Lights! Color! Action!

Decorating with lamps, whether they are table lamps, floor lamps, accent lamps, or ceiling lamps can create designs with light and color that add beauty and atmosphere to any room.  When searching for the right lamps for a particular room, you should also take into consideration the function, size and style of the room and the same criteria should also be applied to the lamp or lamps you choose for that area.  Do you need broad, general lighting for a large area?  A dramatic ceiling lamp or chandelier may be needed, particularly for a dining room.  On the other hand, a smaller area, for reading, gaming, or watching television, may require tasking lighting, which can be concentrated by a table lamp, desk lamp or floor lamp, such as a torchiere.

Table lamps are perfect accessories for any room because they are not only functional, but portable and can be moved strategically as need arises. There is a style of lamp that will fit any décor, be it a wicker stained glass lamp for that seaside boudoir, or a mahogany bronze table lamp for your study. The number and varieties are endless. A lamp can also reflect whimsy, or a passion for a particular sport, like a golf table lamp.

These lamps also provide a wide variety of lampshade designs to choose from. Lampshades can vary from paper, fabric, glass, or metal.  They can be adorned with beads, cut glass crystal, feathers, decorative fabric trim, or even be hand painted.

But shades are only one aspect of the versatility of lamps.  Lighting can induce mood with color variations and the level of illumination used. Accent lighting is useful for art objects on walls, or other articles placed strategically on tables and highlighted for dramatic effect.  Different types of lighting can affect color; fluorescent light gives off a green tinge, which can dull warm colors, incandescent or halogen lights cast a yellowish effect that can dull cool colors, while enhancing warm colors.  Some newer fluorescent lights now have a pink tinge and are more color friendly, particularly for warm colors. Combining the perfect lighting with a complimentary lamp shade can create a unique and dramatic effect in a room. A light giving off a yellowish or pink tinge can make that Sunflower Tiffany Lamp glow like summer sunlight drawn into the room.

So it must be kept in mind that the table lamp, desk lamp, or floor lamp, is no longer simply a functional necessity, but can become an object of artistry and beauty when considered in your overall decorating scheme. And, in addition to beauty, these objects can also add value, such as a Meyda Tiffany lamp. Nor can one dispute the flare and fascination of the designs available in any stained glass lamp, or the mystic beauty of light shining through a mica lamp.  The varieties of lamps are boundless and the results of combing them in your decorating plans can create an ambiance that will charm and delight you and your guests for years to come.