Choosing Table Lamps - A Simple Thing Turns Out to be Quite Complicated

Have you ever noticed how what you thought was a simple thing, turns out to be quite complicated? Like making choices on the best table lamps for you.

There are table lamps with stained glass lampshades, painted glass shades, cloth shades, and handcrafted shades of many other translucent materials. The bases are made of metal, wood, and ceramic. The only thing they have in common is that there are electrified for light bulbs - incandescent, compact fluorescent, halogen, or LED.

Table lamps come in a variety of styles depending on their uses: reading lamps, desk lamps, novelty lamps, and accent lamps. The only thing they have in common is that they are put on a table, or maybe a ledge. 

Next, table lamps come in many décor styles: Tiffany, Victorian, Floral, Gothic, Nautical,Traditional, Southwest, Contemporary, Rustic, Lodge, Mission, Western, Jadestone or Prairie. 

Table lamps add character and beauty to the decoration of any room in your home. They are by far the most popular form of lighting. They come in many smashing colors and designs. Most people buy table and accent lamps based on the style of décor.   

Why Use Table Lamps

• They are portable and you can easily move them as you rearrange your furniture. 
•  They are mostly task lights: stained glass table lamps, desk lamps, buffet lamps, accent lamps. 
•  They are beautiful accessories in their own right. 
•   They come in a myriad of styles and colors to match your taste and   décor. 
•   They dramatically beautify a room.  

Table Lamps by Décor 

Tiffany 

Tiffany lamps are arguably one of the most popular lamps today. They are popular due to their unique characteristics. When turned on at any time of the day or night, a stained glass Tiffany lamp adds a bright focal splash of color. It provides interesting yet mellow light and shadow patterns in your room. Cloth lampshades are unable to replicate this beauty.  

Each Tiffany stained glass shade is handcrafted using the copper foil process invented by Louis Comfort Tiffany in the late Nineteenth Century. High quality Tiffany  lamps will last for generations and become family heirlooms. Decorating with stained glass  Cleaning Stained Glass

Contemporary 

Contemporary lamps rate today as one of the best accessories you can buy. "If chosen correctly, it is as important to a room as your best piece of furniture," says a New Jersey-based lighting designer. "It reflects your taste and adds the finishing touch." 

Mission 

The Mission style look is very subtle. It takes a lot of its inspiration from the earth, sea, and especially the desert. The Mission style has been around over 100 years, but it is constantly being refined. Today, its center is in California, Arizona and New Mexico, where it has become
the "hottest design style".   

Rustic  Lodge  Prairie

Rustic, Lodge, and  Prairie styles not only change the look of the light and room, they in themselves are a work of sculpture, capturing many outdoor wildlife, stylized grasses in stained glass, mica or metal. These styles all mean a down home, earthy style of decorating. The emphasis is on the outdoors and nature.    

 Table Lamps by Uses 

Task Lighting

Task lighting is used to light any task that needs additional lighting. For example, a table lamp can be put next to a chair for reading, or a small desk lamp on a desk, or a light on a table where crafts are being done. You get the idea, task lighting lights an area where a specific task is performed.   

Ambient Lighting 

Ambient lighting is lighting that provides a background light to a room or large area. A table lamp with a (torchiere) shade can face up toward the ceiling and cast a general light to most of a room.  

Accent Lighting 

Accent lighting adds drama to a room by creating visual interest. The lamp itself can be the accent of color or design. A low wattage table lamp, just enough to highlight the lamp, is all you need.  

Accent lighting can highlight prized possessions, or the texture of a wall, or drapery. Accent lighting requires at least three times as much light on the focal point as the general lighting around it. 

In the 20^th Century, choosing a lamp appeared an easy task. In the 21^st Century, choosing a lamp can be as complex as you like would like to make it.  

Have fun choosing your table lamps. Please contact us with any questions regarding table lamps. support@smashingstainedglass.com or 763-350-0293