Wooden it be nice to brighten up my wall

WE'VE just moved into a new cottage, where the living room has one wall which is wood-panelled. Any ideas on lightening up this dark area? - Meg White, by email.

ZENA SAYS: The obvious answer is to paint it. As you're in a cottage, it might be suitable to use a heritage shade. Try Crown's new Vintage range - 30 flat matt emulsion colours covering the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s (www.crownpaint.co.uk). If you don't want to permanently cover the wood, I'd use some wall art to brighten it up, either one large framed image or several smaller ones grouped together. Make sure your furniture is colourful enough not to blend into the background and add a table or floor lamp for more light in a dark corner.

Save or splurge?

Shaggy circle rug (120cm) pounds 50 (www.tesco.com, 0845 600 4411)

Gold sun mirror (49cm diam) pounds 45 (www.marksandspencer.com, 0845 603 1603)Floral canvas (30x30cm)pounds 21 (www.littlewoods.com, 0844 822 8000)Champagne sun mirror (75cm diam)pounds 149 (www.ayersandgraces.com, 01582 536760)Rutherford whitewash low storage cabinet (W148 x H61.5cm)pounds 454 (www.artisanti.com)TOTAL pounds 1,041.98TOTAL pounds 4,114Sheerwood table lamp pounds 35 (www.wilko.co.uk, 08456 080807)Catlin green loop cushion pounds 25 (www.johnlewis.com, 08456 049049)Designers Guild shaggy rug (200cm)pounds 550 (www.heals.co.uk, 0870 024 0780)Farmhouse ivory six-drawer chest (W148 x H61cm) pounds 329 (www.cotswoldco.com, 0844 984 0003)Canvas (20x20cm) pounds 8.98 B&Q (www.diy.com 0845 850 0175)Felted wool origami cushion pounds 105 (www.brightonpod.com, 01273 890990)?Emerald table lamp with silk thread shade pounds 95 (www.chandeliersandmirrors.co.uk, 01322 437112)

TOTAL pounds 4,114

What Every Homeowner Should Know About Minimum Lighting Requirements

A 1620 Plymouth Pilgrim transported in time to the future in 2009 would be pleasantly surprised to find - not the all-purpose Betty lamps lighting up homes, but lights that not only seem to issue from nowhere, and which become brighter or darker as if by magic, but lights of many kinds illuminating rooms in a variety of tones and intensities. Indeed, there's so much available in the market today that the Pilgrims of five centuries ago might be, in a sense, lucky. Having only the Betty lamp, they have a much easier task lighting their homes than any modern man.

A relatively low-watt, glare-free ceiling fixture is recommended for the bedroom which is used not only for sleeping, but also for reading, writing, and sewing. Small bedrooms should make do with 40-watts, while bigger ones need 100-watts. Mirrors and dressing tables might have bracket lights. A wall candle holder on each side of your mirror or dressing table would also be perfect. It'd also be good to have retractable 100-watt reading lights on a three-way switch. This reading lamp should be installed 12 inches from the bed , level with the reader's shoulder. Use a 100-watt recessed in closets.Study Rooms or DensWall-mounted bracket lights should be enough to illuminate the area outside the door to enable those inside to see the person outside. Back entrances should be similarly lighted.BedroomsA 15-watt floodlamp recessed into the ceiling should be enough to light up a 75-square foot space.In the laundry or home workshop, either fluorescent or incandescent light may be used over the work area or workbench; same with the garage.Incredibly, chandeliers are best placed in dining rooms. The chandelier and the dining table are a veritable visual feast and are the piece de resistance in some homes. Of course, the chief piece of furniture, the table, has to be lighted. Do this by having low-wattage recessed downlights on either side of the chandelier or pendant. Round everything off to perfection using candles on the table, placed high enough so that the diners don't have to look through the flame. Often, the dining table doubles as a study table or a work surface, so illumination from either the center fixture or other lamps must be increased. Pendants must be 30 to 36 inches from the table top, and must have at least 150-watts.The average-sized living room must have at least four table or floor lamps of between 100- and 150-watts for table lamps, and between 150- and 500-watts for the floor lamps. To give enough background light and to eliminate shadows when using task lighting, each wall must have around 200 watts. Lamps tasked with lighting up an entire corner should deliver at least 200 watts.Have a central light of at least 150-watts for general illumination. To avoid the potentially dangerous shadows a single central light brings, the stove, sink, and counter tops have to be illuminated separately with at least 40-watts each.In spite of that, it remains doubtful whether anyone would exchange places with the Pilgrims and their Betty lamps. In the area of home lighting, as in probably all other areas of endeavor, modern man never had it so good. Here are a few more things you, the modern home decorator, needs to know about lighting:Entry HallsThe mirror is an important lighting center in the bathroom, and is illuminated using either bracket lights or encircling light of 60-watt incandescent. Often this should be enough in a small bathroom, although recessed ceiling lights of 100-watts should be had as well. If yours is a big bathroom, consider a pair of wall candle holders bracketing your bathroom mirror.HallwaysEntranceKitchenLiving RoomsThe average hall can be lighted using 40- to 80-watt incandescents recessed into the ceiling every 10 feet.BathroomsLaundry, Workshop, GarageDining Rooms

These receive the same lighting provisions as the living room if as big.

Author: Jessica Ackerman

Decorating with Tiffany Lamps

Tiffany lamps add elegance to any room in your house. There are many types of tiffany style lights ranging from floor, hanging, and table lights. Tiffany lights make wonderful gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, engagements and even for Christmas!

When hired as editorial associate in 1980, I was told by my predecessor, Stewart Trisler, that I wouldn't be coddled. I was in so over my head, professionally, that I quaked over everything. A sideways glance from the boss was the worst. When I fessed up to that, Betty Lou purred, "Why I'm just a little pussycat." This was in the Landmark Building at Third and Liberty, which had once housed the Courier-Journal and Louisville Times. Earlier in her career she'd worked the crime beat for that paper, the first woman ever to do so.In the '70s the now-defunct Old House restaurant was her luncheon habitat, where she dined and drank with the city's businessmen. (By the late '80s it had been replaced by the Galt House.) None of those guys likely downed more martinis than she did.Her husband Junie taught psychology at the University of Louisville. He also was straight out of a Tennessee Williams play - a beatnik with a goatee who wore sandals and was as laid-back as Betty Lou was intense. They were married for 60 years. When I knew them best, they lived in a huge apartment in the Mayflower on Ormsby Avenue, where dinner parties were as colorful as the hosts were. Betty Lou loved to entertain, and the guest list was always diverse - her French dressmaker, Junie's university colleagues, East End grandees, Old Louisville bohemians.

Tiffany style floor lamps come in different types. There are pedestal lamps that would add a romantic flare to your bedroom. These beautifully crafted stained glass panel lamps are wonderful and come in Butterfly and Victorian designs. They are square or round in shape. Torchiere tiffany style lamps are floor lamps that are shaped in torch styles. Floor lamps would light up any dark corner in your house. Whatever your choice, make it for you. These lamps are all beautifully crafted with the highest quality of materials. You will not be sorry when you choose to decorate with one of these wonderful lamps.

Author: Carol Beisel

Modern Lighting Design is still inspired by Tiffany

Create period ambience with amber Tiffany table lamps.

In the years since her retirement we wrote one another from time to time, had lunch occasionally, and then lost touch almost entirely (in part because an ocean separated us). This past New Year's Day I called to let her know I was thinking of her. She broke the news that Junie had died a few weeks previously. Conversation was stilted. There were things I would have liked to have told her, thanks I would have liked to have given. But she was not a sentimentalist.He started experimenting with glass during the 1870s in New York. By 1880 he had patented his revolutionary ideas and went on to form the Tiffany Glass Company in 1885. In its heyday the factory employed more than three hundred people including designers, artists and glass blowers; however it wasn�t until 1895 that the first commercially produced lamps were sold. Tiffany is famous for its lampshades but in fact the company designed and manufactured a wide range of products including vases, perfume bottles, stained-glass windows and tiles.The different styles range from the classical Victorian to the modern Mission style. You can also get them in fun designs like Flowered and Peacock. These lights are beautiful and add elegance and style to your house.The name Tiffany is synonymous with stained glass lampshades. Luis Comfort Tiffany was born in 1848 the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany the founder of Tiffany & Co, the highly successful retailer of silver and jewellery. And although Charles wanted his son to succeed him in the business Louis preferred to train and work as an artist.Betty Lou died at 86 on April 24 of this year. This magazine is her legacy.

Stuart Richardson - www.lampsandlighting.co.uk

Author: Stuart Richardson

Tribute to a Titan

During many of the years that she edited this magazine, Betty Lou Amster wrote a monthly column signed "Bla." But blah could not have been further from the truth about Betty Lou. She was a Tennessee Williams character. Though not a natural beauty, she nevertheless made a significant physical impact. She wore hats long after doing so was fashionable, not only on the street, but at her desk, frequently stopping while out of the office to buy another. She smoked cigarettes - sometimes cigarillos - through a long silver cigarette holder. Her big corner office was always dark; she preferred to keep the lights off except for one dim lamp, and presided over editorial meetings in that office at an antique steamboat captain's table. Smoke swirled. So did the conversation.

From the moment they first appeared Tiffany lamps have been style icons with a wide spread appeal throughout the world. You can find Tiffany shades in the grandest stately mansions but also in more modest modern homes. However the original Tiffany lamps are now difficult to find and very expensive, so modern Tiffany-style lamps have started to be produced which are more affordable and readily available, allowing you to create a period, bohemian look without breaking the bank.Tiffany style floor lamps come in different types. There are pedestal lamps that would add a romantic flare to your bedroom. These beautifully crafted stained glass panel lamps are wonderful and come in Butterfly and Victorian designs. They are square or round in shape. Torchiere tiffany style lamps are floor lamps that are shaped in torch styles. Floor lamps would light up any dark corner in your house. Whatever your choice, make it for you. These lamps are all beautifully crafted with the highest quality of materials. You will not be sorry when you choose to decorate with one of these wonderful lamps.Tiffany style table lamps could brighten up any room in your house. They have beautifully crafted stained glass shades and come in many different designs. These could go with any d�cor of your liking.Some reproductions are of such high quality that many have fooled dealers and collectors. In the 21st Century the admiration and desire for Tiffany has not diminished. Lighting designers and manufacturers continue to produce designs in homage to Louis Tiffany. A wide range of colours and styles are now available and manufactured to modern lamps and lighting standards. There is a particular fashion for Amber Tiffany Table Lamps, and no home should be without one. Tiffany-style �bejewelled� lightshades create a soft ambience that�s perfect for cosy nights by the fire or relaxing dinner parties.Betty Lou left the C-J to work in advertising, and from advertising joined Louisville, then published by the Chamber of Commerce. She was the magazine's second editor, a classic of the genre, imperiously rejecting stories or designs from the art department with little more than a wave of her hand. She had good taste in writing and graphics, knew what she wanted, and usually got it. She also knew talent and how to woo it - freelancers like historian George Yater and former Courier writer Bill Woolsey (whom she ingeniously commissioned to write a monthly cooking column), along with photographers Bill Strode (who for most of her years as editor shot the covers) and John Nation (the backbone of the magazine for the last 30-plus years). It's also worth noting that since she retired, two of her proteges have served as editor, most recently Bruce Allar, and that the current senior editor, Jack Welch, began his work at the magazine during her reign. Not a bad recruiting record.As if all of that weren't enough, one of her eyes didn't track (there were rumors that it was glass), and this otherwise fearless woman had a magnificent fear of thunderstorms. She knew when one was coming long before it arrived and, fast as a flash of lightning, was on her way home - in a taxi; Betty Lou never drove. She never had a license.

Betty Lou died at 86 on April 24 of this year. This magazine is her legacy.

Author: Oppel, Jim

Plug-In Table And Standard Lamps Can Be Positioned Just Where Needed

There�s nothing quite so attractive as a room lit by the warm, comfortable blow of a table lamp. Positioned on low sofa tables, on shelves, a chest, or a sideboard, a table lamp can be used to illuminate a collection, brighten a dark corner, or provide a pool of light for reading. Table lamps come in all shapes, sizes and styles, so it is easy to find something to suit your room. Lamps, which beam light downwards and sideways, usually fitted with a wide-based shade, are useful if you want to light a table top, or a corner.

Website of the week YOU can now use your Nectar points to buy easyJet tickets. Every 500 points is worth pounds 2.50 to spend and you can pay any outstanding balance as cash. See nectar.com for more details...Scoop up this sundae bargain ? SERVE up your summer ice cream in style with these bold sundae glasses, which are just pounds 1.28 each at Wilkinsons. They come in either red or teal and are available instore and online. Order at www.wilkinsonplus.com Top tip Unused airline ticket? You might be able to get a refund on the tax. Not all companies are helpful but it's always worth asking. An admin fee may apply, but you could save pounds 12 on a single European missed flight, or up to pounds 85 long-haul.

A table lamp with conical shade beams light down, adding instant interest and comfort to a corner. This type of light is the ideal way to illuminate a collection of small boxes, plates or figures arranged on a table, or on a display cabinet. The perfect bedside lamp beams light over just half of the bed, so that one partner can read while the other sleeps. Lamps should be tall enough so that the light falls in exactly the right position for reading but not so that the beam hits the reader in the eye.

Author: Roger King

Decorating Your Home With Chandelier Lighting and Other Accessories

If you are planning on making some decorative changes around the home this year, there are many lighting accessories that you can choose from. From installing elegant and regal chandeliers to simple table lamps and everything in between, finding the right pieces for the best price is easy once you know where to look and what to look for. There are many sites online that offer an amazing array of products that can light up the mood in any home, but not all are created equal.

Before you are ready to shop, consider how you want your home to look once your design ideas have come to life. The last thing you need is to have a chandelier that does not fit well in the space you intended for it to go. Taking measurements, deciding on style, color and effect are all part of the planning process when it comes to finding the right lighting accessories for your home, but it is especially important to do with chandeliers.This is just one example of things to consider when deciding how to develop a lighting scheme for the home. It is not just brightness, but effect, mood, comfort and feel as well. Lighting accessories can do wonders when it comes to the way in which light beams throughout the home as well as the mood it creates.That being said, there are limitless options available online for anything from chandeliers to table lamps or red chandelier crystals, and it is easier than ever to order and have them delivered to your house. Keep in mind that you will need to wait a little while for the items to be shipped to your home, but that can be a benefit in and of itself because you can do the work necessary to prepare for installation. Whether you are ordering lighting accessories for the first time, or are a seasoned decorator, you will be amazed at the quality, selection and prices of a wide range of products found at an online chandelier store today.A table lamp with conical shade beams light down, adding instant interest and comfort to a corner. This type of light is the ideal way to illuminate a collection of small boxes, plates or figures arranged on a table, or on a display cabinet. The perfect bedside lamp beams light over just half of the bed, so that one partner can read while the other sleeps. Lamps should be tall enough so that the light falls in exactly the right position for reading but not so that the beam hits the reader in the eye.For more fantastic bargains and offers visit www.homesandbargains.co.ukOf course, not every lighting remodeling project is limited to chandeliers, but can include a wide range of other options to consider as well. Table lamps, wall lights and standing floor lamps all work to add their own effect in the space they are going to be used. While light is simply light, how it is reflected in the house depends on anything from the color of the lampshade to the tint of chandelier crystals. You can change one crystal to red, and end up having a red lighting effect on the entire room.

That being said, there are limitless options available online for anything from chandeliers to table lamps or red chandelier crystals, and it is easier than ever to order and have them delivered to your house. Keep in mind that you will need to wait a little while for the items to be shipped to your home, but that can be a benefit in and of itself because you can do the work necessary to prepare for installation. Whether you are ordering lighting accessories for the first time, or are a seasoned decorator, you will be amazed at the quality, selection and prices of a wide range of products found at an online chandelier store today.

Author: Kathryn Dawson

Savvy savers

..Save up to 75% at the Ikea sale ? IKEA are offering up to 75 per cent off across all departments in store in its summer sale. Lack coffee tables, previously pounds 15.31, are only pounds 3.82 and Oleby work lamps are just pounds 2.62, down from pounds 10.49. Visit www.ikea.com for details of your nearest store then kit out your house in super-cheap Scandichic. Ends July 17.

There are many sources online to find the best lighting accessories for your needs as well as for your budget. A good retailer will not only have a wide range of fixtures and other items available for sale, but they should also include a section for tips, suggestions and product information that will help you to make the best decision. They should also have a solid return policy as well as product guarantee in case you are unsatisfied with your purchase.So, from easy to involved, the type of lighting you choose for your home will determine the amount of planning and visualising that it will require. While the process is not that complicated or time consuming, skipping the preparation and research phase of any remodeling project can lead to unsatisfactory results. Making the effort now will save a lot of trouble down the line as well as ensure that you are happy with the look that you created for your home.Vase-shaped lamps wash light over the wall and ceiling, an attractive way to show off a painting or an interesting architectural feature. Tall standard lamps look best in a corner or behind a chair. A lamp with a traditional shade, or a shade which covers the top of the bulb, beams down, giving a comfortable pool of light just right for reading. Modern standard lamps are starkly stylish, adding interest to a simple, high-tech look room. Many of these lamps are up-lighters and should be positioned so that light washes a wall or the ceiling.

For more fantastic bargains and offers visit www.homesandbargains.co.uk

Author: Anonymous

Tiffany Lamps - How the Internet Makes Shopping Fun

Spending time in the showcase room of a home improvement center or wondering through a dedicated lighting boutique can be lots of fun but frankly it's a pain in the neck. I mean this literately because you end up spending so much time looking up!

Antique usually means a higher price tag but I've always wondered about Tiffany Lamps; perhaps this is my time to learn something. So a few more fast searches and I learn that Louis Comfort Tiffany was the inventor behind some extraordinary glass products, the opalescent glass being one of many. Apparently Clara Driscoll, the head designer at Tiffany Studios, was really the creator of the famous leaded glass design. It should be noted that this style is associated with Art Nouveau or the 'new art' movement, so we're talking early 20th century creations.� Dragonfly and PeacockI decide to narrow my search to lamps; this should be simple, right? Seems I need to consider table lamps, desk lamps, floor lamps, accent lamps, and let's not forget lamp shades. Other suggested search items include, cheap lamps, novelty lamps, discount lamps, and antique table lamps.� Wisteria, Fruit, and VineThe Tiffany lamps seem to be grouped by four major categories with many subgroups:When it comes to searching for home d�cor, especially when you really, really want to find that incredibly unique piece, why not let your fingers do the search? Let's take home lighting for example. Other than the truly vast selection, it's a good example because finding something to fit is easier than picking out clothing. In fact, each lighting piece will be listed with the specifications including dimensions and weight. That's far easier than hoping that the size 12 pants you order are the same size twelve you wear.My internet search begins with something simple, 'Tips for lighting a home office.' The instant search engine results in lots of great information I need to understand about task lighting and how to avoid strain on my eyes. There are lots of pointers to read about ambience and accent lighting. I'm intrigued with the massive list of chandeliers, pendant lighting, mini pendants, flush mount fixtures, semi-flush fixtures, wall sconces, outdoor lighting, bathroom lighting, ceiling fans, green lighting, the list is endless.� FloralPerhaps, the first thing that you will need to decide upon is the color of the paint for your house. But, do you know that all colors need their share of lighting to liven up. Well, yes, this is a fact and table lamps are a cheap and magnificent way of livening up your abode. Many-a-times, impulsive buyers, to make their dream home come true, indulge in quick shopping and pick up table lamps from any store that they come across. Most of the times such buyers base purchases going only by the lamps' looks. However, for effective lighting, there are many other factors you need to consider other than the looks.Now, if there one type of decoration that would never really fades away, then that is definitely the antique. The antique type of lighting and decoration could do more than just to make your house look very classical. It could give you a feeling like you are traveling in the time.� Geometric DesignsThere are various lamp designs and styles to choose from and buy. We have table, hanging, outdoor and even floor lamps. Each of them has a unique value and purpose.The first thing you must consider while buying a table lamp is that - whether it suits your taste and goes well with the shades of your house to make it vibrant and colorful. The lamps' size and shape also matter. The table lamp that you select must reflect your personality, ooze comfort, easy to operate and maintain, and most importantly suit your budget. You must also check the material of the table lamp and ensure that it suits the size of your house � it will be ridiculous to place a huge table lamp in the corner of a small house, where every nook and corner must be utilized effectively. You need to also pay attention to the placing of the table lamp. If it is made of glass or any other breakable material, keep it in safe place that is away from the reach of children, if there are any in your house. Depending on the purpose of the table lamp, its power must be chosen. For instance, for study purposes the lamp must be of minimum 60 watts, whereas for decorative purposes it can be much lower.To test my theory, I imagined transforming a spare quest room into the home office I have always dreamed about. It's a quiet retreat with heavy silk drapery to close when the sun is too bright or I can't be distracted by my swimming pool. Personal touches from years of global business travel adorn heavy furniture of recycled teak. My desk contains all the accoutrements needed to expand my laptop and watch my daily stock market reports on a 22 inch flat screen. An overstuffed recliner is the perfect spot for curling up with a good book, sipping a glass of wine, or watching the latest in my favorite television series.Not going much beyond 'astronomical' as the price to procure an original Tiffany lamp, I decide to better understand the options for reproduction versions. I learn that, generally speaking, 'Tiffany lamp' really is a term used for a Tiffany style or something called a Tiffany Reproduction lamp. Seems that the original Tiffany Studios went bankrupt after making their hand crafted pieces between 1900 and 1932.

The price is right. The size is perfect. And without leaving my home, I can have a new table lamp within a week. This was so easy, do I buy now or search some more?

Author: Kathryn Dawson

Table Lamps Can Make Your Home Decor Feel More Elegant

Just bought a new house and want to now live your dream of decorating it into the most beautiful house of your imagination? Or, its just that you now really want a new look! If yes, then you must plan the decoration step by step in such a manner that every nook and corner of your house compliments one another.

As observed in most houses, crystal table lamps are undoubtedly the favorite among all. They are simple, elegant and classic. Interestingly, these lamps could virtually match any existing interior decorations. In most cases, they end up being the main attraction of the house.

The first thing you must consider while buying a table lamp is that - whether it suits your taste and goes well with the shades of your house to make it vibrant and colorful. The lamps' size and shape also matter. The table lamp that you select must reflect your personality, ooze comfort, easy to operate and maintain, and most importantly suit your budget. You must also check the material of the table lamp and ensure that it suits the size of your house � it will be ridiculous to place a huge table lamp in the corner of a small house, where every nook and corner must be utilized effectively. You need to also pay attention to the placing of the table lamp. If it is made of glass or any other breakable material, keep it in safe place that is away from the reach of children, if there are any in your house. Depending on the purpose of the table lamp, its power must be chosen. For instance, for study purposes the lamp must be of minimum 60 watts, whereas for decorative purposes it can be much lower.

Author: Des Smalls

Information That Teaches You About Crystal Table Lamps

Room�s main attraction, crystal table lamps could be that thing. In choosing the best table lamps for your home, it is important to follow your home decoration�s theme. By doing so, everything else would looks like it was made for each other.

The price is right. The size is perfect. And without leaving my home, I can have a new table lamp within a week. This was so easy, do I buy now or search some more?With this type, your room could easily get a special theme with less effort. If you have a retro fashioned light, all you need are just 3 or 4 more retro pieces and voila! You�re back to the vintage.Now, if you love the 60�s and nostalgic about it then go retro! Although retro times have long since passed, people still enjoy its aura and feel. For this reason, retro style is still popular not only in fashion but even in lights.I decide that geometric should be my place to start. Although I find offerings for table lamps, ceiling lights, floor stands, and wall lights, I keep to my mission for a table lamp. With a momentary divergence to understand light fittings, I'm now looking at hundreds of breathtakingly beautiful lamp options. I find a Mission model, stylish and richly coloured supported on a base with bronze antique finishing, which catches my eye. The dimensions clearly indicate that the lamp would fit nicely on my round side table and with shipping I'm under �60.Fortunately our lives are much easier and extensive searches on the internet can deliver remarkable discoveries. I kind of liken it to my impatience of going into brand name discounter shops. Even though countless clothes racks may hold incredible discounted designer finds, I frankly don't take the time flipping through hundreds of shirts to find the right ridiculously priced coup.Although crystals are great for home deco, they too could end messing everything else. Imagine how one piece of decoration could either destroy or improve your house�s aesthetic! This is the reason why it is important to be very mindful of the crystal table lamp that you get.So, why do people go for modern style of lamps? Definitely not because we are at the modern era! The truth, time is not the answer for this but style. Modern lamps are actually the most unique than the other types.These reproduced or Tiffany style stained glass lamp are known for the dark, rich colours and have shades containing many pieces of stained glass held together by a soldered web of copper. Although not all, most of the lamps have bronze bases. I think that works for me but can I find something in an affordable price range and will the style really fit my decor?Shopping for light fixtures is not unlike shopping for fabric, it's just easier to settle for something that you can readily spot, rather than dig through countless catalogues or swatch books.Generally, lights provide artificial lightning for all your rooms in your home. But, due to the creativity of some people, lights have became an important item in home decorating.

Now, if there one type of decoration that would never really fades away, then that is definitely the antique. The antique type of lighting and decoration could do more than just to make your house look very classical. It could give you a feeling like you are traveling in the time.

Author: Rudy Silva

SUNSHINE CHIC

Nautical

The traditional lighting shop is now moving away from the high street, and onto the World Wide Web. With online stores offering lights, lamps, accessories and more from all around the world, customers are spoilt for choice. No longer is your choice of lighting limited to the shops in your local town or city but instead the whole world is at your fingertips. Table lamps, light bulbs, chandeliers and bathroom lighting can all be bought from the same place. Shopping is easy, delivery is straightforward and you get to choose between many more products than ever before.Stockholm light oak display unit pounds 199 (www.tesco.com, 0845 600 4411)Meleze white vinyl flooring from the Creation collection from pounds 16 per square metre (www.tarkett.com, 01622 854151)To begin with, invest in some wood furniture in white or a light colour. There are plenty of accessories as nautical is a big theme for this season. Think seaside but not too tacky... keep to stripes and textured products in driftwood, rope and rattan.Scotty dog doorstop pounds 19.50 (www.marksandspencer.com, 0845 302 1234)Red stripe mug pounds 1.50 (www.tesco.com, 0845 600 4411)Green skeleton leaf cushion pounds 6 (www.wilkinsonplus.co.uk, 0845 608 0807)Ektorp two seat sofa in Abyn Blue from pounds 289 (www.ikea.co.uk, 0845 355 1141)You will want to use a shop that has a helpline available, so avoid any that don't have obvious customer service representatives. If your order is wrong or a problem occurs you may want to speak to a member of staff. Because faceless websites tend to put potential customers off, however, most will have a helpline number available but it is a good idea to make sure of this before perusing the virtual shelves. Although you can't pay in cash at an online lighting shop, there may be several different ways to pay available including credit cards and even Paypal. Decide how you would like to pay beforehand to avoid any disappointment later if your preferred method of payment is unavailable.Salcombe house and conservatory designed by Ham SInteriors of Henley On Thames, Oxon (www.haminteriors.com)Another benefit of shopping online for all your lights is the larger range of products available. Because there is no physical shop or floor space taken up with a virtual store, there is a much larger choice available. Make sure there are good photographs available of all the products, with shots taken from every side. There is nothing worse than being disappointed with an online purchase.Joyce large rattan Stable lamp pounds 32.98, B&Q (www.diy.com, 0845 850 0175)Lacquered tray in Kiwi pounds 18 (www.greentulip.co.uk, 01380 859600)Although the majority of items in an online lighting shop will be lighting related, there may also be a good supply of further items you were not expecting to find. As well as lighting accessories and light bulbs that you can stock up on at the time of purchase, there may well be some nice gift ideas or other home furnishings available. The most perfect item for your home could be right there, in the place you were least expecting to find it. Cushions and bed linen in particular can often be found alongside the desk lamps and wall lights so make sure you check out the line of non-lighting related products.Wilkinson's and Asda have some lovely red table lamps plus cushions to match. A rug needn't be all red but with a touch of the colour in there.Ribbon table lamp pounds 45 (www.woolworths.co.uk, 0844 822 1010)Kubu rattan chair with seat pad pounds 199.95 (www.scottsofstow.co.uk, 0844 482 5555)Bamboo side table pounds 89 (www.idyllhome.co.uk, 01630 695779)Keep the sofa and carpet neutral. A plain grey or cream would suit your scheme. When you get bored with the look, it's easy to change your wall colour and accessories but you'll want to keep the carpet and suite.Twisted weave trunks pounds 45 for two (www.matalan.co.uk, 0845 330 3330)Pleated conservatory blinds in summer daze from pounds 750 (www.thomas-sanderson.co.uk, 0800 051 5404)Large enamel green floral pitcher pounds 14.99 (www.giftedpenguin.co.uk, 01642 763000)Indulge in shades of green. Use modern furniture in dark or light wood then choose accessories with a texture and pattern. If you want to use wicker or rattan make sure it is very light in colour to fit in with a contemporary look.Rose rug from pounds 95 (www.tesco.com, 0845 600 4411)

Meleze white vinyl flooring from the Creation collection from pounds 16 per square metre (www.tarkett.com, 01622 854151)

Author: ANGELA MACFARLANE

It's time to get out of neutral

WE have grey and cream wallpaper on one living room wall and the others are painted cream. I need curtains, a carpet and sofas but have no idea what colours to go for. - Jackie Harrison, by email

Pink bird lantern pounds 12.99 (www.homesense.com, 01923 473561)Pebble Green glass vase pounds 20 (www.matalan.co.uk, 0845 330 3330)ZENA SAYS: I love your wallpaper colour scheme, Jackie, but the tones are all neutral and the room needs a sharp blast of colour. This could be orange, purple but my favourite is a full, bright, pillarbox red - which is cropping up in all the style forecasts for this autumn and winter.

Keep the sofa and carpet neutral. A plain grey or cream would suit your scheme. When you get bored with the look, it's easy to change your wall colour and accessories but you'll want to keep the carpet and suite.

Author: ZENA ALLI

Lighting Shop, Table Lamps, Light Bulbs

When you are looking for lights with which to illuminate your home, there is one obvious solution - head to the nearest lighting shop. Whilst this sounds reasonable, you could be missing an opportunity. The internet has literally brought the world to your door so whilst previously shopping was confined to those shops close by or maybe a few catalogues, now there are no such barriers. This article explores the best places to purchase your lights and what you should look out for when browsing online lighting shops.

Palm green rug from pounds 34 (60cmx130cm) (www.wovenground.com, 020 7731 1849)If you're a country bumpkin at heart, opt for a conservatory filled with florals. Keep furniture neutral in materials such as wirework, iron or wicker. Vintage shabby chic furniture can also work mixed with floral textiles in pastels - think pinks, lilacs or blues.Country floralsModern nature

The traditional lighting shop is now moving away from the high street, and onto the World Wide Web. With online stores offering lights, lamps, accessories and more from all around the world, customers are spoilt for choice. No longer is your choice of lighting limited to the shops in your local town or city but instead the whole world is at your fingertips. Table lamps, light bulbs, chandeliers and bathroom lighting can all be bought from the same place. Shopping is easy, delivery is straightforward and you get to choose between many more products than ever before.

Author: Kathryn Dawson