Trends in lights and lamps for the home

Lights and lamps have always provided the crowning touch to any room. But get them wrong and they can send even the most elegant interior pear-shaped.

Great lamps should enhance a room's design and create a mood to match, and the best way to achieve this is by getting them handmade.

According to James McCormick, of tub design, the beauty of having your lights and lamps handmade is the range of choice and originality it affords. "When you visit a light supplier you may find a beautiful lamp, but often it will only be available in a limited range of colours and these may not be suitable for what you want," James explains.

"With handmade lamps there is much greater diversity, so you can get the right lamp and therefore the right feel for any room."

Start basic, go advanced

At tub design, clients can choose from a basic catalogue that features a selection of bases in hand-moulded ceramics, turned wood or steel, as well as a variety of shade shapes and fabrics.

"Apart from the different designs and sizes of bases, we also have about 40 fabrics on offer, from neutrals and colours to textured fabrics and limited-edition prints. But if a client has their own fabric, there is another opportunity again to further personalise the lamp," James says.

Lights and lamps - shapes and sizes

When it comes to altering the size or shape of the base or shade, the customer is more restricted. "Although there is some room for a client to alter the size of the shade or the specifications of a particular design, this has to be done judiciously, as there should be a balance between what's going on below and what's happening above.  But, as there is such versatility with the fabrics, tailoring a lamp to meet the client's needs is always possible."

"It's important to talk to a client about what they want. Often they will ask for something that you just know won't work, and they even overestimate how many lamps they need. So it's a matter of working with them to make sure they get the right design and number of lamps suitable for the space."

Lamps to stand the test of time

Another benefit of handmade lamps is their durability. "They're tougher than manufactured lamps," James says. "For families who have lots of kids and animals, a lamp with a hand-moulded ceramic base is perfect – it will take any knock and survive."

Handmade lamps are a great mid-priced option that furnishes not only an original feature that works with your room and creates a great mood, but is adaptable to any lifestyle.

Contact a lighting consultant in your area today to find out what kind of great lights and lamps are available for your home: