Is your home a house of light? You can even have a lot of windows and not have enough light. By carefully using artificial light, you can create a warm atmosphere that shines and is bathed in light.

Believe it or not, light is a basic decorating element. Offices and restaurants hire lighting firms to create just the right atmosphere. You too, can create the perfect atmosphere with a few strategically placed lamps. Most rooms are light deprived. Look around your rooms and you will notice dark spots around highly used areas. You will feel better if a room is bathed in light.

Wall Sconces
Sconces are not a major source of light, and are mainly for decoration. However they can create subtle pools of light that can highlight important works of art. Scones are a wonderful way to frame a space or to create symmetry. Try placing sconces on both sides of a mirror or a painting. Sconces are best used in pairs, using them singly tends to throw an arrangement off balance. Where to use sconces? We have had great success in many rooms - dining rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms. Whatever room, they give a lovely refined look.

Table Lamps
Table lamps can be a room's crowning glory, adding a balanced and interest to a decorating scheme. Or, if they are not well place and thought out, table lamps can be a hodgepodge. In general, it is best to have all of the lamps in a room be of the same style of shape to give good design flow. It is also best to match end table lamps for good visual symmetry.

Table lamps have distinct personalities, just like furniture. It is often a good idea to invest in good classic shapes that will work into your home for years to come. If you are matching a lamp to a certain fabric in a room, think about what you are doing. Fabrics come and go, so pick your lamps to go in many settings.

Lampshades
So you have the perfect lamp - now it is important to maintain its integrity by choosing the right shade. It is important to note that a shade's primary purpose is to hide the bulb and to diffuse light. With that said, remember a shade should complement the lamp, not overpower it. When choosing a shade, simplicity is often the key. While shades come in a large variety of patterns and colors, simple plain shades are often the best. A gorgeous brass lamp is wonderfully offset by a simple black, cream or white shade.

A common mistake is to fit a lamp with a too large shade, creating the look of a drowning lamp. At the same time, a shade that is too small looks skimpy. Often the sizing problem can be fixed by changing the lamp's harp. Changing the harp size by only an inch can make all the difference.

Shades also come in many prices; you can even pick one up at mass merchandisers. But like all things in life, you get what you pay for. Ultra inexpensive shades will often tear and discolor after a short time. We pride ourselves in carrying quality mid-priced shades that we know are made well, and retain their color and shape.