Bedside Lamps: Should They Match?
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Bedside lamps…should they match?
Our Illinois Master Bedroom
The last few houses that we’ve lived in have had small master bedrooms and this house is no different. Actually, it’s probably the smallest one we’ve ever had so it’s been a challenge to decorate. We were able to keep our king bed, armoire and my nightstand but the rest had to go.
In our other homes we never had room for a regular sized nightstand for the hubs, which means we never had a lamp next to his side of the bed. It was never a big deal though, because we always had plenty of light and he didn’t need it for reading in bed.
Our master in the new house has no ceiling lights, only a ceiling fan (which is a whole other discussion) and we needed more than one source of light in the room. I had a pretty lamp that I bought on clearance at Hobby Lobby, that I wanted to keep, so I tried to look for a twin. I spent a fair amount of time looking but never found a match so I reluctantly started a search for 2 matching lamps. What I found was that the style I was looking for was pretty expensive, especially when buying 2. I didn’t want to spend a small fortune on lamps so I went in a different direction.
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Master in the New House
What if I went with 2 different lamps? I know…stop the presses…I’m a trendsetter (or a rebel). Seriously though. I’m usually all about symmetry, especially when it comes to bedside lamps. That’s what we’re all used to seeing, right? Well, I thought I’d conduct a little experiment to see if it worked for our room.
I started by looking at a lot of rooms online, and liked what I saw, but decided that the only way I would really know would be to get another lamp and try it out. I started my search for a new lamp, both in stores and online, with 3 things in mind, it had to be white ceramic, it had to have a similar curvy shape and be about the same height as the lamp I already had.
I found the perfect lamp, at just the right size, and placed my order. It came without a shade so, to give both lamps a bit of symmetry, I used the same exact shade on each and matching ceramic finials.
A small disclaimer before I share my master bedroom in the new house. It’s a work in progress, like every other room in the house. The walls are painted but that’s about it. Our older dark wood furniture is under construction and will be getting a makeover at some point. I’ll share it all in a separate post but I didn’t want to talk about my lamps without showing them to you.
Both are white, have a curvy shape and are the same size. The new lamp, on the far right, is the same height but the side table is a bit lower than my small chest, on the left. To even things out I just placed a book under the lamp to give it a bit of a boost.
The night stand, with the new lamp, is a recent find (not sure if this is it’s permanent home). Wait until you see how it looked before I got my hands on it, here.
I wasn’t sure how I would feel about two different lamps but I’m loving them and the extra light in the room is an added bonus, plus the hubs feels like a real grownup with his very own lamp (I just go along with him and roll my eyes when he walks away). Sometimes the strangest things make him happy.
Well, let’s hear what you have to say about different bedside lamps. Would you prefer symmetry or are you a rebel like me? 😉
I just googled to see options for 2 different lamps and yours came up, love it, they look great. What do you think about slightly different styles for the shades?
Hi Lynn! I would say that it would be fine to use slightly different styles for the lamp shades. I would keep them similar in scale and in the same color family. Hope this helps. 🙂
I don’t mind to different lamps but they do need to be the same height. You handled the height difference perfectly. I like how your new master is shaping up. The two different heights in the Ballard photo doesn’t work for me at all. It’s a very pretty room though.
I think either or would fine. I am going to be going thru the same dilemma once we get in our new house.
When I bought the first lamp I had no intentions of ever needing another. Lesson learned. If I love a lamp, I always need to buy two, no matter what. 😉
Your new house is looking beautiful. I’m sure you are ready to have it all done so you can move in. What fun you’ll have decorating it all!
I think they look great! Nice room ♥
Thanks so much, Summer, I appreciate it. 🙂
I like the lamps. The difference is not distracting, and gives some interest. My husband doesn’t have a lamp on his side of the bed either. Yours looks so nice that I may have to rethink this. hope you are enjoying North Carolina!
Thanks so much, Jan. I’m a symmetry girl so I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the difference. Plus, it’s nice to have a little extra light. I never realized how much we were missing it until we added a 2nd lamp.
We are really enjoying North Carolina, thank you for mentioning it. We are taking a little trip to the mountains and I’m excited to explore more of our beautiful state.
Although I’m now in Ohio, I’m a South Carolina native. Grew up near the western SC/NC border, so LOVE those mountains!! Your NC scenery is extremely beautiful.
I like your lamps. They are enough alike that they are not distracting. I confess that I have matched lamps in my living room but only one lamp in the bedroom. I really do not like the matched set look. I guess they match because I bought them at a thrift store and they would not sell me just one. LOL Your master bedroom is looking good,
Thanks so much, Debbie. It’s funny because I don’t have matching lamps anywhere else in the house. I don’t know why I always think that you need to have matching in the bedroom. I’m glad that I went with mismatched though. Now I just need to finish the rest of the room.
both lamps by themselves are awesome and together they are over the top, i do like the fact that you put matching shades on them, it should feed your symmetry notion ha ha, it really looks great i pinkie promise xx
Awww, you are too sweet, thanks. I think the shades definitely feed my symmetry notion and I am ok with the fact that they are different. Of course, I could feel differently about it all next week, but for now I’m good. 😉
I don’t think they have to match. I used to have two different lamps in my bedrooms until I lucked up on new ones at decent prices. I love your bedroom already and that cute table idea. It’s perfect!
Thanks so much, Kim. I love the lamps you have in your bedrooms. I definitely would have gone for matching had I been able to find them but I like the ones I found.
The lamps look great! I like the little white side table too. Could that have been a typing table at one time? (There I go again, dating myself.!).
Ha, not dating yourself Brenda, it does look like a typing table.
Thanks so much for visiting and for your sweet comment. 🙂
I don’t have any matching lamps!! Think that matchy thing went out in the 70’s for me, though I spent that decade doing just that, lol. Times change and our “collected” and “gathered” look is so much more interesting, and so much NOT like everyone else’s. Good for you – the no match is perfect!
Thanks Linda! I don’t match my lamps anywhere else in the house so I’m not sure why I thought I should match them in the bedroom. I’m glad that I went with the look I have though, because I love it.
I love the lamps. I think the matchy matchy went out decades ago.
I think you’re right, Rose. Thanks so much. 🙂
They look very good. Staying with the same color is a good idea. By the way, love to know the paint color and manufacturer. Looks very nice!
Thanks so much, Eileen. I’m really happy with the way they look. The paint on the wall is Benjamin Moore, Gray Owl at 50%. It seems to be my go-to color. Love it.
Absolutely Love the Different lamp look Kristi. Hope your foot is continuing to heal. Looking forward to seeing all our decorating.. Fall is Coming..!!
Thank you, Patricia. My foot is doing much better, still a little tender and I have to wear a brace but it’s coming along. Thanks for asking.
Fall is coming and I’m excited to clear the mess and have some pretty fall color around the house.
For your lamps they are perfect. Your room is beautiful. Colour on the wall is perfect, just add some art or something to bring the colour in your room. Great job.
Thanks so much Cheryl, I appreciate it.
I’m a big fan of the gathered look…I love the non matching lamps. I think they add interest! 🙂
Thanks Kim. I love the gathered look too, that’s what most of my house is anyway. 😉
I like that the lamps are different. It adds interest to the room. The room is coming along very nicely.
Thanks Erika. I’m happy with the progress we’ve made.
loooooooooooooove the metal table on the right in the pics. If you had the drawers on the left painted white , I feel it would give more continuity to the room. I likethe mis matched lamps.:)
Thanks Christine. Like I said in my post, the room is a work in progress and the furniture will be getting a makeover at some point. We desperately needed light so that was on the top of the list. Priorities…right? 🙂