We hate to say it out loud…but Jack Frost is around the corner, which means shorter days and darker living spaces!
Portable lighting refers to any fixture that can be unplugged and moved around your space. They are available most commonly as floor lamps, table lamps and wall lamps. We use them in offices, bedrooms, and living rooms and during the winter months they are essential to keeping our homes well lit and comfortable.
Portable fixtures can be effective in different ways depending on the style and type of your shade. Lamp shades come in a variety of shapes and styles; lighter lamp shades will allow more light into the room, while darker shades will make the light more localized and shine above and below the fixture. Another option is a metal shade, which is often used in portables for reading purposes; the metal shade will reflect light directly in the position you point the fixture. Of course you can also eliminate the shade all together and purchase a fixture with a transparent shade or no shade at all, this method fills the room with light and creates an all-over warm glow.
Regardless of the type of portable, type of shade or type of bulb you use, here are 5 reasons why these fixtures are essential to your living space.
Portables add warmth, or as some might say “hygge”, to your space. Ceiling fixtures and recessed lighting can often feel harsh and uninviting when trying to relax in your space; the soft ambient light given off by a portable creates a warm glow that is inviting, comfortable and functional. When used in a bedroom, this warm glow also sends signals to your body that it is time to relax and prepare for a better nights sleep.
Portables are easy to plug in, move around, rearrange and/or repurpose in another room down the road. If you change your furniture style or positioning, these fixtures can easily move with your items or be paired with new items. It is reassuring to know that investing in a quality portable lamp will give you years of use; you can move them to another space or a new home with ease, or if you tire of the shade you can purchase a new shade style and keep the fixture.
Portables come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and styles. If you’re feeling the need to make a change in your space, light fixtures are a great way to make a big impact without making permanent changes or breaking the bank! Treat your lighting like a piece of furniture, you can have material finishes like metal, wood, fabric or glass that tie into your design scheme.
When lighting a space, it is important to remember that layering the sources of light is always most effective. Whether it is a dining room, bedroom, living room or office, having multiple light sources allows you to create the perfect style of lighting depending on the time of day and the activity performed in the space. For example, you can use a floor lamp in one corner for ambient light (similar to the effect of a ceiling fixture), with a small portable on your side table for a softer, relaxing light and a wall lamp above your reading chair for more direct light.
Portables are one of the most functional items you can add to your space, as mentioned above, they allow flexibility as to where the light is directed, can change the mood and style of your space, and they can be layered with other lighting techniques to create a perfectly lit space for each activity.
