We rarely have the opportunity to see Lamps Plus products used in real interior spaces, so we were thrilled when interior designer Debbie Talianko, principal of Talianko Design Group , shared these before and after photos of one of her recent designs. Debbie's work is clean, modern, and tasteful...

Something we hear all the time: "My new mini pendant lighting doesn't look right...help!" There are two common mistakes behind this cry for assistance. For starters, mini pendants should be mounted so that the bottom of the glass or shade is approximately 66-65 inches above the floor. This...

Everyone these days wants to save money and be energy saving. Apartment renters face some additional hurdles in their quest to be Green, however. After all, as a renter you don't own your place and making big changes is a lot harder. Even little things can add up, though, so there are still plenty...

On a previous post, reader Karen asked this about mini chandeliers : "Question about appropriate height for mini chandeliers...for over bed in bedroom? Any tips?" It's a good question, so we thought we'd share some of our response. For starters, mini-chandeliers are a great idea for...

We've blogged about this topic before (see How Dimmers Save Energy ), but we're asked about it all the time: Does using a dimmer really save energy? The short answer is, yes! Here's how: A modern dimmer uses what is called a "Triac Switch". Depending on the dimmer settting, these...

Lighting plays a huge part in creating the overall feel of a room. Knowing this, the folks over at GE have released a new iPhone app aimed at helping you achieve the perfect mood with a GE light bulb . Using the "Moodometer" to snap a picture of your room, you can choose the mood (from "cozy"...

It may seem completely logical, but turning on a room ceiling fan can help cool a room during the hot summer months. So far so good, but how's that work exactly? Joe Rey-Barreau, associate professor at the University of Kentucky's School of Interior Design , gave us the techie details. "The...

Looking to de-clutter the bedroom? A simple tip is to free space on bed side tables by adding swing arm wall lighting . These wall light designs install in a snap and plug into any standard wall outlet. Getting rid of your old bedside lamp leaves the bedside table free and gives your room a cleaner look...

When it comes to outdoor lighting for a porch or front entryway, many people get it wrong when sizing a new outdoor wall light . This is because it's hard to judge how a product will actually look when installed by just looking at it online or even in a store. So what many folks end up with is a...

I enjoyed a recent pictorial on Design*Sponge of a teeny, tiny house in Culver City, CA. It's just 520 square feet. I'll bet many of you have one room in your house that's bigger!! Takes me back to one of my first apartments ..... Decorating small spaces takes lots of creativity, flexibility...

In case you didn't know, today is National Read Across America Day. It's a celebration of reading organized by the National Education Association designed to get youngsters excited about books. Schools celebrate each year on March 2nd, the birthday of Dr. Suess. To create the perfect reading...

Don't forget ... clocks go back tomorrow, November 1st, at 2am. As Daylight Savings Time ends, energy bills get bigger in part because people keep their lights on longer throughout the winter months. As we turn back the clocks, here are a few tips to help turn down your energy bills. - Replace high...

Got a small room space you want to make the most of? Use a glass top or transparent top table. These make a room feel larger and less cluttered. I especially like the nesting tables that tuck neatly out of the way when not in use. Glass top tables . Glass top seating .

In case you didn't know, October is Energy Awareness Month for 2009. This is a great reminder to get you thinking about your home energy use. Some tips from the U.S. Department of Energy to cut your energy profile and save you money: install CFL light bulbs , upgrade with energy efficient lighting...

Lighting a room for home theater use can be challenging since you want some light but indirectly so it won't interfere with the light of the screen. Sconces are a great solution. You can either use low wattage bulbs or, even better, install a dimmer switch . You'll be able to move around the...

It may seem obvious, but wall mirrors can really help a small apartment or room space look bigger and more spacious. Some ideas to try are placing a mirror over a sofa or buffet table to reflect the room space. This trick can make even the smallest room feel deeper and lighter. You can also position...

It's baaaccck...and parents everywhere are rejoicing! What should be on everyone's back to school list? One purchase that will keep on paying dividends the entire school year is a great desk lamp . A good reading light will not only help prevent eye-strain and fatigue (especially in the first...

The biggest mistake made in kitchen lighting is trying to illuminate the entire kitchen with one ceiling light – I should know, I do it too! In looking for new kitchen lighting, I made this list of quick tips to keep in mind. 1. Use a mix of lights. Like any room, a kitchen should have a mix of lighting...

LAMPS PLUS outdoor lights recently made an appearance on The Early Show for a "Creating Curb Appeal" segment. Host Harry Smith spoke with Ahmed Hassan from the DIY Network, and a Bellagio Collection outdoor wall light was featured. Good tips here, especially on how to choose a fixture to match...

John recently posted with some great information on how dimmers work, and one of our readers asked an interesting question: Is it better to dim bulbs to 50% or use a bulb that's half the wattage? To get to the bottom of this, I asked our resident expert Hugh Prosser. Hugh replied with a detailed...