Table Lamp Tips from Lumen

Lumen Lamps has an eye for beautiful table lamps — whether you're looking for Contemporary, Modern, Traditional, Transitional, Modern, Rustic, Mission, Asian and other types & styles of table lamps. But there are other practical considerations when you are shopping for lamps in your local store or online.

• Be sure that your table lamp is in proportion to your room and furniture. For example, a small side table should have a smaller lamp, just as a king sized bed should be balanced with larger lamps.
• Use several lamps in a room in order to avoid shadows and dark areas. Low, even light creates a warm atmosphere for entertaining.
• Watch the height of your lamp: always try to avoid having to look at sockets and bulbs when seated nearby. Ideally the bottom of the shade should be approximately shoulder level (and not higher) when reading.
• Three-way sockets allow for "extra" light while reading as well as softer light for entertaining.
• While "Reveal" bulbs provide a whiter light which is good for reading, they change the color of your lamp shade. Shade fabrics are typically chosen with regular soft white bulbs as the standard.
• Lamp shades are like ladies fashion; they lengthen and shorten over time. A great way to update your room is to change shades at your local shade shop. TAKE YOUR LAMP WITH YOU! Would you try to buy shoes without your feet?
• There are not really any hard-and-fast rules associated with table lamps other than that the shade should never be larger in diameter than the surface upon which the lamp sits.
• Check the base of the lamp for its weighting. Quality lamps typically have heavier bases. Also, if your lamp will be in a place that could easily be bumped (e.g. by kids), then you'll definitely want a lamp with a heavier base.
• You do not necessarily have to match your style of table lamp with your overall home and furnishing decor — be it traditional, contemporary, rustic, etc. It is a matter of personal taste. We will be glad to recommend lamps for your room.