The days are getting shorter as we move closer to the end of the year, and that means you’re turning on the lights in your house earlier and earlier. In a few weeks, daylight-saving time will end, and you’ll rely on indoor lighting even more.

If you’ve never given much thought to the lighting in your home, you may be missing out on a decorating secret: Lamps are a quick and easy way to bring style and cohesion to your space.

We think of lamps as statement pieces, like the jewelry of a room. But, like jewelry, it takes a little know how to find the right look, so we have a few tips to help:

1.    Size matters.

Balance the size of your lamps with the furniture in your room. Don’t pick a lamp that has a shade larger than the table it will sit on. You want to accent, not overpower. You also don’t want the lamp to be so tall that you are looking up into the shade from your seat on the sofa or chair. Sometimes the height of the ceiling can help you determine the height of the lamp you need. Rooms with a vaulted ceiling give you the space to go a little higher with your lamps. 

2.     Make them interesting.

Like jewelry, you want your lamps to stand out a little, but not overwhelm your space. Lamps allow you to add personality and interest to a room, but they also need to be functional for whatever purpose they’ll serve — task lighting, casual lighting, accent lighting. While two matching lamps provides balance, more than that can be overdoing it. If you need three lamps in a room, we like the idea of selecting one that is more bold or unique.

3.     Set the mood. 

Once you find the right lamps, consider the lightbulbs you’ll be using. The right voltage, wattage, style and shape will help set the mood. Lamps with clear glass shades call for light bulbs that are visually appealing, like vintage-style bulbs. You’ll also want to consider lumens (the amount of light emitted) and color temperature (under 3000 emits a warm, yellowish color, while 5000 or higher creates a cool white color and 6500 can provide a blue output).

If you’re looking for inspiration on lamps to add to your room, we’ve featured more than a dozen styles currently in our store. We have many more on the sales floor, and new styles arriving every week. Come browse our selection, and we can help you select the right lamp for your space.