Lamps are not only great sources of light. Whether it’s reading, writing or working on a craft project, a lamp or two will make the job easier. However, more than just providing a generous pool of light, they also add a huge impact on your decorating scheme. A simple lamp on an entry table, for instance, can lend a cozy welcome to your guests. When placed on the kitchen or the bedroom, they aid in softening the hard edges of the space, and when slipped in an awkward corner of the living room, it can do a whole lot in giving the space a fresh face. With such capabilities, no wonder, lamps are a must-have item in any decorator’s arsenal.

If you are planning to give your room a makeover, don’t forget to include lamps in your decorating scheme as they will definitely lend an amazing impact to your space. To get you started, here are some tips you can follow when incorporating lamps in your home’s décor.

Determine the function of the room

Before you buy lamps, consider what activities you are going to use the space for. The type of activities that the room will serve will influence your choice of fixtures as well as their placement. Since most rooms serve more than one function, it is necessary that you purchase lamps that will allow you to do those activities properly. For instance, table lamps can become the key sources of light for the bedroom that will permit the occupant to properly traverse through the space and allow sufficient illumination for reading. A work area that doubles as a reading room, on the other hand, calls for tall and narrow floor lamps that can be easily slipped into corners to illumine dark spaces and provide ample amount of light for homework or reading.

Think of your décor

Aside from the function of the room, you also need to look at the existing décor. Doing so will allow you to select the right pieces that will complement the rest of the room. For instance, if your room is contemporary, lamps with slim bases and drum-shaped shades will fit in well to the space since they can lend drama to the room without necessarily overpowering other decorative elements inside. A room with a classic décor, on the other hand, is best accentuated with lamps whose shades are round or square.

Mind the scale

Always pay special attention to the size of your lamps. Be sure that their scale is appropriate for the location where they will be placed. You do not want to accessorize a small coffee table with a huge lamp with tapered shade. Not only will the piece look out of place, it will also affect the flow of traffic in the room since it is likely to be bumped into or knocked over. Similarly, a particularly small lamp should not be used a stand-alone fixture in a large room. As a rule of thumb, the shade of the lamp should be between one-half to three-fourths the size of its base, and it should also be able to properly hide the lamp’s hardware.

Translucent or opaque?

Another important thing that you have to consider when picking a lamp is the amount of light you want the fixture to cast. If you want a lamp that will illumine the room and will provide light for certain tasks, your best bet is to go for a piece with a translucent shade. However, if the lamp will function only as an accessory to the room, go for an opaque shade instead.

This article was written by Ericka for www.heritagecleaning.co.uk. Ericka is a home improvement enthusiast which inspires her to write helpful posts about home repair, organization, maintenance, décor and gardening.