorate With Lamps. When To Splurge, When To Save

I love to decorate with lamps, don’t you? Here are my suggestions how to decorate with lamps, when to splurge and when to save.

There are three decor items that I have a soft spot for: chairs, books and lamps. All three are fully represented in every room in our home, and the biggest challenge for me is to know when to stop buying them. I’m drawn to lines and special details that make each piece unique, so when I see such pieces, I immediately start brainstorming in my mind where it / they will go, and if I have space for it / them. Sean balances me out. He pulls in the reigns, like, whoa Silver, stop with the hi-ho and walk away.

I only seem listen half the time.

How To Decorate With Lamps

Lighting is one of the most important components when designing a room. It sets the mood and brightens yet softens the surrounding at the same time. When placing lamps, the lighting should be even, staying aware of not lighting up just one small area of the room, but rather all around. I’m a big fan of symmetry and like to display a pair of lamps on each side of a couch, or even on a side table or desk. Then, there are small darker areas that require a single light source; places like the corner area of a kitchen counter, a small table in a large room, or even on top of a bar cart. Lamps are an important part of interior design. I’m such a fan, that if there’s an open spot where a lamp can fit, then nine times out of ten I will put a lamp there.

Now, having said all this about lamps and the importance of lighting up a room, one thing you don’t want is the place to be so bright that you walk in and squint. The more lamps you have in a room, the lower the bulb wattage for each lamp. My rule of thumb is 40 watts or less, and using an LED light bulb is always best for energy efficiency and all that. I recommend these bulbs and use them in all my lamps. And, better yet, installing a dimmer switch on a lamp cord is always a plus, and an easy DIY project. Here is a great video for reference.

When To Splurge, When To Save

With all of this lamp talk and how to decorate with lamps, I’m really quite frugal when it comes to buying. Stores like Homegoods carry high end lamps, but at heavily discounted prices. This pair that flank both ends of the couch are made by Couture Lamps, and I was fortunate enough to find them at Homegoods. Their original retail was over $400 and I paid $49.99, each. It pays to frequent these home design stores, always keeping an eye out for that perfect lamp to make a statement in the room.

Upgrade The Shade!

Many my favorite stores to find lamps, are consignment or thrift stores. Some interior design and decor stores have clearance merchandise located on their lower level. Make a beeline to these areas because you’re likely to find a gem or two. I found this lamp in the basement of a store, and with a little cleaning up and a quick gold spray on the interior of the shade, this lamp looks like new! Also, you can spruce up the exterior of a lamp shade with this easy DIY. 

Target has great lamps, too, and changing out the lamp shade on an inexpensive lamp totally ups the ante. Sean and I recently visited some dear friends and she had a pair of lamps from Target on her kitchen counter. She changed out the shade ( this one ) to a higher end silhouette, and it totally gave the lamps a high end look. Needless to say, I totally copied her down to the shade, and here they are..

How about finding a lamp that is on the higher end of your price range, but it’s totally unique and has those special details? This is when I recommend splurging. Strike a pose! Lamps can be conversations pieces as well. The uncommon silhouette adds conversation to the room, and breaks up the symmetry just a tad. I had my eye on this crane lamp for months. Once I designed the den, I knew this end table needed that lamp. In this instance, I splurged, and I justified it because I saved on all other areas of the room.

Keep those splurge decisions that you make to a minimum, because it’s those conversation lamps that keep your interior home design special.

Lamps always hold a key ingredient when designing a room. I say, if there’s an open space where a lamp will fit, then by all means. Just remember, keep the wattage at 40, and then your room will be a perfect 10.

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