The right lighting can transform a living room, bedroom, or office. One hue can create warm and cozy vibes, while another can make your space feel lively and focused. But will any old light fixture do? And should lamps match? While it’s perfectly fine to go for two identical lamps to bookend your sofa, feel free to break away from decorating norms and have some fun with your lighting. Read on to shed some light on your options!
Synchronize Styles
Should lampshades in the same room match? Mixing and matching the lighting in your space is a great way to spice up your interior design. Although your lamps don’t need to match, one of the best ways to ensure you maintain a cohesive look is to choose lamps—whether table lamps, floor lamps, or bedside lamps—that adhere to the style of the room.
For instance, if you’ve gone for a Danish-modern look, you wouldn’t want to pick a lamp body that would look more comfortable in a country farmhouse. Instead, choose similarly styled lamps to maintain a consistent look, even if they’re different sizes and shapes.
Standardize Shapes
Selecting options with similar shapes is an easy way to mix and match lampshades while maintaining a unified style in your living room. As mentioned above, the bodies of your lamps don’t have to match, but by choosing a similarly shaped lampshade for each lamp, you can create a harmonious design that will leave visitors admiring your home decor skills.
For instance, if you’re after a more modern look, you might choose conical shades for all your lamps, while in a more retro-inspired space, you might choose rectangular shades to top off all your light fixtures. Get creative and inspired as you play around with your options.
Coordinate Colors
Wondering if you should mix and match patterns or colors? Or asking yourself, “should lampshades match curtains?” While there are no hard and fast rules, you’ll likely want to do some level of color coordination.
To ensure your space doesn’t end up looking like Mad Hatter’s tea party, select lamps and lampshades that complement your pre-existing color palette. For example, if your room features cooler tones, consider selecting lamp bases and shades in the same color family. Coordinating colors can help offset mix-matching decor no-no’s and keep your overall interior design style intact.
Match Materials
Another way to mix and match lamps while maintaining visual balance is to select lighting pieces made from the same—or similar—materials. You might choose to select lamp bases made from metal in a more modern setting, while a more traditional living area or bedroom might feature ceramic lamps. In either case, by choosing lamps crafted from matching materials, you can create a cohesive overall design that will bring your room to life.
Get the Bright Idea at Rent-A-Center
Ready to upgrade your living room by mixing and matching lamps? Here’s a bright idea… head to Rent-A-Center for a complete living room bundle with matching lamps! Or, if you decide to explore the world of mixing and matching lamp shapes, colors, and materials, Rent-A-Center is your one-stop-shop for one-off lamp selections as well. Shop online or at a store near you.