As a recent college grad, I know as well as anyone how hard it can be to try to decorate on a budget. If you’re balancing bills already, home decor is probably not at the top of your to-do list. But whether you’re in a new home or just a starter apartment, doing a little smart accessorizing and investing in the right lighting can turn a room you live in to a real livingroom. Even a very simple, very slightly more expensive lamp can go a long way towards making your place seem more permanent, sophisticated, and personalized. So while it might be tempting to stick with that bargain-bin floor lamp, or keep on using that one lamp you found by the dumpster your sophomore year that leans a little to the left, here are a few reasons to take a deep breath, suck it up, and find some space in your budget for a real, grown-up type lamp.
Quality
Shop Floor Lamps by Uttermost:
Even if you’ve graduated from the third-hand floor lamp you had in your dorm room, you still might not be where you should be in terms of quality. There are basically three types of floor lamps. If you’re living tight and buy a light for the sake of having light, you probably made a whopping investment of about $20 for a floor lamp, either new or second hand that’s either already broken, or is basically guaranteed to break soon. The next logical step up from there are floor lamps in the $50-$100 range. These are typically from your bargain mega-stores, and are theoretically well designed, but are made of the next-to-cheapest-possible materials and look it – at least one part will probably betray its corner cutting, whether it’s in a plastic-looking shade, a wobbly base, or some plastic parts where metal would have been a better choice. Once you pass the $100 threshold, though, you’re into real big-boy quality territory. That means the post is in one piece, won’t lean or assemble crookedly, nothing will overheat or threaten to melt, and, well, frankly it’ll look like you spent a little money on it: obviously solid, sturdy, and made to last – not something you’d leave by a dorm dumpster!
Longevity
As a logical extension of quality, the more you pay for a floor lamp, the longer it’s going to last. You’ll pay a little extra for a lamp that’s assembled in a single piece and made from solid, high-quality materials, but there’s no assembly to muck up and no parts to break or damage, which means the lamp will hold up better over time. Unlike those $20 lamps with brittle plastic shades, many parts, and mis-matched threading, a slightly more expensive lamp will actually start off (and stay) looking as good as the picture. That means you won’t be spending $20 every few years replacing it, which can actually save you money over time.
Personalization
The very best lamps aren’t just about producing light, they’re also about enhancing your decor. Once you pass the $100 mark, floor lamps start to get a whole lot more interesting. While you can find a handful of different styles for a lower price, this is the price point where designer lighting fixtures really start to take over. That means that instead of having Generic Black Floor Lamp in the corner of your living room, you can actually have one that suits your existing decor – even if your existing decor is a new cover for your old futon. Picking the right lamp can not only beautify and enhance your space, but also make that space your own. If you’re willing to pay a little extra, there are thousands of options out there in a whole gamut of shapes, colors, sizes, and styles to give you a piece that will truly accentuate your space.
No, Really, Some Of Them Are Really Awesomely Custom
Shop Floor Lamps by Dimond Lighting:
Personalization runs deeper than just this color base or that style lampshade. Some floor lamps go a step further, and more or less discard the notion of a conventional floorlamp entirely. Well, they still stand on the floor, and still produce light, but don’t look like just your average lamp. Floor lamps like these Cyprus Grove lamps produce just as much light as your typical lamp, but are done in unique, often outlandish designs packed with personality and ready to dazzle your decor. If you really want a signature piece in your room, but can’t afford, say, a pricy rug or piece of furniture or artwork, a unique floor lamp or designer table lamp can have the same stunning effect at a fraction of the cost.
Class
Finally, spending a little more on a floor lamp is a difference you can see in both design and quality. You simply aren’t going to find a really stunning lamp at a discount store, but adding a genuinely nice piece can really elevate the appearance of your whole living space and make your home feel a bit more grown-up. The biggest hurdle in making your home look permanent rather than everydorm modular is a jump in quality – and in price – and that means in big things like the quality of your materials (I think solid wood bookshelves are the true mark of a sophisticated adult, and can admit, I’m not there yet either!) to little things like framed pictures… or the lamp in the corner.
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So if you’re on the quest to make your house (or apartment!) a home, consider investing a little more money than you maybe want to and get yourself a good, quality, designer floor lamp. It will really make your home shine, while showcasing your own personal style and your own personal, grown-up nest.
