We’re well into daylight savings, and it seems like the sun is in full hibernation-mode. As you deck the halls and prepare for family and friends to take over your living room (hey, at least they come bearing gifts), you want your home to feel warm and welcoming.
Enter ambient lighting. Rather than rely on the dreaded “big light”—the overhead light attached to your ceiling—brighten your space with the right lamps.
Lamps can transform your space by adding both functionality and aesthetic. But not all lamps are created equal. Let’s take a closer look at how lamps can elevate your space:
Functionality/Uses
Increase Visibility and Safety
To brighten up a space to complete a task, such as studying or other desk-related projects, you need “task lighting.” Task lighting focuses the light exactly where you need it.
Enhance Mood and Ambiance
Is your room doomed with cold, florescent lights? Have no fear, because lamps can instantly warm things up. Ambient lighting can create a warm and inviting atmosphere by evenly dispersing the light throughout your space. These are usually pendant lights, table lamps, and sconces.
Highlight Features
If you want to highlight certain decor or architectural features in your home, then accent lighting can help. This type of lighting adds depth and visual interest to your space by using light to create focal points. Picture lamps, track lighting, and even table lamps are all examples of this type of lighting.
Buying Guide
At AFW, we offer hundreds of lamps that target your lighting needs in various shapes, sizes, and designs, so you truly have endless options when searching for the right lamp for your home.
But with so many options, how do you choose? 
Table Lamps
Add a table lamp to bedside tables, credenzas, end tables, and more.
Expert Tip: Select a lamp that fits proportionately to the table or surface where you want to place it. For example, adding a wide base lamp on a narrow end table will reduce functionality of the table. There won’t be room for your phone or TV remote! Instead, find a lamp with a smaller base if you plan to set it on a narrower surface.
Desk Lamps
Create focused illumination for activities like reading, studying, and working, reducing eye strain and disturbing others around you.
Expert tip: Choose a desk lamp with an adjustable head to provide intentional illumination in a specific area, or a lamp that concentrates the light where you need it, like our CovyBend Desk Lamp.
Floor Lamps
We love floor lamps because not only do they add dramatic light, but they are also a piece of decor that transforms a corner into a cozy reading nook, or an empty space into an inviting sitting area.
Expert tip: For a standard room with an 8-foot ceiling, you should choose lamps that range between 58 to 64 inches tall. These lamps are large enough to make a stylistic statement without overwhelming the space. If you’re furnishing a space with taller ceilings (around 10 feet tall), select lamps that range between 70 to 76 inches. These guidelines will keep your space visually balanced and cohesive.
Shed Some Light at AFW
At AFW, we find lamps that don’t just light up a room —they reflect your style. Whether you prefer sleek and modern, cozy and transitional, or glitz and glam, we have a range of lamp bases and shades to illuminate and decorate your home. Choose from statement-making floor lamps, sophisticated hanging pendant lights, and stylishly practical table lamps to shine some light on your style.
Consider whether you need to create an aesthetic, focus features in your home, or help you stay on task for an all-nighter. Then, all that’s left to do is shop!
