Interior design is difficult, especially when comparing yourself to every tik tok and Instagram #interiordesigninspo page. Sometimes your home is executed perfectly but something is just “off”. Let me get you in on a little secret, the answer is ditching your overhead lighting for lamps, candles, or really anything else. Once you make the switch there is really no going back. The ambiance is unbeatable.
This post isn’t so much as a “best tips and tricks” (but I will leave some below) rather than proving to you I know what I am talking about – through the use of examples.
Example #1 the living room.
Coming out with a strong opinion here – you should NEVER use overhead lighting in a living room. I have never hosted a party, hangout, or even solo reading session where my lamp didn’t absolutely set the PERFECT mood.
Find yourself a nice lamp or two that you can pop on when it starts to get dark out. It will elevate your room perfectly, I promise you.
Example #2 the Bedroom
My bedroom MUST be the coziest, warmest, most inviting room in my house. Arguably I thought this would be the easiest room. But the lamps.. they were just not looking good. The classic case of trying until it works- and it will always work. I was hoping I could just transfer my lamp setup from my previous apartment to my new one.
As seen here my old apartment’s bedroom was truly ~giving~ you just want to read and get comfy cozy.
When transferring it to my new place it was nice, but it just didn’t work.
The experiment – was it the lamp or was it the room? Answer: the lamp (and kinda the room too)
After I moved my lamp around to every possible surface (even creating new surfaces in hopes of recreating the immaculate vibes) I determined it was the rooms fault and not the lamps fault.
Initially I thought an idea for two symmetrical sconces or lamps on either side of the bed would be the best solution, but this lamp was the solution it didn’t know I needed.
This room needed reinforcements – a taller bigger light. Thus introducing one of my favorite thrift manifestations ever. It gave everything i needed, a warm comforting yellow light, enough power, and it was a statement.
Example 3: Secret lamps saving the day
Ok, ok. I just made a whole section about making a statement about lamps blah blah. But sometimes keeping your lamp hidden is best practice.
This whole blog is to convince you to use lamps everywhere, and I mean everywhere.
I have always struggled with my new bathroom, it is TINY. It has amazing shelves but balancing aesthetics and usability can be difficult. after finally figuring out the vibe it just wasn’t looking right… is it bad interior design or is it overhead lighting? Hypothesis proven here.
My little hidden lamp TRANSFORMED this room into the coziest bathroom you’ll ever poop in. And let me tell you taking a dim shower with this little lamp will relax the most anxious of people.
Okay tips and tricks for lamps
- Warm lighting – get the right bulb.
- Basic is better – I am not a fan of “in your face” when it comes to the smaller lamps.
- Can’t find a lamp you like – use a candle
Almost Pretty Good 
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