This Designer Found the Perfect Vintage-Inspired Piece at Target (for Just $70!)

Lighting might be one of the most important investments you can make for your home, but you don’t have to spend a small fortune to get a gorgeous glow. Just ask Jacqueline Goncalves of MOKSA Studio. The Los Angeles-based designer recently helped renovate her sister’s 19th-century home, which needed some serious TLC. When it came to the living room, where the family spends the majority of their time, Goncalves’ main goal was to create a cozy, welcoming space. And to do so, she knew good lighting would be key. 

Goncalves is firmly anti-big light. “I basically put a lamp on every surface possible to add layers of low-level lighting,” the designer says. Using lots of lamps is a surefire way to capture that “warm, welcoming glow you just don’t get with overhead lighting,” she says. But towards the end of the renovation, Goncalves found the budget was running low. She worried that sourcing affordable vintage-looking lamps that matched the elegant, traditional vibe of her sister’s home might be difficult. She scoured the luxury lighting stores and antique shops alike. In the end, she actually found the perfect piece at Target. 

Goncalves was pleasantly surprised to discover this accent table lamp from Hearth & Hand with Magnolia at Target. It’s one of those rare decor gems that really looks vintage, but it isn’t. And for just under $70, it costs a lot less than an antique, too. The lamp features a spherical wooden base and a luxe-looking rattan shade. While many store-bought lamps come with a simple white shade, Goncalves points out this piece’s rattan shade really “elevates” this pick. Although it’s clearly boho-inspired, this stylish little lamp could really work just about anywhere. The designer says the piece’s clean lines and natural materials would pair nicely with a wide array of design styles, from contemporary minimalist to layered traditional. 

But executing Goncalves’ cozy vision for her sister’s living room would require more than one lamp. So she was even more thrilled to find this glossy ceramic lamp also at Target, from the brand’s Threshold Designed with Studio McGee line. At $80, this piece is a bit more expensive — but still very reasonable compared to similar-looking designer or vintage lamps. “Designer lamps with custom shades can cost upwards of a thousand dollars each,” the designer says. “The shade alone at a vintage shop could cost as much or more than this entire lamp.”

Although you might not think these two (very different) pieces would work well together, somehow they do. Both are vintage-inspired, and the mixing of the wood, rattan, ceramic, and fabric textures together really lends the room a collected, layered air. “It gives the space a feeling of history and the passing of time,” she says. “Old with new — not perfectly matching.” 

Whether you pick up one of her favorite budget-friendly fixtures from Target or are looking for something slightly different, Goncalves suggests looking for lamps with texture. “There is a lot of room to be creative and make a combination of your own for a fraction of the cost,” she says. “Sometimes the base is really nice, and you can elevate the lamp further with a new shade or custom one in a pattern fabric that works with your scheme.” A pretty light that won’t cost you a pretty penny? Talk about a bright idea!