Home Decor - lamps

[jando]

Dear WIR - I need new lamps for my living room. I hate most lamps. They are boring and usually ugly. I also hate spending a lot of money on something as lame as a lamp. I need at least two. they have to be cool, inexpensive, but still functional. The $14 ones from Target suck. As do most $25 and under lamps.

Recommendations?

I don't have an IKEA. Or a Crate & Barrel. I also won't spend more than, say, $50 a lamp, so don't send me to Pottery Barn either.

Remember - cool and interesting, not lame and boring.

[Anne_in_VA]

Good luck with that!

Why don't you go to IKEA or C&B online?

[Deleted]

Try a thrift store or goodwill, etc. They usually have tons of lamps. Focus on the shape of the base and remember that you can spraypaint it and add a different shade to update it... Just my suggestion ;D

[chicg]

Shoot, my post disappeared!
I was also going to suggest thrift stores. You can also buy a new shade to put on if you just find a base you like, or cover the existing shade with new fabric. Lots of DIY instructions online for how to do that. In an effort to shorten my first post...Macy's, JC Penny, Kohl's, Pier One Imports, TJ Max/HomeGoods. Macy's seems expensive but they run great sales and always have an online coupon you can print. Also, ask friends. I had some random lamp bases stashed in my closet from old apartments, some were missing shades, etc. I finally donated about 3-4 lamps. Maybe someone you know has something hiding in storage? I like IKEA lamps (most of mine are from there, cheap and trendy and I can change out without too much guilt) but I think they look much different in person then in the catalog so be careful if you go that route. Good luck!

[jando]

Thanks for all the good suggestions people. I've been stuck in the house for the weekend + 2 snow days. I have cabin fever. It's leading me to want to redecorate or shop or something. I've done a little too much online shopping since I've been stuck in the house. :-D I'm usually too impatient for thrift stores and I can't find anything I like online at my usual haunts.

[sheilaincali]

Have you tried Lowes or Home Depot? They had some decent looking lamps the last time I was there. If you are a DIYer you could try to google "make a lamp" and see what comes up. I have found a couple of interesting ideas there. We have a store called Gordman's in our town (like a tj maxx) and they had pretty decent prices on lamps. Not sure if there is one of those in your area or not.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Another place to try is Tuesday Morning. I've had good luck getting some pretty nice (and expensive) lamps there relatively inexpensively.

[chiver78]

I second the post about making your own shades, or finding them separate from the base. my LR lamp is a Walmart base, with a shade from a boutique shop in a froo-froo nearby town. I had wandered in with a friend while he was checking out something, and thought the shade matched my decor perfectly....and then proceeded to nearly have a heart attack when it rang up at $45. the rest of the lamps in my house don't add up to $45, shades included.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Have you checked www.overstock.com?

[xia]

Check your local craigs-list, if the overall style is fine the color can always be spray painted

[misspt]

I love overstock.com for home decor items like lamps!

[sunflower64]

I need lots of lamps for "money pit."

I love Marshalls/TJ Maxx/Home Goods for lamps.

Also have had luck at Hobby Lobby - check when they are 50% off. Also when there decorative home accessories go 66% - 80% off in clearance aisles. I have had luck getting a great lamp shade for $5 or a lamp that needs a shade for a few dollars.

I had some shades I liked and got some great lamps at a flea market. In another room I painted a lamp with some spray paint and paired it with a shade I liked from Target.

Good luck.

[hawkeyes2001]

"I need new lamps for my living room. I hate most lamps. They are boring and usually ugly. I also hate spending a lot of money on something as lame as a lamp."

Wow. You sound exactly like me. I hated my living room lamps and therefore kept my eye out for new lamps for the past two years. I liked nothing with the exception of a few that I thought were way over-priced. I just purchased new lamps from Target.com 2 weeks ago. I paid $40 for each which included the shade. They are better quality than the $15 cheap ones you see in the store.

I like overstock and I would also suggest CB2 if you like modern. (CB2 is a more modern less expension division of Crate and Barrel).

[jando]

Thanks everyone! I did check overstock and just could not find anything. I saw a few things on CB2 that I liked, but of course, they were much more expensive. I also did a pretty thorough Amazon check in my price range and nothing. I did walk through Target yesterday instead of just looking at their online section. There are a few I could live with. I also can't decided between staying with floor lamps or moving to table lamps.

Thanks for whoever suggested Hobby Lobby. They sometimes have quirky unique stuff at good prices, so I'll keep my eye out there.

Lamps also just fell further down my list of things to do for my home though. I had some garage door repairs earlier this week and I think I finally (after 20 mos of living here) decided to pick a different color of paint for my bedroom so last night I primed over the other dark green shades I had picked and I think this light gray is the one. While hunting for lamps at Target, I also found some shelves and picture frames to finish off my sons' room so I've spent enough for now. Lamps can wait a few months.

Incidentally, I knocked my bedroom lamp off the bedside table and broke the shade so I may need a new one there some day too.

It's fixed enough for now, though!