A Bright Idea: Simple Lighting Tips to Elevate Your Spaces

Let there be light! Or perhaps we should say, “let there be lamps,” because when it comes to home interior design, lamps are much more than just functional lighting fixtures. They are an important design element that shapes the mood and style of a space. Whether perched on a nightstand, resting on a console table in a foyer or standing tall on the floor, lamps can completely transform a room’s aesthetic. They can create a striking focal point, serve as a defining structural feature, and elevate the overall ambiance of the space.

In our design and furnishing projects in Charlotte, we take great care in selecting the perfect lamps for each space. We use our selections to add dimension, create height, and at times, a pop of color, enhancing the depth and visual appeal of every space.

There are countless ways to incorporate lamps into various spaces, and we’re excited to share how we use them to enhance different areas in our designs. Along with these ideas, we’ll provide simple lighting tips to help elevate your own home.

Sofa Tables

Why do we love incorporating sofa table lamps? They add beautiful dimension to a space, especially when paired, as seen in our Life On Longview project. A pair of lamps helps frame the seating area, create symmetry, and provide balanced light without overwhelming the space - a triple win!

When choosing sofa table lamps, keep in mind the scale of the sofa. Larger sofas can support larger lamps, but the lamps are never to exceed 1.5 times the height of the sofa table. We typically choose lamps around 28” - 32” high.

Nightstands and Bedside Tables

Although placing lamps on bedside tables is common design choice, we believe it’s one of the most essential lighting choices you can make in your home. Perfect for task lighting - whether you are reading a book or jotting down thoughts in a journal - these lamps not only add functionality but also bring style and create a cozy ambiance in the bedroom, as seen in our Life On Longview, Dansing On Providence and Asheford Green projects.

A few pro tips: opt for a lamp that stands 24-30” tall, depending on the height of your mattress. You want to make sure the light won’t shine directly in your eyes when you’re sitting up in bed. Additionally, the lampshade should never exceed the width of the table it rests on.

Console Tables

Lamps on a console table, especially in a foyer or entryway, do more than just highlight decorative pieces and add height—they create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. As seen in our Life On Longview project, the console lamp provides the perfect balance to the decorative pieces on the table.

If you are selecting a lamp for your own console table, make sure the shade is not wider than the table. We tend to select lamps in the 28” - 32” high range for most console tables, making sure it’s proportional with the other decorative objects as well or the art or mirror hung behind the table.

End Tables

In living rooms, family rooms, sunrooms, and beyond, end table lamps are an ideal way to highlight seating areas, setting a cozy mood while adding layers of light throughout the space. If you prefer to avoid harsh overhead lighting, or want to create a more romantic mood, simply switch on the end table lamps for a softer, more inviting atmosphere. As seen in our Asheford Green project, end table lamps offer the perfect blend of beauty and functionality.

Pro tip: prioritize having the bottom of the lampshade around eye level while sitting to avoid direct light in your eyes.

Floor Lamps

We love using a mix of floor and table lamps in a space and our Asheford Green sun room is a perfect example of this! Along with the end table lamps as seen above, a floor lamp adds variety, offering additional opportunities to introduce height, texture and sculptural elements into the space.

When selecting a floor lamp, consider its intended purpose—will it serve as the primary light source, or is it more for task lighting? This will influence where you place the lamp in the room. Also, take the size of the lamp into account. For smaller spaces, opt for a lamp with a narrow base and slim stem, while a larger room benefits from a lamp with a broader base and more substantial stem to help create balance and proportion.