Seletti lamps are made to be looked at as much as switched on. By day they're sculptures, and in the evening they light the room. This guide goes room by room, with the pieces we'd choose for each and a few tips on placing them so they get the attention they deserve.
The living room: lamps as conversation pieces
The living room is where a sculptural lamp earns its keep, because it's the room guests spend the most time in. Put it at eye level on a sideboard, console or bookshelf rather than tucked beside a sofa.
The Seletti Circus Abatjour Lamp is a good place to start. Its circus characters have mistaken the lampshade for their circus tent and lift a flap of the shade, ready to make their entrance. Designed with the humour of Uto Balmoral, these table lamps suit what's described as the "apartment gallery" look: a few non-conformist, witty objects that give a room character.
If you want to go further, pair it with the Seletti x Studio Job Burger Chair, an upholstered bun and patty on gold-finish resin feet from BLOW, the joint brand of Seletti and Studio Job. Keep the walls and other furniture simple, and let the two pieces talk to each other.
The bedroom: soft light and romance
In a bedroom you want a lamp that feels calm when it's lit, and a little special when it isn't. The Love in Bloom Heart Lamp by Marcantonio is a porcelain heart reproduced in anatomical detail, its veins and arteries blossoming into buds, and it casts a soft glow. It makes a memorable gift for an undercover romantic.
It has a matching partner in the Love in Bloom Heart Vase, a porcelain heart whose veins and arteries form a network of bud vases. Used together on a dressing table, with a few fresh stems in the vase, they make a lovely pair.
For a bedside table, desk or shelf, the My Little Table Lamp is a tiny tropical escape by Marcantonio, with crystal-clear sea, palm trees and white sand. It's made from resin, glass and wood, measures 25.5cm x 26.8cm and has a 2.5m cable, so it's easy to fit into a small space. The My Little series also includes Evening, Corner, Valentine and Kong if you'd like a set.
Hallways and walls: colour in a line
Hallways rarely have room for a table lamp, so look at the walls instead. The Seletti Superlinea LED is a neon-style wall light made from a long glass tube with painted wooden tips. The mounting rings hold it firmly to the wall, straight or at an angle, and it plugs into the mains with an on/off switch on the cable. Choose from Blue, Green, Red, White, Yellow or Purple.
The slimmer Seletti Linea LED is the most flexible light in the range. Hang it from its leather loop, suspend it with the extra wire provided, fix it to the wall with the two clear brackets included, or stand it upright in the wooden base (sold separately). The 3m braided cable matches the colour of the tube and has an inline rocker switch. A few in different colours, hung at staggered heights or angles, make a bright, graphic feature in a hallway or above a bed.
Setting the scene around your lamp
A playful lamp looks best against a backdrop with some depth. Rich, traditional pattern is a lovely contrast to Seletti's wit. Golden Lily Wallpaper from Morris & Co, designed by John Henry Dearle in 1899, comes in 14 colourways, from soft Pale Biscuit and Mineral to bold Pink Fizz, Galactic Ink and Espresso. A darker colourway behind a white porcelain heart lamp makes the lamp glow all the more.
A good rule: one statement lamp per surface, and leave space around it. Clutter steals the drama.
For a statement overhead, take a look at our giraffe chandeliers. And if you'd like advice on which lamp suits which room, visit us in Somerset or contact the team.
