Ferha has a good question: "The question is "Black or White?" Should we go with the black antler or the white antler lamp for our bedroom? I always thought white - it's more soothing & easier to work with, but then the black one looks so modern & glamorous...
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
chicago(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)
...We've just started this slow process of doing up our room & this month's budget called for lamps. Other pieces that'll make up the room is the GRIMSTAD bed from Ikea that I hope to buy some time soon (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29857247 - loks way better than it is looking in this picture), and the Porto 6 drawer dresser from Crate and Barrel which we already have. I'd also like to incorporate this rug (that's on the bed in the picture) in the bedroom. I can't use it as a rug because it's too delicate & quite slippery.
So which one should we go for? Or better yet, should we dump the antlers & find something else? My first choice was a wire base lamp from West Elm that I first saw on this site, but they are now out of stock. If you've seen better lamps for under a $100 each, please let us know!"
Please let Ferha know...black or white? And as requested above above, other suggestions are also welcome...
Comments (62)
If you're going to leave the color of the walls white, then i say go for the black one.
I second black.
Black
I guess I would want to see more of the room. I like the way the black pulls the color of the trim on the pillow cases, but the white looks more ethereal to me. I'd go with the white.
White. :-)
I don't think the lamp style works with the bedside tabels. But I would say black if you had to choose.
Black will show the dust more than white, and you'll end up cleaning the lamp a lot more often than the white one. But, black looks nice in the picture because of it's contrast against the white walls.
I'd rather have the white one, and paint the walls a little darker.
Black. The white is great but it just fades into the white wall. The black pops and brings everything together. It does add some glamour and elegance.
white lamp with a black shade... is this an option?
black Antler with White Shade...
I agree with the painting of the walls and the keeping of the white one, but it's hard to tell with so little of the room shown.
I would go with White but paint the wall behind the Bed a different color. Also is the bed frame going to be the Ikea Beige? I would also consider switching the lamp shades on the lamps so the white base has black shade i think that would really make the lamp Pop.
with that white bed i'd say go with the white lamps but paint the wall a color. if you aren't going to paint the wall then stick with the black lamps, the white lamp will just disappear into everything else.
nice choice tough.
Black. It's obvious from the pics.
black!
White Looks Better!
You will get more light out of the white lamps.
The black ones are too heavy looking.
Oh, by the my answer is the correct answer!
curve ball- when this happens when i do a film set i often just scratch both and start over. rethink! maybe hanging lamps or using a curved floor lamp. end tables dont necessarily need table lamps. maybe you need something more versatile and timeless if you can decide between both. you like the glamour of the black but the levity of the white. maybe you need a combined black and white lamp rather than having to decide between both. i think from a practical perspective the white antler lamp will be more versatile in the long run with color and interior changes. toss a coin and live and love with it?
black with a white shade...
It seems as if there are too many looks in the room. You have a modern, classical bedding with an oriental style coverlet, contemporary side tables and chair and then the modern lodge look with the lamps. I'd keep the white lamps, get a less "busy" coverlet, paint the wall a darker color or get a large print to hang above the bed, and I'd eight-six the chair.
Everyone has strong feelings for your lamps! ;P
I say: white shows definition of antlers better - but yes, you need to paint your walls. Even a pale taupe background will showcase both your lamps and bedding. White is my vote. Clean, modern, goes with what you currently have.
But if you must go with black - then I think you need white (or paler) bedside tables, b/c the black shades just fade into the tables.....
FYI: You may have trouble "dumping the antlers" as I tried to return this lamp to West Elm recently (it was bigger than the website dimensions indicated) and was told that it was a final sale only item. Now that I'm stuck looking at it, it occurs to me that I should have bought something less trendy.
although i think something like this would look better.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=/qid=/ref=br_1_br_1_3/601-9802830-0370539?ie=UTF8&node=255125011&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=255125011&rank=pmrank&asin=B000G1M9G6&rh=&page=1
Have you thought of hanging the rug on the wall?
Switch the shades on the lamps and look at them again. I think they will look a lot better that way.
I like the white - and i agree about painting the walls and getting a rug pad!
i'm with erikasky: hang the rug on the wall behind the bed.
then go with the white lamp. it'll stand out against the hanging and bring in the white walls and bedding. meanwhile the hanging will provide a high-contrast focal point and tie in the dark tables.
White. Definitely. And I agree with those who suggest something for the wall behind the bed.
white, and painted walls, if you are keeping the rug on the bed--love the way it looks.
If you are going with the white duvet with black trim, then the black lamp.
another for mix and match. just swap the shades on what you have there.
Black.
It gives more depth and texture to the room.
black antler
with the white shade
trimmed with 1/2"-1" black ribbon on the top and bottom
The black antler does have a great graphic appeal, and trimming the white shades will pop it off the wall and echo the black on white detail you have on your bed.
And second hanging the rug...
I like the white, but then I tend to gravitate towards light and airy. I like the idea of the white with a black shade if you want it to pop or painting the wall to allow the same. I think the black on the dark dresser looks like a lot of heavy furniture.
Black antler.
As for your rug, check out the July issue of Domino and take a look at the guest bedroom of the art direct for Lee Jofa. He uses the seagrass headboard from pottery barn and hangs a rug over it. Also does it with a rug over a fabric headboard. With your rug and greek key motif bedding, it would look stunning.
I think you should paint the wall the golden color that's in the "rug", and keep the rug on the bed, and have both lamps be black, but change the shades out for a pair of these:
http://www.everylampshade.com/ES20573.htm
Seriously. I'm not kiddin'. Do it. Now.
- Curtis
black
I like both the lamps, and I like the idea of having one black and one white in the room. Its a little unexpected. I think the problem is that the black lamp really pops out against the white wall and the white lamp almost disappears into the paint.
Have you thought about painting in a rectangular "headboard" shape on the wall, that extends behind and a little above both the black lamp and the white? You could use a colour pulled from the spread - maybe that warm gold/tan, or the trim colour from the sheets - it would emphasize the colour and shape of both lamps, and it would kind of anchor the bed as well. Also it would stop those white pillowcases from also disappearing into the wall paint.
Neither - Yuck.
Black, and leave the rug on the bed, it looks great!
i don't like either. wouldn't want to hit one of those antlers if i have to turn on the lights in the middle of the night or on a gloomy morning. and black lampshades are so somber...
so sorry
For some reason I always associate black lampshades with hotel rooms. White puts off more light which is the point, right? I have never cared for that shape of shade, and would suggest going to ikea; they have some of the best lighting solutions for the money. A Noguchi style or worklamp perhaps. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/range/10371/10732/
black and lose the quilt
I'd keep one of each, just the way you have it is great.
Black if your walls are staying white, white if you plan on painting the walls any other color but white.
Go with the lamp that you love the most (in your gut), and then incorporate some of the great (and inexpensive) ideas from above to make it work. If you're doubting both go a different route altogether until you find something you can't live without. If you love something you'll have it forever (or at least longer!) But if you're just buying something just cause it matches (or b/c the pros recommended it to you), you'll never feel quite satisfied.
White! I actually have that lamp too :)
white
Black!
i say black, because it balances out the black in the blanket @ the bottom. with white sheets, the white one would blend in too much
If the walls stay white/light, then I say BLACK! If the walls get painted darker, then, obviously, go with the white lamp.
White because it will cast much better light and unless your batman, you will appreciate the light. A black base witha white shade would be just as good
White. I like black accents, but they are too big. The white looks much nicer in my opinion.
white
Black.
One of each. I think swapping the shades is too busy. If one of each is too unconventional for you, I'd go with black.
I'd try white lamp with black shade.
i'm not qualified to answer this but my first thought is get rid of them and get something else. they are both ugly. the white is only better in that it blends in so well that you don't notice how ugly it is. i'm sorry!
If you like the lamps, then go with the black.
Black
White
black. white blends into the background and you don't get to enjoy it as much!
Paint your walls gray and use the white. Otherwise if you must use the black.
(I tried replying a lot earlier but get the "error 500" when submitting the post thru Firefox browser on Windows..)
Wow!! I didn't expect so many comments from everyone... thanks so much for all the great advice and opinions.
I have a deal with my husband where he gets to make a choice for about every two that I make, and he LOVES these lamps so they've got to stay. My choice would have been wall lamps.
We are planning to planning to paint the walls a light blue-ish gray.
If the lamps stay, the rug on the wall as a headboard might be too busy. So I'm planning to use the rug as a cover for a low platform seating thing that I'll build (at some point). It's actually embroidered silk (not woven/tufted) so it'll work as a cover.
I can't change the side tables for a lighter one, because that was my first woodworking project (Yes, I did have the "stainer's remorse" when the color came too dark).
We tried switching the shades, the white antlers with the black shade look pretty good, the other way around, not so good.
Finally the answer my original question came to me last night when I woke up to go to the bathroom - half asleep, stumbling in darkness, the black antlers looked like they were going to attack me! As glamorous as they look, black antlers (or really any antlers) don't belong in the bedroom. So white is the answer, with smaller shades that don't look like they're covering the rest of the animal.
Again, thanks everyone for your suggestion... once the painting is over, the curtains bought and hung, I'll send in the "After" pictures.
Ferha
Ohhhh or get one white one and put it on the dresser and something different for the bedside tables!
OR - something gold w/ either colour lampshade - you've got this luxurious thing happening...