Home DecorNew Living Room Lamps March 1, 2016 The living room is really where we spend most of our time as a family, so I’m excited to start really finishing it. We got some major elements finished early, but it’s always the little details that really make a room to me. I finally found the perfect new lamps for the space after so much searching! I had several criteria for these living room lamps that made finding the perfect thing a little more difficult: 1.) Matching Lamps – I’m all for things being asymmetrical and not matching. But in this case, I really pictured a set of matching lamps to go on either side of the couch. 2.) Contrast with Artwork – I absolutely love the big barn picture over the couch. The lamps needed to contrast well against that, meaning bring in a different style. When I first started searching, I looked high and low for brass. I really thought that was the answer. We have the brass sconces above the fireplace and I knew that would contrast well against the rustic picture, but not compete with it. There is a lot of color in this room, which I love. But I really didn’t expect to add any more color with the lamps. I started my search where I usually do: thrift stores. I quickly gave up hope, though. Finding a matching set of lamps that you love at a thrift store is so much more difficult than finding one single lamp. I looked at Target and a lot of different stores and the more I looked, the more I couldn’t find anything I loved in here. Since the lamps frame the couch in the way that they do, I realized they needed to be awesome and really be some sort of focal point, not just be pretty lamps that disappear into the background. That’s when I found them. These Color Swirl Lamps from Lamps Plus stopped me in my tracks as I was scrolling through. I immediately fell in love with the navy marbleized finish. They come in five colors and I swear I want each one for a different room. While these lamps aren’t a huge bargain, I was really pleased with the price for what I got with these and what they bring into the room. They are so unique and I haven’t seen anything else similar. I knew these in navy would look great with most every element in the room. The vintage rug we found has so much blue in it and I knew these would pull that out nicely. I also loved the picture in my head of them with the barn art. I wanted another style lamp to really compliment this rustic picture and I love this mix. There are faint hints of blue in the art, which tie with the lamps. And I knew these made enough of a statement to flank the couch and create a focal area. See how they tie in with the rug? I’m so in love with that pairing! The only thing I was really wary of before getting them in was how they’d look with the chairs. The chairs obviously are a blue and white print as well and I thought these two together could really be too much. Plus, it’s hard to tell what shade of blue something is online. They could be different blues that really clash. But as soon as I pulled them out of the box, I knew it was a match made in heaven. I love mixing patterns and colors wherever I can. It’s what really brings my style into a space and makes a room appealing to my little design eyes. I didn’t realize until these were here how well this mix fits my tried and true rules for mixing patterns. I realize I break this first one a lot, but if you want a fail-safe way to mix, go with the same colors just in different patterns. The consistent color palette makes some crazy patterns go together that otherwise might be too much. Choose a small scale, or tighter, pattern to go with a larger print. In this case, the lamps are a smaller, tight pattern and the chairs are larger. Organic patterns with flowing lines go well with straight, geometric lines. Here, the lamps provide that curvy, organic shape while the chairs have a definite geometric shape. Is it weird to be in love with a lamp? Because I have it bad, y’all. I love how this room is mixing and coming together! Adding in these lamps have given me such an itch to finish up this space. Here’s a list of what I’m planning to add/change in the coming months: Add curtains – I really want something that will add softness without drawing the eye away from all of the other elements. I’m thinking white with texture. I know we debated whether or not to have curtains. I love the trim and these beautiful windows, but a room just doesn’t feel finished to me without flowy curtains. In our last house, there were so few rooms where we could have curtains, so maybe I’m making up for that. Find different or matching end tables – As I said about the lamps, I usually don’t like things to match, but I also appreciate symmetry at times. I’m thinking I’d like matching end tables on either side of the couch underneath the lamps….maybe. I at least want tables that are the same height. Figure out fireplace chairs – When I first got the statement Arhaus chairs, I’d planned to have them on either side of the fireplace. I loved how that looked, but they were too big to go there and keep the couch centered between those two windows, which we really wanted. I do like how they sort of define the living room by being where they are. That can be hard in an open concept. I’m not sold at all on needing matching chairs by the fireplace. I’m just not sure it’s “right” yet. I need to think on it some more. New Coffee Table – I love our vintage black trunk, but this space needs something bigger where we can put up our feet and relax. This room is really big and the trunk just feels too little. Address the TV Wall – I know this isn’t pictured above and I’ll be doing a post on this soon. All of that being said, I’m putting no time table on rounding up and finishing all of that. I’m enjoying the process and loving it like it is. I want to allow time to find the right pieces at the right price. Thanks for touring our current living room! Here are some sources and details: Our Faux Fireplace The New Chairs The Over-sized Chandelier Abstract Art Barn Art Rug – vintage from a local antique store Trunk – thrift store find Peach chair – My grandmother’s
Shelly says March 1, 2016 at 1:44 pm Love the lamps!!! What about a long(ish) low ottoman for the fireplace area instead of chairs? Reply
Monica says March 1, 2016 at 1:59 pm OK, I’m weighing in on the coffee table and lamps!! I love those lamps! But I also love the gold bases and how they tie in with your scones!! Great choice!! Although our ceilings are valuted, we have more of an open concept living room that I love. We have a round walnut coffee table and I think that a larger, round coffee table or tuffed ottoman in beige or ligher leather would be awesome in your living room! I agree with you the windows are beautiful just the way they are, but I too long to add curtains to our living room. I just haven’t found exactly what I’m looking for yet. Can’t wait to see more as always! Reply
Austin says March 1, 2016 at 2:29 pm YAY! I was so excited to see a living room update! Those lamps are just lovely. You sound pretty content with the process (which I know you’ve expressed is hard for you), so kudos, girl! It’s coming together just right. Can’t wait to see a bigger coffee table AND that mysterious other wall! Ha ha Reply
Baileywife @ IrishmanAcres says March 2, 2016 at 7:05 am Yeah for the lamps!! They are perfect, and perfectly you! I think you could add a tall tree/plant in the corner window area, and that would eliminate the need to fill it with an additional chair (?). Just a thought, but only you know what feels right in your home!:) Can’t wait to see the softness that the curtains bring also…. Thanks for letting us follow along on your journey with this sweet home. P.s. I’m curious if you are gonna put your Buffalo picture in this home? I really loved that one too:) Reply
Baileywife @ IrishmanAcres says March 2, 2016 at 7:07 am Yeah for the lamps!! They are perfect, and perfectly you! I think you could add a tall tree/plant in the corner window area, and that would eliminate the need to fill it with an additional chair (?). Just a thought, but only you know what feels right in your home!:) Can’t wait to see the softness that the curtains bring also…. Thanks for letting us follow along on your journey with this sweet home. P.s. I’m curious if you are gonna put your Buffalo picture in this home? I really loved that one too:) ~Kim Reply
Robbie Zeller says March 2, 2016 at 10:04 am Lindsay, I love your new lamps! So beautiful with your rug and chairs. I don’t know if you saw them on The Inspired Room in the sea glass color? I believe Melissa got hers at Target but the color selection looks fairly limited. You both have such great taste!! Reply
Gloria says March 2, 2016 at 12:21 pm Love the lamps! I’ve even blogged about them before. The living room is looking amazing! Reply