There are two kinds of light that we can enjoy in our homes: natural and artificial. Although the most desirable kind of light is natural light it is constantly varying in intensity and direction as it passes overhead. So we are left with creating enough artificial light to illuminate our home sufficiently at any time of the day or night.

Ever since the electric light bulb has been in existence we have been coming up with new ways to use that light. From it’s functional origins the lamp became a work of art through the art deco and retro eras with the lamp bases becoming more decorative ranging from figurines to animal shapes and on to new age materials.

One of those newer types of material that became popular in the construction of lamps, both bases and shades, was a material known as Lucite. This acrylic resin is a hardened plastic material that could be used to be formed into any shape that the designer wanted. Lucite table lamps were soon churned out in great numbers as the retro designers made use of them.

These days, vintage Lucite table lamps are popular collector items as representative of the typical style features from both the art deco and retro eras. They complement contemporary style décor as well as a retro room. They speak clearly of the optimism that sparked in the post-war period. The space age had dawned and household items made with modern materials were all the rage.

It’s worth tracking down these kinds of lamps for the more modern room if you want to add a piece that will spark some interest to the eye. One thing is for sure, a Lucite table lamp is going to stand out.

Some of the most striking pieces of furniture in a room may well be glass table lamps, such is the diversity of range available in their design and color. The clear glass bases of some of the better crafted retro glass table lamps have a distinctive appeal to them and simply beg you to buy them and take them home.

The shades that are used to complement these pieces will often look just at home in the modern room as they do in the more traditional retro styled room. That is one of the appealing aspects of the retro styles pieces, their adaptability and wide ranging appeal.

Colored glass table lamps are the more often sighted lamps and then there are the cylinder lamps that have an old world appeal all of their own. Choosing only one could well be a hopeless task and if you have to buy more than one, the classy look nowadays is to mix rather than match.