subject: Colorful Floor Lamps For Your Home [print this page] The lighting design for a home, or a room within a home, is an important consideration in creating the overall interior design effect you are looking for. You need to think about how much light you need to bring into the room and choose light fixtures that work well with the colors, furniture and fabrics in the room. The fixtures must harmonize with each other as well.
We think of light primarily for its function of illumination. But when filtered through a beautiful Tiffany style lamp shade, it can also add a colorful design element to the room. Torchiere style lighting, which casts an upward glow, can set off a portion of the room, adding drama and warmth as well as light. Smaller accent lights are often placed in a room to highlight something important such as a work of art or a display of fine crystal.
The sunlight that comes into a room and any overhead light fixtures work together to create the ambient light for the space. This light goes everywhereit hits the walls, the ceilingand is thus your unfocused source of light. Balancing the brightness is the goal when choosing the permanent, overhead fixtures from the room. You dont want it so bright that you create an institutional feel to the room, as though you are in an office or a hospital. But you dont want it so dim that you might bump into the furniture or not be able to see well enough to use the TV remote, for example.
Task Lights
Many people incorporate task lights into their overall lighting design. There may be areas of the room such as a desk or over the kitchen countertop, where you need brighter, focused light. Fixtures with dimmer switches are popular choices so you can balance the amount of light with the task you are doing.
You can also add interest to a wall by pairing several task lights, such as sconces. These work well in hallways or stairs, too, in order to bring just the right amount of light into a smaller space.
Floor and Table Lamps
Floor and table lamps are portable and thus give you flexibility. If you are reading in your favorite comfortable chair, you can move a floor lamp closer to the chair, or adjust the dimmer switch to a higher position.
Floor lamps are available in a myriad of designs that add style, color and function to a room. You could choose an arched lamp that can be adjusted to swing closer to a chair or desk. Another option would be an arc style with multiple points of lights. Floor lamps with adjustable height are another versatile choice.
Floor lamps are great accent pieces to help you finish off the design of a room. They can be as simple as a pole with a fabric shade, in a color that harmonizes with the overall color scheme of the room. Other shade styles are available as well, including metal, paper and glass. The designs of the bases are highly creative as well. Think about your overall design style: it is traditional or contemporary. Different floor lamps are better suited to each style.
Look for floor lamps with stable bases so you dont have to worry about them tipping over, particularly if they are placed on a plush carpet.
Tiffany Inspired Floor Lamps
Tiffany inspired lamps can be muted or striking depending on the combination of lamp style and color. Their hallmark feature is the use of glass shades made with small pieces of stained glass. Color and pattern choices are numerous. These stained glass lamps are produced using the copper foil method, which craftsmen have been using for more than 100 years.
The Vineyard Escape Floor Lamp, for example, has the tapering shape of a champagne flute, and is made up of more than 950 individual pieces of stained glass. The 45 high lamp has an elegant scrolled metal base. This lamp is colorful and dramatic. It would quickly become a focal point in a room. Illumination is provided by a 100 watt and a 40 watt bulb.
For a completely different look, a great choice is the Beaded Parisian Side-Arm Floor Lamp. This 60 high lamp features delicate beading around the bottom of the shade, and is made of 500 pieces of glass and 12 cabochons. The adjustable side arm, made of wrought iron, adds versatility to the fixture. You can place it near a desk or other work surface and of course near a comfy reading chair. This lamp adds romance to any room, with the muted elegance of its red and green glass.
The Exotic Retreat Floor Lamp has a charming simplicity. The light that filters through the yellow and green glass shademade up of more than 1000 piecescreates a feeling of warmth and comfort. The modernistic style base has a unique, eye catching geometric pattern. This 64 high lamp requires three 60 watt bulbs and is operated with a pull chain.
