Lamps

I've had the perfect lamp shades in mind for our bedroom forever. They are the Couture Hardback Seagrass Lamp Shades from Ballard Designs and they fit in perfectly with the beachy look I am going for; they look like braided seagrass.

They were a bit pricey, but I got a Ballard Designs gift certificate for Christmas, so they didn't cost me a penny! I ordered them a few days ago and was so excited when they arrived today!

Isn't it amazing how changing something as simple as a lamp shade can change the whole look of a room?

Ballard Designs has some great tips for picking the perfect lamp shades. For instance, I learned that your shade should be about two-thirds the height of your lamp base (give or take an inch) and the width of your shade should be the measurement of your lamp base multiplied by two. Who knew!?

Remember what our lamps and shades looked like BEFORE? Here's a reminder...
Mismatched lamps that were too small. Boring shades that were a little too traditional looking for the style of the room.

Now here's what they look like...
I 'shopped' around in our house and found 2 matching lamps. They have a brushed nickel finish and are taller and more substantial looking than the ones we had before. And the new shades look absolutely fabulous.

Cost for this transformation = $0
I LOVE THAT!!!