LAMPS

A LAMP DOES MORE THAN SIMPLY SHED LIGHT... THE RIGHT DESIGNS CAN DRAMATICALLY TRANSFORM A ROOM.

- STYLING Sophie Wilson | PHOTOGRAPHY Kristina Šoljo

Melissa and Isabella at the Boyd Blue showroom in Sydney. Arteriors ‘Yuri’ lamp, ‘Kish’ pendant lights, ‘Parasol’ lamp and ‘Tangier’ lamp, and Boyd Art Ash II and Ash I artworks, all Boyd Blue.

Lamps are a winning way to bring illumination, colour and pattern to any corner of your house. At night, astylish lamp can cheer up a room, emitting a gentle light from under a beautiful shade. In the day, a lamp can double as a piece of decorative art, giving a room elegance and confidence.

Lamps are often one of the first things people notice when they walk into a room. Be prepared to pay good money, especially for the bases. You'll have your lamps for life, so think of them as an investment.

The average-sized living room will need a few, each casting a subtle pool of light. Just make sure you get the base-to-shade proportions right (see page 68). Often the shade is too small for the base. If you're in doubt, pick the larger size: a wide lampshade is preferable to a pinhead.

Pick great bases, in classic shapes crafted from stone, marble, metal, glass, rattan, ceramic, celadon, acrylic or nickel-plated. Shades come in a range of materials, but linen, cotton, silk, paper and wicker are classic choices. They also go through fashions, particularly when it comes to their shape.

Just make sure you look beyond the flourishes to ensure the proportions are correct. The best colours are white, beige, chocolate and black.

There is a wealth of lamp-base styles to complement any interior. Some come with lampshades, some don't. Here are our picks from affordable off-the-shelf options to high-end designs to love forever.

AFFORDABLE

ADAIRS