Let’s put it on the table straight away: I do not like torchiere-style lamps. I may even be permanently traumatized by the 1980s salmon-colored pair I encountered in a client’s living room a couple years back. Some people like them, which is great; I honestly love that there are so many styles of lighting for people to choose from in this world. After all, a lamp is a functional accessory, unlike a glimmering hunk of amethyst that sits there looking amazing while the husband asks why we need such a thing. But I digress.
Lamp style is definitely important, but so is lamp quantity. The way you light a room will completely change the space, and having multiple lighting sources allows you to control ambience, mood and how you use the room. Putting those light sources on a dimmer makes it incredibly easy to change up the brightness as often as you want. I’m fairly certain dimmers are a gift from the decorating gods.
Here's how to get your own layers of lighting right.
1. Use a mix of floor and table lighting.
Depending on the size of a space, I nearly always recommend both floor and table lighting. I love the mix of lighting in this room. Each piece is interesting in its own right and adds to the overall design. Lamps are an opportunity to add something extra to a space — whether it's shine, color, art or abstraction.
2. Get the scale right.
Overhead lighting adds a fantastic touch if it’s done right. Consider its size and purpose when going for an overhead fixture in a living space. This openwork geometric fixture looks gorgeous against the paper-white ceiling and walls. It adds a distinct focal point without being the sole lighting source. The floor lamp next to the sofa acts as a warm complement and keeps the lighting levels soft. It's more a catch-up-on-secrets space to me.
3. Use canned lights sparingly.
I don’t really consider canned lights overhead fixtures. I see them as ambient lighting that should be employed sparingly and purposefully. When using canned lights, people have a tendency to go a bit nuts. From a design perspective, canned lighting should never be your sole source of light. I've been in one too many homes that look like a landing strip or gaming arcade because they've had the entire ceiling done in canned lights. It becomes a missed design opportunity.
Check out this gorgeous room. Why can't more rooms be like this? The designer did it exactly right by using just a sprinkling of canned lights to accent a beam while employing matching tripod-style floor lamps to illuminate the space in a very stylish way.
4. Don't be afraid to mix and match colors.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to lamps and lighting. There are suggestions, but in the end, it all comes down to what works best for your lifestyle and your own personal tastes.
Rooms feel more layered and interesting with a few mismatched items. The tall floor lamp in a different color than the bright blue bedside lamps really works here. Not only is the floor lamp tied to the overall color scheme through the colors in the pillows, but it also has a distinct purpose in lighting the seating area, making it the perfect place for settling down to read a magazine without any other lights on. The bedside lamps light both sides of the bed.
With all the lights on, the room is likely brighter but not overwhelmingly bright, and lighted in a controlled way. I love mismatching that works this well.
5. Know the right way to choose a table lamp.
I don't hold to many established design rules, but I do believe that you should not be able to see the neck of the light bulb, or the lightbulb socket, from a standing or seated position. If you do, the lamp is probably too tall. The glare of a bare bulb isn't pleasant for anyone.
I think tall table lamps give a room a bit of elegance. The beautiful cream-colored table lamp shown here is larger than you might expect for a delicate side table, but it works so well because of its classic shape and neutral color and the general eclectic chic of the room. If you see a large lamp base that you absolutely love, then I say buy it! Get a shade that will allow for the bulb to be covered, and you're good to go.
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