Creative lighting that will add something special to your home
4 minute read
Akari tall table light by Isamu Noguchi from Vitra, www.scp.co.uk
As most of us know, lighting within our home can make or break how a space feels. And a great light should either help us to do a task, or create a relaxing atmosphere. There’s not much point in having a fabulous looking light if it doesn’t tick either of those boxes… that’s just a waste of money, and a waste of space. It’s as simple as that. A light has to light up the area around it or there’s no point to it.
As an interiors’ stylist, I’m always on the lookout for lights that will bring another layer of interest to a space. Creative designs that give me a little bit of pleasure when I look at them. Also, think of them as an important tool in creating an interesting home that reflects your tastes, and your character. Just make sure your lamp has both form and function, after all there is no point in having the world’s most beautiful light if it doesn’t do the job you need it to do. Great lighting can help you get through dark winters, and I actually look forward to turning on my lights at night. They have a transformative effect on the atmosphere of my home. They actually make me feel good.
The following are some examples of lights that I would love to have in my home. Most of them have quite high price points, and may be out of your budget. They will however inspire you to think about how you light your home. Simply imagine them hanging in your home, and try to visualise the difference they could make. Then, if you like a particular style, simply check out bigger homeware brands for their own budget friendly versions. I’m not advocating designers being ripped off, but we can’t avoid the fact that not everyone wants to pay a few hundred quid for a light. But if you can afford it, and you want to buy it, then original is always best.
From left to right:
Singapour pendant lamp, www.scp.co.uk; Anglepoise Original Type 1227 giant floor light, www.anglepoise.com; Dawa table lamp, www.sklum.com
Colour and texture are what make the above lamps so wonderful. They have such visual impact that will liven up any spot that they are put in. Apart from the giant Anglepoise floor lamp in bright yellow, the other two are relatively subdued in their tones. Both the Singapour and the Dawa will sit well against most wall colours due to their rich, earthy, tones. They will also give off a beautiful, soft diffused light. And may even add pattern to a wall due to their perforated shades…and this can be really pretty at night.
With regards to the floor lamp, it is not designed to be a giant task light. You wouldn’t want to stick a super bright bulb in this one, sit under it and read your newspaper. You would probably feel like you were being interrogated. It will be better used to cast indirect light into an area that you want to highlight at night, or onto a wall that you want to reflect light off of. This could be a gallery wall, a lovely piece of furniture or an alcove that displays your treasures. Used as an indirect light, it becomes a thing of beauty.
From left to right: Rattan Pasha hanging lamp, www.soane.co.uk; quill feather wall light, www.anthropologie.com; star shaped beaded pendant lamp, www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk
Decorative lights are simply that, well designed objects that look great. They can enhance your decor and possibly allow you to express your personality in your home. All of the above lights will gently lighten up a space, whilst casting a beautiful glow over the area they are in. These are all statement pieces. You have to love these lights to buy them, and take your time to work out where they will look best in your home. Lights like these will move with you from home to home throughout your life. They would never end up in a skip because you’ve fallen out of love with them. And they will gently encourage you to decorate the rest of your home in the most authentic way possible. After all, why make an investment in a light if you don’t make the same investment in the rest of your home?
Left to right: Bamboozle fabric wall light, www.pooky.com; rug printed lamp base, www.anthropologie.com; Susi Bellamy marbled Tiffany lamp, www.beauvamp.com
Texture is another important element that you can think about when choosing lights. All of the above lights have fabric as their key ingredient, and this brings yet another dimension to these lights. Textiles in general will always be the most important finishing touch for me when I design a space. They make a room feel human, cosy, comforting. And with lamps like these, you can add a further layer of softness to a corner of your home. Look at the above lamps and imagine how they make you feel compared to a plain, metal lampshade. They feel warm, vibrant and full of character. They may not be as practical as a wipe clean, bog standard shade…but they do another equally as important job - they stimulate your senses, both with their colour and their texture. The different lamps above are obviously all quite varied in design, but they would all work fantastically well together in the same space. All due to their similar colour palette, and the fact that they are made from fabric. Everything doesn’t need to be ‘matchey matchey’, in fact it’s far more interesting if it’s not.
From left to right: Cassie Feather light, www.anthropologie.com; pineapple chandelier, www.grahamandgreen.co.uk; shaggy palm lamp, www.abigailahern.com
And then we have those lights that are simply a little bit special, that kind of stop you in your tracks due to their pure originality. Lights that kind of fit the Zeitgeist that’s happening in the world of interiors right now. These are definitely purchases from the heart and there’s nothing practical about them whatsoever. You buy them because you love them. Not everyone may get your unusual choice, but then not everyone is living in your home. Just you.