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11 Best Tips to Choose and Use Lamps in your Home Decor

Are you confused about how to choose and use lamps in your home? I love lamps and I want to know the right ways to use them in our home. I found the best tips to choose and use lamps in your home decor.

We need some new lamps to complete our living room redecorating. I’ve had my eye on a pair and I want to make sure they are the right size, height, and shape.

I figure if I need some reassurance, maybe you do, too. So I went to the design pros (Ms. Pinterest and Mr. Google) and found more answers than I expected. With all this new information, I now feel confident in selecting the right lamps for our living room.

I learned so much by researching (did you know there are battery-operated lamps?) and reading these articles about choosing and using lamps. I know you will find the information helpful, too.

Planning our Living Room Redo

Last week, I shared my search for the right rug for the living room. That information was invaluable.

The rug is on the top of my “buy” list, but before we can purchase a rug, we have to find the right layout for the furniture.

I’m hoping this weekend Sweet Shark and I will have time to do a bit of rearranging of the furniture to get the right layout.

Here’s the ultimate wish need list to complete our living room redo:

  • new 9 x 12 rug in shades of blue and cream
  • new sofa table – the one we have is too long and too wide for our new sofa
  • at least 2 new lamps for the sofa table
  • new round side table in wood finish to go between our new swivel chairs
  • new bookcase (that’s been an ongoing need)
  • new pillows for the sofa and swivel chairs
  • reupholster the two Bergere chairs we have and where to put them?

That gets us started. I expect these purchases may take several months to find just the right sizes, colors, styles we want. That’s OK.

I want to get the right items at the right price. I would prefer to find items at different resources so I can have the traditional, classic, curated look I love.

So, you ask, why focus on lamps now?

A Sad Lamp Story

Last fall, before our new furniture arrived, I was shopping at one of our larger local antique malls when I spied a pair of lamps I loved immediately.

The lamps had a classic, but slightly modern style. They were tall (our living room has a 20-foot ceiling so we need tall lamps!) with a touch of gold at the base. The shape of the base was rectangular as was the shade. And best of all – they were blue!

I took this photo with my iPhone, so it’s hazy and doesn’t do the lamp justice.

blue lamp

The price was certainly more than I would pay at places like HomeGoods, Target, At Home, or Amazon. But the lamps were less expensive than our local interior design stores. I could easily justify the cost.

I didn’t buy them at that time. I just keep my eye on them whenever I went to the antique mall. The last time I saw them was in early January.

Then, this week I attended a girls’ get-together for a women’s charity organization that I’ve been in for 20 years. It was at the home of a member who lives 5 minutes from me.

I have seen her home on walks many times. It reminds me of Charleston Low Country with a huge front porch. I’ve been in love with it before I knew it belonged to someone I knew.

At soon as I walked into the dining room to sign in, my heart stopped. There on her buffet were the lamps of my dreams. I asked her where she bought them, and sure enough, it was at the antique mall. She said she bought hers about 9 months ago, but had recently seen that the vendor had another pair.

The next day I went to the antique mall, ready to slap my credit card down and buy them. But (see the tears running down my face), they were not to be found in the vendor’s booth. (Actually, this vendor has three booths and lots of inventory.)

I asked the lady at the front desk about them. She said if I had a picture to send to her, she would contact the vendor about the possibility of getting another pair.

So, please, keep your fingers crossed for me.

Last fall in my weekly newsletter, I shared an article “Where to Spend Money and Where Not to in Your Home Decor”. Here you can get the Checklist and the Article.

Lamps were one of the places recommended to put your home decor dollars. Ironically, rugs were an item to save money on!

So, now that I’ve shared my sad-sack lamp story, let’s look at all the tips, tricks, suggestions, and advice on how to choose and use lamps in your home.

Choose and Use Lamps in your Home

Welcome to 10 Fabulous Finds at Bluesky Browsing #75.

Think of Fabulous Finds as a home decor/DIY/Craft/recipe Readers’ Digest.

In case you are new to Bluesky at Home, what fabulous finds do I share at Bluesky Browsing?

  • ideas to help you in your home decor efforts
  • fun holiday decoration ideas
  • ideas for better organization and efficiency
  • a yummy recipe or cocktail
  • fun DIY projects
  • the latest trends in home decor
  • a quirky new find or two

How to Choose and Use Lamps in your Home Decor: 11 Best Tips

Focusing on finding new projects, resources, tips, new ideas, and inspiration for you is my main task. I’m constantly discovering fabulous finds to inspire us. My goal is to help you find ideas for your home decor, your crafting, your home organization, and anything about home.

Whether you are looking for accent lamps, floor lamps, or lamps for the bedroom nightstand, good lighting is essential in our homes.

Although we strive for natural light as much as possible, we have to have sources of light at night or for areas that are dark, even in the daytime.

From a practical standpoint, we use light fixtures for reading, completing tasks, and general ambiance. Proper lighting is essential.

Lighting can be wired in the ceiling (pendants and chandeliers) and on the walls (sconces).

TIP: Almost every overhead light source in your home should be on a dimmer switch! We even have dimmers in our bathrooms.

Accent lamps don’t just provide light. They can be home decor accessories, providing color, pattern, and texture. They can even be pieces of art. Lighting design is an art form.

NOTE: Every week on the Monday Memo, I share valuable home decor tips. Join the list (on any post) to receive more good stuff.

Like with the rugs, as you read these articles, you’ll notice some overlap in what is recommended. I still find that reassuring. It means there is consensus on the hows, whys, and whats of the best ways to choose and use lamps and lighting in your home decor.

I’ve tried to group these articles where possible into different types of lamps, lamps for certain rooms, and general information.

end table lamp

How to Pick Lamps for the Living Room

Since I need living room lamps, that’s where I first focused. This article from The Spuce gives an excellent overview of how to select the best lamps for your living spaces.

using matching end table lamps

Living Room Lighting Ideas

Ideal Home has excellent information on how to choose lighting for your living spaces. I loved this particular space that used the color of the lamps as an accent. There are 30 different examples of living room lighting, so have fun browsing.

tall lamp on narrow table

Lamps for Narrow Surfaces

My friend had “my” lamps on her buffet in her dining room. What a great place for lamps. This article from Fine Home Lamps shares great information for how to choose lamps for narrow spaces. This particular image gave me a great idea for our mantel or entry console.

blue lamp with shades

It’s All About the Shade

A lamp without a shade is like a horse without a carriage. The shade completes the lamp base in style, size, color or pattern. Apartment Therapy gets deep into the science of lampshades.

lamps for end tables

How to Select the Perfect Lamp for an End Table

Accent lamps have to have a surface to sit on. That is usually a table of some sort. Rooms Interior Design gives you 5 tips to select the right lamp for your end tables. Definitely read this one.

nightstand lamp


Best Size for Table Top Lamps

Following up on the previous article, my friend Suzy of Worthing Court shares some helpful ideas for selecting the best size for your table lamps. She shares great pictures, too.

Choose and Use Lamps in your Home

5 Tips for Decorating with Lamps

If you are not familiar with Jennifer of Jennifer Decorates, I’m introducing you to her. She has great videos on YouTube (be sure to subscribe to her channel. Watch this video for great tips for decorating with lamps to get the best bang for your buck. (Screenshot from YouTube video.

lamp on table

Expert Ideas for Using Lamps

Another friend, Yvonne of Stonegable Blog, is another home decor expert who loves lamps and sharing best practices for using them. She loves classic and transitional style that lasts year after year.

room before using lamps

The Beauty of Adding Lamps to Your Spaces

In my lamp research, I discovered Maria Killiam, who not only is an accomplished interior designer, but a gal with a wicked sense of humor. She shows you how important lighting is to our home decor and our sense of well-being. Here’s the “before” of a lake cabin AirBnB she transformed.

nightstand lamp

Best Size Light Fixtures

Have you ever known something wasn’t quite right in your home decor? I knew my nightstand lamps were too tall and now Kris of Driven by Decor has confirmed it. She shares great tips for helping you choose the best lamp sizes for different places in your home.

using lamp on table

A Shade by Any Other Name

We’ve talked about lamps; now let’s talk specifically about shades. The wrong lamp shade can ruin a lamp, but the right shade in shape and size can elevate a lamp to home accessory heaven. If you’ve never been to a Ballard Design store, then come to Dallas, and I’ll take to one. This article from Ballard Designs is so helpful; it’s a must-read. Did you know that Ballard has a podcast called How to Decorate? You can subscribe from their website. I just subscribed to it

I hope you PIN this post, visit each selection, and PIN each one. You can check out my HOME DECOR Pinterest Board.

I’d love to know what subjects you are most curious about. Let me know in the comments and I’ll search browse for them. Be sure to PIN to keep these ideas handy.

P.S. I did get the pair of lamps. They are in our living room, and I absolutely love them.

white sofa with blue pillows and blue lamps
pin for later graphic in blue

I’ll be browsing away between writing posts, listening to podcasts, reading, doing various blogging tasks, playing tennis, and walking Nola.

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One Comment

  1. Love your lamp story! Carol I saw that lamp or a similar one at Homegoods within the last 10 days. I have my eye on it but now may need to scour the metro area HG stores! Ha!
    Love the tips! Love your room makeover! Happy Day friend! laura