« Set Tazers to "Overwhelm." | Main | Can't Live with Them. »
January 13, 2005
Light up My Room.
A fact: nice lamps are usually really expensive. I guess that is why a lot of us ended up with lamps like this in college:
A confession: that is my exact lamp from college. Bugs would die and collect in the bottom of the plastic cone, and it was gross. Make no mistake, I was still all about decorating. I sewed my own velour leopard print duvet cover (Don't judge! That was extremely cool in 1997!), but for some reason I chose to bathe it in plastic cone nightmare light. Why? Why did I do this?
Money, that's why. That lamp was--and still is--$9.99 at Kmart. And I had to buy beer and books, so my lamp budget was limited to yup, about $9.99.
Years later, I tossed the cone and took a good look at the base. And realized that the lamp itself? Was fairly sturdy and neutral. It worked with 3-way adjustable lightbulbs. And... I COULD REPLACE THE SHADE, BY GOD.
A wide range of retailers carry inexpensive stand-alone lampshades. You can find them in any specialty lighting store, Target, Anthropologie, even Wal Mart. I bet some digging on the internet will unearth even more. The best, most simple shades have a clip at the top that'll hug your lightbulb, like this one from Urban Outfitters:
That's a slight variation on the shade I have, and it cost me about $15. So for $25 dollars + a soft pink hued bulb (Very slight pinkness makes everyone pretty!) I have this:
Comparable to: CB2, Restoration Hardware, RetroModern, or Lamps Plus.
Other fun, inexpensive lighting ideas:
If you're stuck with your apartment's harsh overhead lighting, I have two words for you: Dimmer. Switches.
Posted by Lara at January 13, 2005 01:08 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.apartmentalist.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/6
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Light up My Room.:
» texas holdem from texas holdem
And for mathematical science, he that doubts their certainty hath need of a dose of hellebore. by texas hold'em [Read More]
Tracked on February 20, 2005 09:22 AM
» free online poker from free online poker
The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them. by [Read More]
Tracked on March 8, 2005 07:31 PM
» wsop from wsop
Marriage is for women the commonest mode of livelihood, and the total amount of undesired sex endured by women is probably greater in marriage than in prostitution. by [Read More]
Tracked on March 12, 2005 01:24 PM
» real estate appraisal from real estate appraisal
real estate appraisal [Read More]
Tracked on August 24, 2005 12:36 PM
» texas holdem from texas holdem
texas holdem In an uncorrupted woman the sexual impulse does not manifest itself at all, but only love; and this love is the natural impul [Read More]
Tracked on August 26, 2005 04:14 AM
» commercial real estate appraisal from commercial real estate appraisal
commercial real estate appraisal [Read More]
Tracked on September 7, 2005 07:32 AM
» online casino from online casino
party poker - casino - online gambling [Read More]
Tracked on September 23, 2005 08:56 AM
Comments
I LOVE the idea of making an incredibly cheap floor lamp look good with a decent shade. Your picture looks awesome!
My husband and I make decorating decisions together, which is why we haven't done a lot of decorating in the 2 1/2 years we've been in our home. One hard spot is lighting. Due to the expense/commitment it's hard to agree on something when we don't even have furniture for every room yet to set the tone. I had bought a $20 Ikea floor lamp about a year ago out of necessity, but it is ill-suited to your modification. I'll be looking this week for floor lamps like yours that allow for easy modification.
Thanks for the idea!
Posted by: nudging30 at January 18, 2005 10:19 AM
Thanks for reading! I'm thrilled you like the idea.
Posted by: Lara at January 18, 2005 11:15 PM
texas holdem Driving is a spectacular form of amnesia. Everything is to be discovered, everything to be obliterated.
Posted by: texas holdem at September 3, 2005 10:31 PM
I agree with you the way you view the issue. I remember Jack London once saidI agree with you the way you view the issue. I remember Jack London once said everything positive has a neg everything positive has a negative side; everything negative has positive side. It is also interesting to see different viewpoints & learn useful things in the discussion.
Posted by: penis enlargement at September 28, 2005 07:49 AM