Decorating with Lamps
by Nikki Willhite - Willhite@aol.com
Description: Tips for decorating your home with lamps.
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We all need lamps to read and do other task-related activities.
One way to have some frugal fun decorating your home is with the
creative use of lamps. Some task lighting is more functional than
decorative. In the living areas of our homes, we usually use
decorative lamps. With just a little bit of skill and knowledge
you can have fun, distinctive lamps that add charm to your home.
When you buy two matching lamps at the store, and place them on
tables at each end of your sofa, you are creating a department
store look. It's not very exciting, and not very original.
You've probably seen the clear lamp bases that you can buy in
craft stores. You can fill these bases with rocks, shells,
little cars, or anything else you find esthetically pleasing.
However, you can do a lot more.
If you've never made a lamp before, the first thing you want to
do is go to the hardware store and check out the wiring kits.
Once you understand how easy it is to wire an object for use as a
lamp, your mind will begin to fill with possibilities.
After you understand how the electric system works, you need to
observe the different styles of lampshades. Walk around a store
that sells them, and observe both the styles of the shades, and
how they look on different bases.
When you finish wiring a lamp, you should take it with you to the
store to buy the lampshade. Unless you have a very good (and
incredible) eye, there is no way to pick out the correct size and
proportion of the lampshade best for your lamp.
You will also need to make sure that when the shade (or harp)
sits on the bulb that it covers it completely.
You also need to be aware of subtle differences of color. A lot
of lampshades are white. Be aware that there are MANY shades of
white. The walls in my house look white, but are actually have a
lot of yellow in them, and are cream colored.
My sofa looks like it has a white background, but it is also
cream colored. You put that sofa in a bright white room, and it
looks muddy.
The same thing is true with lampshades. If your house has very
white walls, a cream lampshade is not going to look good, and
visa-versa.
Other favorite colors for lampshades are shades of beige and
taupe. Again, some shades of beige have more yellow in them. In
the right room with the correct base, black lampshades can be
stunning.
There are a lot of things you can do with lampshades to decorate
them. You can punch out holes in them that make pretty light
patterns when the light is turned on, or you can add things like
fabric or paint.
I covered one of my lampshades with fabric from a sheet. The URL
to that example (with a picture) is at:
http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/bdrm.htm
If you want to start with a used lamp, that is an easy find. You
don't have to worry about whether a lamp works. If you see
something you really like at a great price, you will know that it
is very easy to swap out the electrical system and change the
shade. Many people do not realize that you can rewire a lamp that
does not work. If their lamp ceases to function, they just get
rid of it.
Have a little fun with it, and make a decorative lamp that is
truly your own creation. Develop this skill. It is a fun, and
can save money.
Reprinted with permission from:
All Things Frugal
http://www.allthingsfrugal.com
