How to add statement lighting to your living room

When you’re looking for a way to freshen up a room, lighting is an easy way to make a big difference with minmal effort. A look-at-me lamp makes a fantastic statement and can also help you feel cosier, so its mood-boosting ability shouldn’t be overlooked. Partner and Lighting Buyer, Katherine Mitchell, says, ‘As we’ve all been spending more time at home, we’ve turned to areas where we can make a personal statement. With the darker nights, it has become even more important.’

As the maximalist design movement moved in, so did the statement lampshade. It was once limited to a simple palette of white or cream, but a striking lamp base or the braver, bolder lampshades of the moment can add just as much wow factor as a piece of art. Katherine says, ‘Where you’re using table lamps for soft lighting, think about the lampshade’s opacity from a practical point of view and whether you need light to emit through the fabric, or whether you only need minimal light from the top and bottom.

 ‘A lined, gathered shade or thick material will give less light, but can have a particularly impactful look when switched off,’ Katherine adds. See a statement lampshade as an extension of your decor and use a colourful paper or patterned fabric shade just as you would an accent cushion on a sofa.

Dress up your WFH space with a statement desk lamp in brass or black, or go for a timeless Anglepoise in a crayon-bright. Alternatively, bend the rules and choose a small, neat table lamp, so long as you don’t need the direct lighting for your work. If your desk is in the living room, this will add another layer of soft lighting and make a practical working space feel slightly less desk-ish and more like a console table.

Floor lamps can be almost sculpture-like in shape and whichever style you’re looking for, the height will add interest. For cosy nights curled up with a book, a floor lamp next to your sofa or favourite armchair is as useful as it is striking. Choose one you can angle for maximum versatility. Or, if you’re driven by classic aesthetics, make a statement with brass.

‘Industrial-style lamp bases with metal finishes remain very popular,’ says Katherine. ‘Glass is also timeless – choose from clean and clear for a contemporary look, to recycled or coloured glass to suit a more eclectic home.’ An oversized table lamp will become a stylish design feature in your living room – you don’t need to stick to any rules around scale. Likewise with shape and colour, don’t be afraid to experiment. Ceramic or painted wooden bases are fantastic for adding a confident pop of colour.