How to Choose the Right Lamp


by John Billington - Date: 2007-05-09 - Word Count: 705 Share This!

Adding a little light to your bedroom or living area seems like a simple task, and it is, provided that you consider some of the factors affecting which lamp fixture you should buy. Too many home owners and even decorators choose lamp lighting while out shopping without taking measurements and considering both the style and the purpose of the lamp to accommodate the necessities of the living area. Size, brightness, and style are very important when purchasing any type of home lighting, but lamp fixtures are especially particular because they serve the dual purpose of providing light and ornamenting the room. Before you go hunting for a new lamp, be prepared with a few helpful hints.
The size of the lamp is possibly the most important matter to determine. This is somewhat dependant on the functionality of the potential fixture. Will this lamp sit on the floor or on a table? Will it be used for reading light? Where will the lamp be positioned in the room? These are all questions that need to be asked. If the lamp is going to be placed on a table, it must have the right proportions so that the lampshade does not overlap the edges of the table. This not only prevents the lampshade from being bumped into but also allows for a few more objects to be placed on the table for display. At the same time, the lamp should not be too small for the top of the table. If the lamp is going to be utilized for reading or other activities that require adequate light, the size is especially crucial. The lamp and lampshade need to be large enough to illuminate the area for reading. It is helpful for the height of the bottom of the lampshade to rest at the same level as the ear of a person positioned on the bed, couch, or chair. Making measurements of all of these factors ahead of time will save you time later. Measure the table height and circumference and measure the height from the floor to the ear of a person sitting on the furniture. Additionally, take the weight of the lamp into consideration. If there are young children around the house, a heavier lamp base has a smaller chance of being pushed over. Lighter weight lamps should be used in areas that draw less traffic in the home.
The wattage of a lamp fixture needs to be appropriate for the purpose of the lamp. Most lamp fixtures support a 60 watt light bulb. This is fine if the purpose of the lamp is mostly decorative or additional to existing lighting. However, if the lamp is used for reading or is one of few or only fixtures in a room a lamp that holds three bulbs or more will be much more efficient, if they produce 60 watts each. Most people should have 100 watts of light for reading, and there are some reading lamps that produce this wattage with a single bulb, but if you cannot find a fixture like this, a three-way fixture will work just as well.
The materials and styles of lamps are the most flexible options. The style of the room does not even have to completely match the lamp, which goes for the lamp material as well. As long as the finish of the fixture is complimentary or matching to the surface the lamp will rest on, the material can be chosen by taste. To narrow the search, decide on a contemporary or traditional style first and proceed by finding the right sized and proportioned lamps. Lamps need to pull a room together, whether that is by pulling two colors together or filling a space with good light, and without the right proportions it will be difficult.
Picking the right lamp fixture may be the final factor in the success of your home lighting. Lamps are crucial decorative pieces that must provide the light you need while tying the room design together. Take the time to measure precisely and choose wisely.

About the Author: John Billington is the president and CEO of Five Rivers Inc., a leading online provider of home lighting and bathroom lighting. For more information, please visit www.fiverivers.com.


Related Tags: outdoor lighting, home lighting, bathroom lighting

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