Choosing the rattan table lamp can make or break a room.  It’s not just the lighting they provide – lamps are such an important décor element.  From the bulb to the shade, there are so many decisions to make!  Here are a few tips:

Tip 1: Height Counts

If you’ve been shopping for lamps, you may have noticed they come in what seems to be an infinite number of height options.  While the height of the actual lamp is important, what you are actually looking for is the total height of the lamp and the furniture it sits on.  Together, they should hit between 58” and 64” from the floor.  (And learn from my mistake!  I have a rattan table lamp that fits the recommended height requirements, but I can’t reach the toggle to turn it on from the couch. 😉  So check that, too!)  PRO TIP: Lamps also come in many size variations.  Within the style of the room, I like to take a cue from the furniture that will hold the lamp.  Nothing looks odder than a heavy, chunky lamp on a delicate end table.  For balance, look for lamps that have a coordinating visual weight with your furniture.   

Tip 2: Consider Shades

Finding the right shade can be a monumental task.  When hunting, keep this in mind: A good “rule of thumb” for a shade is twice as wide as the base of the lamp, and 1/3 as tall.  Shades are generally described with three numbers; the diameter of the top, the diameter of the base, and the slant (this is more common than providing the height). Also, you’ll want to make sure the shade matches the mechanics of the lamp; Spider, Uno, and Clip-On.  Spider is the most common, with spokes that come together to mount on a harp over the light bulb.  Uno shades mount under the light bulb, and clip-ons (usually for very small lamps) have wire hoops that clutch the bulb itself.  PRO TIP: A word on opacity.  Some shades allow little light through, making them good for task lighting.  To light up a room, you will want a shade that is more transparent.   

Tip 3: Thoughts on Style

A prominent designer once compared lamps to jewelry; not as a matching pair of earrings, but as coordinating pieces that can be worn together.  Unless your décor is very traditional, the lamps in a room don’t need to match.  For cohesion, they should share a commonality such as color, style, or shade choice.  You can even mix metals, which can be great fun!  PRO TIP: Table lamps work best as part of a whole-room lighting scheme that layers ambient, task, and accenting lighting from various sources. 

Bonus Tip:  I’m definitely one of those people who struggles with choosing bulbs in the correct color, so here is my handy dandy little cheat sheet for LED bulbs:  The 2000s are warm, the 3000s are natural and the 4000s are cool.  If your rooms are warm colors (creams and browns) go warm, if they are cool (whites and blacks) go cool.  If you have lots of colors, natural lighting always works. 🙂