There is one thing that anyone can do in their home that immediately makes it look and feel better. Make that two things.
1. TURN ON THE LAMPS
2. OPEN THE BLINDS
2. OPEN THE BLINDS
Please, I beg of you, if you are having people over, eating breakfast at your table, doing the bills--turn on the lamp and open the blinds. It will change your life, mood, and age, I'm sure of it.
We have two mismatched lamps in our room right now. But, when I pull up the blinds ALL THE WAY, I get perfectly free light! It makes the room look so welcoming.
Are you still doubting the power of lamps after Lampapalooza? Lamps soften a room and add warm, comforting lighting. Turn them on when you are using the room! I couldn't believe the difference it made when I switched out one lamp with a black shade with two lamps with a light shade. I think the room was twice as bright.PS, It was brought to my attention that I did not send out the prizes for the Lampapalooza winners--I am so sorry! Prizes going out next week!
48 comments:
Nester - Have you perused the new PB catalog? I think PB has design-team members who are Nester-followers.
My husband always turns the overhead lights on in a room - the first thing I do when I get home is turn on the lamps. That light is always so warm.
Yes, ma'am. Amen. You are so right.
I'm a little lamp crazy, and I've stopped apologizing for it. The electricity it takes to power a small light bulb is very little. And the warmth and beauty it brings into my life and the lives of my family members--now that's priceless!
Your Lampapalooza was so much fun-- it was one of the very first blog parties I ever participated in. Maybe you should have another one! Or -palooza something else!
I need a set of two small matching bedside lamps. I love accent lighting =)
But I'm with you on the natural light thing. I would honestly have bay windows all over my house if there wasn't a privacy issue
HEY NESTER, WHY NOT DO A MIS-TREATMENT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WALL YOUR BED IS ON, (REMOVING THE TOP PLATE), AND LET IT HANG DOWN BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDOWS, WITH A LITTLE CREATIVE "DIP" IN THE MIDDLE WHERE THE PLATE WAS. THEN, PUT THE PLATE BACK, IN THE SAME SPOT, OVER THE DIP.
JUST A THOUGHT
HUGS FROM MAINE
OH YEAH, I'M A HUGE, HUGE, LAMP ON, WINDOW SHADES OPEN KINDA GIRL TOO!
IT SO MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN EVERYONES MOOD, AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IT. BUT MY PEEPS ALWAYS NOTICE WHEN THEY GO TO SOMEONES HOUSE AND ITS DARK AND GLOOMY. THEY NEVER WANT TO STAY.
HUGS FROM MAINE
It's been hard for me to reconcile my love for curtains with my love for natural light. It took FOREVER for me to put curtains up in our new house because I just couldn't stop smooching all of the big, huge windows we have now. :o) But, I digress...we're well-curtained now but in a way that lets optimal light through, and I totally believe in the power of lamps! (and not just in terms of electricity, LOL)
P.S. Do you have curtains in your bedroom or just blinds?
Lamps and candles can make all the difference in the world! It's so true. LOVE that first photo :o)
Shady--no, I NEEED that catalog for winter inspiration. Hope I can find one soon!
note to self: buy more lamps!
Barefoot--the trick with curtains is to not block ANY light at all. You want to make sure that they enhance the window but sit infront of the wall. raise them high and let the panels cover the wall next to the windows.
for privacy, close them at night or pull down the shades.
I am so sad that I have NO mistreatments in our bedroom. I'm so LONGING for some!
Oh dear, I just realized I need lamps too, in addition to seating. My house really is dark and gloomy on one side-painting rooms has helped loads, but there needs to be more lampage, definitely.
I agree!! It always amazes me how many people in our neighborhood always have their blinds closed!! I don't know how they can stand it! It has to feel like a cave in their homes all the time. I always have all my curtains open, and most of the lights in the house are on!! Bring on the light!
I LOVE THAT SIGN!
ps- Danielson Designs doesn't have it anymore. :( Bummer.
I know you're talking lamps, but I love your tablescape!
Even though the light quality is arguably less desirable, people should be encouraged to use CFL bulbs, especially if (as I agree) lamps are on more often for soft lighting. This is the only way my husband will agree to lights on in the house all day, and he's right. It's amazing how much less energy they use and how they can help with electricity costs. (Getting off of soapbox.)
So true, the first thing I do every morning is open all the blinds and light my world.
I love your blog, just found it!
I agree! Every morning the first thing I do while waiting for my water to boil is open the shades. On a cloudy, gray day putting a lamp on really makes a difference ~ not just in the room but in my mood.
why do men not understand the need to open all blinds, curtains and keep on decorative lights - even if it is sunny? :) If I am gone from home overnight, I come home to a dark house - the first thing I do is open the blinds and the kids say "oh mommy, we are so glad your home, everything looks prettier" just by opening the blinds :)
I know, its because he pays the utility bill...but a good mood is worth it!
enjoying this series -so many great ideas summed up!
Oh help, I need WARM lighting--any good Al Gore approved CFL's or whatever they are? I'd rather pay $$ than have blue lighting--it's HORRID!
i'm afraid of cfl's. they have mercury in them and if you break one you just come short of having to call hazmat to clean it up.
i love lamps - i need more lighting!
This time of year, because I work at home, I'll have lamps on all over the house even during the day. Who wants to walk around in a dark house all day? So depressing. My husband, aka "The Light Police", gave up turning them off behind me... he works at home too and apparently would prefer living and working in a dark cave as opposed to "wasting energy" or spending money on said energy... so we have a nice warm, relatively bright environment on even the darkest, dreariest days.
I've been working on this one! I picked up a bunch of unique lamps at an estate sale really cheap, but my hubby vetoed a couple based on the wiring!
Love,love,love lamps. I love the warmth they give and leave mine on all the time. By the way where did you get your "Welcome" sign from above your tablescape which I love too.
First thing I do every morning...Open Blinds, Turn on lights. I Cannot stand to be in a room with the blinds closed unless it is night time!!!
I don't want CFLs around my babies... LED lightbulbs were suggested to me as an alternative. Anybody tried those?
Hi, Nester. :) Not to get political, but I hate those CFLs....ugly! If I have to stock up on normal lightbulbs to last me 70 years, so be it. ;)
I always open all the blinds (ick!!!!) every morning. It makes such a difference. If I'm using a room, I do like to have a lamp on. Besides the nice ambiance...it helps me see. (my eyesight is crud in low lighting) ;)
Very Very nice job on that dresser, classy and inviting! I may copy it!
yes, we use lamps too instead of overhead lights!
oh the curious sofa is always so clever!
I believe!
Well, since you are begging....
I love your little set up under the 'welcome' sign! Cute!
I love lamps! My husband has finally accepted my lamp fetish and goes with it. He knows he will get his hand slapped if he turns on the overhead lighting. I just started my blog- www.normaleegood.com. I would love for you to come by!
love love lamps! BUT, i have a problem.. do you have a answer to no outlets in the floor and my chairs are in the middle of the room with sofa table and end tables (we have an open floorplan with the kitchen)... any ideas??
But if I open the blinds, I'll also have to clean the cat nose-prints off the windows. Such a vicious cycle.
Incidentally, I was inspired by you to put a small lamp in our guest bathroom (no room in the master bath for one) and I LOVE IT!!
I could not agree with you more about the blinds! It makes such a big difference. It's a little gloomy when you go into a dark house.
ALL of my downstairs blinds are pulled up permanently. I love it. I LOVE light. I NEED light! I miss my Colorado house with its 2-story, west-facing windows! And I do love having lamps on... definitely need more. Blessings!
Yes! We must be on the same wave length today. I just picked up two awesome table lamps at a consignment store today! yay!
Oh, and I actually like the mismatched lamp set you have going on in your room.
Sara, I heart mismatched too--but for some reason those two bug me to death, not the same scale, shade color... they don't even look like they know each other.
Another GREAT post.
Keep 'em comin'. You're doing a wonderful service to all of us who follow your blog.
Love ya!
We just realized after moving to our new rental that it is very dark, not much natural light or built in lighting. I started looking at lamps to buy today and I must say it's a bit overwhelming.....so many options, overhead hanging, floor lamps (that point up or down) and so many types of table lamps...I didn't get any because I decided I just need to sit in each room of the new house and really get a feel which type of lamp each room needs.
Every morning, I make my bed, tidy up and open EVERY SHADE in the house!!! I love daylight and hate feeling closed off from the outdoors in people's homes that are bolted up.
I save my lamps for the evening, it's like a special treat I allow myself to turn on all my chandeliers on their dimmers and see the glow from my ratty vintage shades. It's so soothing.
BTW Anne Marie at Nada Farm sent me over here to see your blog.
I'm a natural daylight person. I'll use lamps on gloomy days, but I much prefer to open up the blinds and let the sunshine in!
This post really turns me on!
I just stummbled across your blog last night and you have inspired me! I've just become a huge fan.
I too LOVE natural light in the daytime and lamp light in the evening. I realized today that I do not have nearly enough lamps in my home. Luckily there is a neighborhood garage sale that begins tomorrow! Just in time!
Thanks so very much for your 31 days posts; you couldn't have picked a better time! I'm still working on the decorating stuff, but you can see how I've incorporated some of your suggestions in my living room and posted about it at http://valerie.thestranathans.com/2009/10/my-better-dressed-nest.html (where I linked back to you heavily). I also took your suggestion to focus on *one* room for awhile. I'm still not completely happy with the living room, but it's getting there, thanks to a little help from you. Thanks again!
I love lamplight!
I also want to tell you that you are one of my FAVORITE blogs! I always look forward to seeing what you have here! Keep it up, you're such an encouragement. <3
I refuse to do the CFL bulb too...recycling issues, mercury, blue light, seizures, migraines...and besides, Al Gore TOLD me to and I tell him, NOPE!
This makes me feel better about postponing our blinds installation for so long.
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