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
http://www.simplytablelamps.com/table-lamps.html and faboulous
http://www.simplytablelamps.com/shop-by-color-stl.html ranging
in styles such a Mission, Contemporary, Traditional and Tiffany
lamps.