Table Lamps: Shopping Tips For Finding The Perfect One
It seems like buying a table lamp should be a no-brainer. If you are a college student and just looking for some extra lighting for your cramped and poorly decorated dorm room—then indeed shopping for a table lamp boils down to one thing—price. So long as the thing works for 7 or 8 months without problems, then the cheaper the better! But is the approach you want to take when choosing a table lamp for your own home or condo? Of course not. Your home is perhaps the largest investment you will ever make in your life and any improvements, including light fixtures, should be purchased with the idea of either adding value to your home or at least helping to retain it. In short, not all table lamps truly add to the value of a home—either aesthetically or literally.
Why does anything have value? When sentiment is not involved, value is determined by an object’s relative uniqueness in the world (either the rarity of the materials used to make that object or the relative rarity of the object itself). Think of it this way—why does a BMW cost more than a Chevy? Better still—why are antique automobiles worth more when fewer of them remain in existence? Simple—because they are not making any more of them. Now what does any of this have to do with tips to keep in mind when shopping for a table lamp?
A table lamp is more valuable when it is not in every household in the country. What is special about a light fixture that you can find every time you visit a neighbor? Nothing. So when you are shopping for a table lamp, look for ones that appear unique or have some special design feature. Yes, there may be thousands of that lamp produced every year but that is certainly better than millions! Therefore, don’t be afraid to choose a table lamp that is more on the eccentric side as it is more likely to add true value to your home and retain its value better.
Another tip to keep in mind when shopping for a table lamp is to make a purchase based upon the décor of the room where you intend to use it. All lighting fixtures should complement the design features of the room in which they are used. It should literally seem as though the table lamp is a part of the room as opposed to just some simple tool used to illuminate it.
When you buy table lamps with the décor in mind, then you are going to make better choices that you are less likely to regret in years to come. A perfect time, in fact, to go shopping for table lamps is when you are in the process of refinishing or redecorating a room. Try to match the lamp shade with upholstery or wall colors while coordinating any base or accent metals with those on other lighting fixtures in the room for the most complete look possible.
About the Author:
Pamela Tice is the owner of numerous lighting and home decor websites including http://www.simplytablelamps.com . Her store offers a complete selection of unique Table Lamps and faboulous Home Lighting ranging in styles such a Mission, Contemporary, Traditional and Tiffany lamps.