Lamp Love: Amazing Table Lamps

Recessed lighting might be functional, but it lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. Table lamps, though, they've got style. Not only is the light great, table lamps can also be great decorative elements.

The right lamp can dress up a room, modernize it, or give it just a little more gravitas. Here are some of my favorite examples:

Kit Pollard

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These squat, spherical lamps are the perfect way to keep this Napa home cozy. By drawing the eye down, they shrink the scale of the room, so the (gorgeous) high ceilings are impressive, but don't make the whole space feel cavernous.

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I don't often think about lamps with patterns, but this one really works next to a neutral sofa. I love the earthy shade and the cool stripes - it adds so much interest to a room with fairly simple, straightforward design.

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This is a fantastic lamp because it's perfectly at home in this feminine nursery, but it would be equally appropriate in a gender neutral or masculine living area. I love its color and simplicity - it's a neutral piece, but not at all boring.

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A room this busy needs simple lighting, and these pretty white lamps deliver. They're delicate and feminine, but not fussy, so they don't compete with the intense patterns.

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This is a serious lamp for a serious room - the dark shade really works with all the natural light. At the same time, the lamp is kept from being overwhelming or ominous by its skinny base.

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This is another great example of an angular lamp balancing out softer pieces. The lamp's square shapes and modern look are a cool contrast to the fuzzy bedspread.

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The shape of this modern lamp is so cool - totally unexpected. I love the way it pulls the eye upward. It's not enormous, but it adds verticality. Plus, its angles are a nice contrast to the softer furniture around it.