In the interior design world, nearly every element in your home plays an important role in your overall aesthetic – and lighting is no exception. Professional designers have a keen eye for detail and can detect the nuanced difference between a room lit by an overhead light versus a lamp. Because of this, you’ll often find that professional designers have a preference for the coziness of lamps compared to bright overhead lighting. 

So, why does it seem like so many designers are against overhead lighting? Throughout this post, we’ll dive deeper into the appeal of lamps and some of the drawbacks of overhead lighting from a design perspective. 

Why Skip the Overhead Lighting?

Though it’s certainly not a universal rule that professional designers are against overhead lighting, there are some less desirable aspects of overhead lighting that many can agree with. Mainly, many find that overhead lighting is too harsh or bright for the cozy and relaxing ambiance they’re trying to create. 

Design Benefits of Using Lamps Instead

From a design standpoint, lamps offer a number of advantages that often cannot be achieved through overhead lighting, which we’ll now cover in more detail. 

Personalized Ambiance

One of the main draws to using lamps in interior design is that they can help you create a personalized ambiance. Overhead lighting often creates a harsh and uniform look, which floods a room in stark brightness that might not fit everyone’s personal preferences. 

On the other hand, lamps provide a softer and more directional light that can be adjusted to suit different moods or activities. Whether you are creating a cozy reading nook or highlighting a piece of artwork, lamps offer a great level of flexibility to tailor the atmosphere of a room. 

Layered Lighting 

Professional designers are masters of creating layered lighting designs, in which lamps play an essential role. Layered lighting requires the use of multiple lighting sources so designers can create a harmonious balance between ambient, task, and accent lighting in one space. 

Since lamps are highly versatile in where they can be placed and the designs they can feature, they make a large contribution to layered lighting designs. So, not only can lamps enhance the functionality of a space, but they can also add depth and visual interest when paired with other lighting sources.

Style Versatility

Lamps aren’t only functional, but they offer a range of design versatility that designers can play with to fit a certain aesthetic. For instance, there are lamps made in the Bauhaus style, like the Wilhelm Wagenfeld WSTL 30 Floor Lamp by Tecnolumen or the DSL 23 Bauhaus Floor Lamp by Tecnolumen.

Or, if you’re looking for lighting to match an Art Deco design style, you can consider adding lamps like the AD 34 Art Deco Table Lamp by Tecnolumen, or the AD 30 Art Deco Floor Lamp by Tecnolumen. Essentially no matter what design style you’re going for, you’ll be able to find a lamp that complements the aesthetic and makes the room feel more sophisticated and elevated. 

In sum, the preference that professional designers have for lamps over overhead lighting is rooted in their desire to create thoughtful, personalized, and aesthetically pleasing interiors. Since lamps offer a high level of control and flexibility, they can elevate a space from simply functional to exceptional.