Loving Lately: Vintage Lamps

Photo credit: Heather Taylor of @victoriannerdess 

A good vintage lamp will work wonders in any room of the home and is certainly worth searching for as you visit estate sales and antique stores. “Like vintage jewelry, a vintage lamp is an opportunity to dress up a room with something special and unique that likely no one else has,” says Lindley Arthur, the founder of Lindley Arthur Interiors. She enjoys looking for vintage Murano, Cloisonne, and Chinoiserie porcelain lamps in particular. 

When shopping for vintage lamps, there are a few pointers you will want to keep top of mind. Below, Arthur and other designers weigh in with their tips for how to identify, style, and upgrade vintage light fixtures. 

Do Your Research

It’s more than possible you’ll stumble upon a total gem when sourcing vintage lighting. “Make sure that you research the provenance and look for any labels that indicate authenticity—you might find something very special, especially when shopping in person,” says Amy Courtney, the founder of Amy Courtney Design. 

Use Lamps to Establish a Focal Point Within Your Space

Lamps are a key form of accent lighting, which will help to draw attention to a specific area of the room. “The benefit of accent lighting is that it adds warmth and character to a space, making it feel more inviting and comfortable,” Courtney says. “By highlighting specific features, accent lighting adds visual interest and prevents a room from feeling flat or bare. It helps guide the eye and creates depth within the space.” 

Note That Going Vintage Can Be More Affordable

It’s no secret that quality lighting often doesn’t come cheap. “Just as with ceramics and art, sourcing vintage is not only more affordable when it comes to selecting lamps, it’s often the better choice when you are looking for something well-made and completely unique,” says Amy Peltier, the founder of Peltier Interiors. Rather than purchasing a lamp that your neighbors have, think outside the box a bit and search for something one of a kind that’s full of personality. 

Find well-made and unique lamps here.

Be Prepared to Give a Vintage Lamp Some TLC 

Keep in mind that vintage lamps may need a bit of reviving in order to function properly. “When searching for the perfect vintage lamp for your space, be prepared to do some work,” Arthur says. “Often, they need to be rewired or have the base updated to something more contemporary, like brushed gold or lucite.” Don’t be afraid to DIY, either. Adds Arthur, “Occasionally, I will even use spray paint to give an old wood base a makeover.” Either way, you will want to take the lamp’s condition and any work it will require to bring it back to life into account when considering whether it fits within your budget, Courtney notes.

Written by:

Sarah Lyon

October 3, 2024     Updated 02:10 PM

Sarah Lyon is a Washington, DC, native living in New York City. As a freelancer, she frequently covers pieces pertaining to interior design, travel, and other lifestyle topics. Her pieces have appeared in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and more. When she isn't writing, Sarah works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots (and can't stop rearranging and redecorating her own apartment, either!). She has a penchant for shopping secondhand and loves giving preloved pieces new life. Sarah’s own spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz, and Washingtonian.com. Her Dupont Circle apartment was featured in both the spring 2019 print edition of Small Space Decorating and the January 2019 print edition of Washingtonian Magazine.

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