How I learnt to stop worrying and love vintage lamps

There it is in every antique shop, every flea market: that perfect vintage lamp. But we hesitate. Is it me? Is it ‘too much’? Is it really safe? How many more lamps can one girl own? Let’s shine a light on the topic.

Why buy vintage?

Above, a pair of c.1900 Austrian lamps from the ‘Secessionsit’ era are just the cat’s pyjamas… spotted a BANAD objects fair

Do it for the sheer variety. Do it because you fell in love with a 1960s light-up cylinder that looks like a spacecraft. Do it because its eco (its recycling!). Do it because you’re a steam-punk mad for Victoriana. Do it because if its lasted until now, its proven its quality. Do it because when else will you find a pair of ceramic legs in a French flea market that can sit jauntily on your desk amusing you all day and lighting up your workspace into the night. Do it for the Tiffany (the good, glass kind). Do it because no-one else will have it. Do it because you hate the big light and all who live under the big light. Do it because you’ll never see one quite like that one again and will live with wistful regret for as long as you live. Do it because you actually started a club to end the tyranny of the big light.

Do it because, let’s face it, you actually could do with another lamp.

Do it.

Check, check and double check

I remember a time, long ago, before I discovered the joys of vintage lighting. Ferreting round Oxford Street and handing over wads of cash for the same lamp I’d see in all my friends houses. I have to admit that I was afraid to go vintage with something electrical. I longed for the warm gleam of vintage brass, or a dash of 1930s chic with a ceramic boudoir lamp, oh and all those wonderful architectural lamps that look like Doric columns. So much statement in one practical piece.

Yet, I hesitated.

And to be honest it wasn’t the lamp per se which was putting me off. It was just the electricals. And sure, I was right to be. If not properly checked, there is a chance they can be a danger.

Well imagine my surprise when I discovered how easy it was to do the thing they always tell you to do.

Get it rewired by an electrician.

Yep, you just call them up, drop it off, hand over about twenty five pounds and its done. All new electrics. That easy.

So find yourself a tame electrician and buy the thing you love.

At No Relation, you don’t even need to bother to do that. We have a professional electrician test and rewire all our lamps before presenting them for sale. So have a peek at our shop and see what we have in at the moment. Failing that, task us to find your perfect piece and we’ll get sourcing on your behalf.

Sconce, but make it candle

Above, the sweetest metal vine candle sconce in gold from a previous No Relation collection

My absolute top tip for bringing some cosy wall lighting to a forgotten nook. Start using candle sconces. They don’t have to be wired in by an electrician, they just need a hook to get them in place. You can use them for candles which creates the most dreamy, romantic light. Failing that, think about bringing in an LED candle. These amazing light pieces are operated by battery, generally have great life-length, flickering in a way to mimic candles. Super safe and difficult to distinguish from the real thing, I use them in unloved corners of the house for a dash of charm.

Throwing shade

Above, our 1980s/1990s terracotta leaf motif lamps with a plain cream cone shade, reflecting the base, click on the image above to go to shop

Looking for a way to get some cohesion with all your beautiful ‘new’ lamps? Bring back that freshness to a vintage piece? Make them work in your design scheme? Well, throw some shade! By simply either recovering the existing shade (there is a good tutorial on how to do it yourself here), or by swapping out the old one, you can bring new life and your own design twist to an old piece of lighting.

Give a thought to shape, proportion, and pattern. These small pieces of fabric can have a huge impact on the overall design of a room and are a great place to introduce colour.

Proportion wise, a general rule is that the height of the lamp should be a similar length as the bottom diameter of the shade. Try also to make the shade at least two times as wide as the lamp base for it to look like the correct size. There is an interesting article in House & Garden on the how to choose shades here.

Have a look at the fun shades offered by Pooky, Floren, or The Light Shade Studio for some inspiration.

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