A nationally known, high-priced interior designer whose stunning rooms often grace the pages of glossy decorating magazines said to me recently that even in his own exquisitely appointed home he didn`t have one good lamp to read by. Frankly, I think he was more distressed that his name might not be seen in Architectural Digest for lack of a good reading lamp than he was at not owning one. I was distressed that a designer of his caliber would live without such a vital creature comfort or, worse, deny it to his well-heeled clients.
Of course, this high-profile decorator is hardly alone in failing to provide himself lighting that is adequate for reading. Thumb through almost any decorating magazine and you`ll likely encounter at least one fashionable living room where there is nary a reading light. Oh sure, there may be architecturally correct sconces, twinkling chandeliers, floor-based cam lamps discreetly silhouetting a parlor palm and casting romantic shadows on the walls and ceiling, even lighted pedestals and sleek Italian torchiers. But a lamp with a translucent shade standing at the ready next to the arm of a chair or sofa? Missing.
Trouble is, the traditional table and floor lamp of yesteryear-lamps with silk shades, which were ideal for reading-are no longer fashionable. It`s just one more case of sacrificing common sense and comfort for style. But, really now, what`s the use of having a living room, bedroom, family room or den that is so dramatically lighted for mood and ambience that you have to retreat to the bathroom to have a decent light to read by? Good grief, even card-carrying couch potatoes have to consult the television listings now and then.
SETTING PRIORITIES
The first step to solving this all-too-often common dilemma is to refuse to let what`s fashionable take priority over what`s fitting. Besides, given the enormous range of lamps on the market, the two are not mutually exclusive. You don`t have to resort to an old-fashioned lamp if you live in a new-fashioned home. Ultracontemporary reading lamps are out there.
Traditional or modern, the best reading lamp is one equipped with the right shade and the right bulb and positioned at the right height and the right angle. In other words, the best lamp adjusts to different circumstances and accommodates different readers. And you don`t have to turn to a tastemaker or a lighting engineer to determine what`s right. Your eyes will tell you. Redness, burning, headaches and squinting are signals that the light is wrong. And the need for the right kind of light, neither too little nor too much, changes with age. As you age, your eyes need more light to read by each year. While 10-year-olds get by on 40 watts, 60-year-olds need about 100.
Too much light can be as hard on the eyes as too little. Glare tires the eyes, as does high contrast between the brightly lit area where you are reading and the dimly lit distance. When your eyes move to and from light areas to shadowy ones, the pupils dilate or contract. This constant physical adjustment can produce eye fatigue.
The best compromise is a room with a comfortable level of ambient lighting and a reading area where there is a generous, soft, focused light from a shaded lamp. Translucent shades are ideal because they direct light down for reading but also up toward the ceiling and out toward the wall. The shade should be as translucent as possible without revealing the light bulb
(which can produce a visual ”hot” spot that can make you squint).
ALTERNATIVE SHADES
White silk shades modulate light extremely well. For non-traditionalists, there are alternatives made of linen or other kinds of fabrics, fiberglass parchment or paper. Clear or frosted glass shades are not as good because they don`t filter the light as well. Opaque glass globes or shades can work as desk lamps, but they`re not particularly good next to sofas and chairs because they cast light downward only. Adjustability is important. Lamps and/or shades that swivel, pivot, extend or retract make it easier to achieve a level of illumination that is most comfortable for you. Ideally, the light source should be positioned to the side and slightly behind you just above eye level. Probably the best all-around light bulb, for reading as well as other needs, is the tried-and-true three-way soft white that emits 50, 100 and 150 watts. Tiny, high-intensity halogen bulbs, turning up in many high-tech lamps, are great for lighting artwork, entire walls or ceilings, but they tend to emit a whiter light than conventional incandescent bulbs and can be too bright for comfortable reading.
The style of the reading lamp you choose is less important than the fact that you have at least one, preferably more. Your decorating preference may be for down-home country or uptown contemporary, but if you let style and status overshadow the ability to indulge in one of life`s little pleasures, leisurely reading by the light of a good reading lamp, then where you live may be a showplace but it won`t be a home. –
Michael Walsh is a design writer who is also a professional design consultant.
