Lighting Ideas

The thing I like most about tealights is that you can get about 100 of them for $10 or so at stores like Ikea. The only down side is that they’re not very interesting by themselves. Flat little white candles in metal tins. They really need to be placed in a cool candle holder to be interesting.

These teal, green, and blue blossom holders are just what I mean. Put those drab tealights in here, and suddenly they’re more appealing. I’ve seen several variations on these candle holders, all available online for $10 or less. If you’re looking for gifts for a candle lover (or just to perk up your own home), these could work nicely.

Though home improvement projects are very popular, they also tend to be expensive. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, jetted tubs and steam showers… these things all costs thousands (sometimes tens of thousands) of dollars to install. I think that’s why I like lighting. Lamps are relatively inexpensive, when compared to other home purchases, yet they can go a long ways in giving personality to your home. Plus they make it easier to see things in the dark too…

If you’re looking for a deal on table lighting, this Caprice lamp is available at several online web sites for less than $100. There’s a floor lamp and a table lamp version (the one in the picture obviously being from the table lamp camp). They both have the same three-arm top with the whimsical frosted glass sconces.

There are all sorts of interesting lamps, sconces, lanterns, etc. you can find online, so make sure to browse the Internet when you’re looking for lighting ideas.

It will come to no surprise to anyone who’s been here more than once that I’m something of a candle junky. I don’t necessarily have them all over my home (okay, I do), but I drool over all the neat ones I see. I’ve looked at several candles, lamps, and lanterns with Halloween themes this year, and these candles from Uncommon Goods are among the cooler ones I’ve seen.

“As these 4”x 6” candles burn, the images are illuminated from within, creating a truly eerie gleam. Once the candle center has burned, simply replace with a votive or tea light for many more creepy nights.”

The Halloween candles come in three designs: black cat, witch, or jack-o-lantern. They’re $24: Halloween Candles

Where does one shop for the finest in outdoor lighting accessories such as oil lamps? Why, Target, of course.

I found this Smith & Hawken oil lamp on sale there for $15. At 5″ high and 7.2″ in diameter, it’s big enough and sturdy enough to put up with a bit of wind, so it can work outdoors as well as indoors. The top-shaped lamp has a bright copper finish (not sure how will this will last in the weather, so maybe keep it sheltered somewhat?) over a stainless steel body. The description promises it will steal the show on your patio or deck. At the very least, it’ll provide some neat candle lighting for your outdoor living area.

Looking for a unique ceiling lamp to brighten up the dining room? This Agave Sphere Lamp from Design Within Reach would look impressive over just about any dining room table. As the site says, “Designers Rossi and Tedesco set out to create an energy-efficient fixture that was also technically and aesthetically sophisticated. The result is the modular Agave Lamp, a ribbed, radial structure made of acrylic and resembling the rosette of an agave plant. The Agave produces a light as clear as tequila (which comes from the plant) and optimizes light distribution, whether throughout a room or over a table top.” And it looks neat too…

And don’t think this baby just puts out regular white light. The ceiling lamp comes with 3 colored light filters, which give you a total of 9 shades of light you can choose from. Thus you can customize the lamp to suit the mood for any dinner party.

The price for this lamp? It’s on sale for $350: DWR

I had a lava lamp for several years until I broke it in a move. It was a red one with purple lava and, though it was pretty cheesy, I miss it. I always liked having that mood lighting at night when I was watching TV or something with the lights off. Yes, though lava lamps are perhaps past their heyday, you can still get them. There are actually a lot more colors and styles available today than there were back in the 60s/70s or whenever they first became popular. You used to just see the clear liquid with the red lava, but you can find just about any combination you can think up now. I kind of like the blue one in the picture here.

Today’s lava lamps don’t require a big investment either. Amazon has a few available for less than $40:

Lava Lamps

Okay, now that I’ve started a log home blog, I’ve been looking at a lot of rustic and log-inspired furnishings. This moose antler wall sconce is about as rustic as you can get, and I’m not sure anyone outside of Alaska could actually get away with having this on the walls. Maybe in some remote wilderness cabin somewhere it would work…. Even then, the eagles painted on the corners of the antlers are a little over the top. You’ll pay for this outdoorsy lighting too: $650. And that’s just for one. If you want the pair, you’ll have to pay double that. Since I’m not decorating a log home just yet, I think I’ll stick to my cheap Ikea lamps.

Moose Antler Sconce

If the point of the Knapp Klover floor lamp is to take up as much space on the floor as possible, then the folks at Ikea have it just right. With a diameter of 28″ this lamp is too big to even get your arms around (not that I spend a lot of time hugging my light fixtures, mind you). I suppose it is a nice alternative to all those tall, gangly floor lamps that require the 50-100-150W bulbs. This lamp takes an energy-saving 11 W bulb, so I guess it’s more for mood lighting than reading. For those of us condo dwellers though, it may be a bit on the big side for a “mood light.” I guess it’s for people with plenty of floor space. The price is $70, and the lamp isn’t available online, so you’ll have to trek to the nearest Ikea if you’re interested.

Ikea

You’ve doubtlessly seen those strings of round paper lanterns hanging outside in people’s yards for parties (if not on person, then at least on television). Well, these are the same idea, only they’re colored orange and brown for autumn entertaining. Throw a few big pumpkins around the deck, and you’ll have the perfect Halloween or Thanksgiving setting. (This is assuming you live somewhere warm enough to loiter outside in the fall.)

These lanterns will run you about $10 for a 10-pack of lanterns 4 inches in diameter. The string isn’t included, though, so you’ll have to hunt something appropriate down on your own.

Pearl River

There’s something about LED and fiber optic lighting that’s just… fun. Now, I have no reason to purchase something like a fiber optic humming bird, but I saw the picture of these over at Collections, Etc. and was sorely tempted. It’s only $15 for a set of 15:

“Enjoy the sight of 15 hummingbirds all aglow with this 172″L fiber optic light strand. The wings light up in an array of iridescent fiber optic color. String them outdoors from a tree or porch rail, indoors for a unique & interesting lighting effect.”

Of course, the 5″ high birds are made of plastic, so I’m sure they wouldn’t stand up to that much adversity, but what do you expect for $15? It could make a fun gift for someone with an outdoor living area they use often. These would look cool at night, I bet.

http://www.collectionsetc.com/Item56045.aspx#