Home lamps can be a great way to accessorize your home and provide lighting at the same time. The physical appearance of the lamp, the type of light the lamp casts, and where the light is cast, all contribute in creating the room’s ambiance. There are many different types of lamps for the home, such as: Table Lamps, Bedside Table Lamps, Buffet Table Lamps, Desk Lamps, Floor Lamps, and Accent Lamps. Regardless of the type, when choosing a lamp, keep in mind location, style, and type of lighting needed.
It is not necessary to stick with the same decor style – unless you want to make a strong statement about that particular style. If updating a traditional room – a contemporary or modern lamp may be the right choice. But, be sure to relate the existing decor in some manner – through color, scale, and/or material. Typically, conical shaped shades provide a more traditional look, whereas a drum shade provides a more modern look.
If the room has table surfaces that are sufficiently large, the table lamp may be the best choice. Of course, the lamp should not block a view – so coffee tables are typically not the best surface choice. In areas where the horizontal surfaces are narrow such as a buffet table, then the smaller buffet table lamps are usually the best. A narrow and tall lamp such as a candlestick lamp, works well on a narrow surfaces.
Unless a bedroom is rather large or has a high ceiling, smaller bedside table lamps may be better suited to the scale of the room. If table space is limited, a floor lamp may be most appropriate. Also floor lamps bring a vertical element to the room that can be quite pleasing. Desk Lamps come in numerous types and looks – from the more task-oriented swing-arm to a regular looking table lamp. If needing to optimize visual acuity, then a swing-arm of some sort is probably the better choice.
Accent Lamps can be really interesting – acting more as sculptural objects. But then again, they can be barely noticeable and function primarily to accent other features in a room. They types of lamps, can be placed in a variety of locations.
Generally speaking, table lamps and floor lamps provide a combination of ambient lighting and task lighting. They are somewhat multipurpose and use either incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs. Though incandescent is often considered to provide a better quality of light, some of the recent compact fluorescent bulbs have gotten high ratings in terms of light quality. Since LEDs typically provide uni-directional lighting – they do not work well for table lamps or spaces needing omni-direction lighting. LEDs, although still expensive at this time, do work well for some types of Accent Lamps. Lampe de chevet