Mindful Swap Series: Lamps
Because those dang cord switches are so annoying...
Imagine this…
You’re all cozy in your bed. You’ve been reading your book and your eyelids slowly become more difficult to keep open. You’re searching for a good place to stop in the story so you can set the book on the nightstand and drift into sleep peacefully.
You slide the bookmark into place, and reach to turn of the light…
BUT YOU CAN’T FIND THE SWITCH!
You lazily flip onto your stomach and stick your hand into the depths of that crevice between your bed frame and night stand, snaking along the wire to find the damned button, not knowing what else you might find along the way.
Finally, when it feels like you’ve almost pulled your arm out of socket, you reach the little box and the room finally goes dark.
SHEESH!
I doubt any of that sleepiness you just spent the past 30 minutes building with your book reading is nowhere to be found, right?
This was my nightly routine for years.
Oh my goodness - so frustrating right?
I made the mistake of purchasing lamps for our bedside tables where the switch is on the cord before I knew much of anything about interior design.
MISTAKE!
I attempted to appease the situation by winding the cord along the leg of my bedside table, but it didn’t really help and it looked even uglier. I tried to cover it up with baskets and prettier items but it didn’t help all that much.
Not to mention my partner hating the harsher light that the lamps gave off, even though they used Edison bulbs.
It was a not so enjoyable design choice for everyone involved. So if you’ve ever made a choice like this, know you are not alone!
Thankfully, I finally wised up and sold the lamps via facebook marketplace for someone else to hopefully enjoy in a different setting and I purchased some lamps that we have loved!
So, here are my tips for swapping out any annoying lamps and making your life a little simpler (and more beautiful).
01.
Pick lamps that have the rotary switch on the lamp itself, right below the bulb!
Even better would be a pull cord switch for extra ease, but those can be rare and more expensive. AVOID cord switches!02.
Search for lamps with a clear cord.
This is ideal, but sometimes difficult to find. If you can at least find one with a cord similar to the color or lightness/darkness of your wall, that helps to camouflage it.03.
If you’re looking for a soft, diffused light, choose a lamp with a shade in a darker color rather than stark white or a clear glass.
I think this is best in a space where you want more light and a general glow! But if you don’t want the lamp to provide light in the room, you can opt for directional lighting. To get that vibe you will want to choose a shade made out of metal that directs the light up or down (and is potentially adjustable).AND REMEMBER!
If you fall in love with a lamp that doesn’t have an ideal switch or cord color, you can always re-wire it! If you really like the base but not the shade, you can EASILY swap that out as well.
I hope this helps you when it comes time to searching for lighting for your home. Or if you need the encouragement to swap out that lamp you hate, this is your sign!
Feel free to leave any questions and share your own home decor swaps in the comments so we all feel less alone in this journey toward more holistic homes.
Happy designing!
Kathryn