Upgrade your lampshades.

I always replace a plain white or ivory lampshade on a lamp with a more colorful, patterned lampshade. I think of beautiful lampshades as pieces of art; if you’re a lover of color and pattern like I am, they can really transform a room which is why they’re one of the first upgrades I make to a space. I’m such a fan of the gathered fabric lampshades that are found abundantly in British interiors; unfortunately for us here in the U.S. they’re harder to find with hardware for U.S. lamp bases but not impossible.

These lampshade upgrades are also pretty damn pricey, so I tend to spend less on the base so I can indulge in a gorgeous shade that will be a focal point in a room. In fact the lamp base in the image here is from Target. But the good news is that It’s much less expensive to buy a pair of gorgeous lampshades as a way to bring more color and pattern into a room than it is to custom upholster a chair or sofa in a fun fabric. So even though they’re expensive for what they are, I find really beautiful lampshades to be a great bang for the buck.

Places to look for fun lamp shades include Anthropologie, OKA, and The Shade Shop. I’ve been eyeing these Rosanna Lonsdale lampshades for ages and would love a pair of them in my living room.