Do not think for one minute that table lamps are old-fashioned. While overhead cans deliver all-over illumination, pendant lights can be modern and sexy, chandeliers glamorous and elegant, a source closer to where you are sitting or reclining is de rigeur for reading or other tasks that require a close look.

"You definitely want additional sources of light aside from a ceiling fixture," Houston interior designer and popular blogger Paloma Contreras says on a "lighting tricks from the pros" post on the One Kings Lane website. "Bedside lamps are a natural fit. Rely on lamplight more than overhead lighting, and use dimmers whenever possible to set a nice, relaxing mood."

Besides, what do you put on a table? Lamps are not just utilitarian, of course. In fact, the most interesting lamps have personality, driven as much by design as by the kind of lighting they house, which has been morphing away from traditional incandescent bulbs as they are being phased out. This makes them all the more relevant as decorative objects, some even artisanal.

Artists, architects and designers have a history of fashioning lamps. At the end of the 19th century, Emile Galle created magnificent art glass lamps in Art Nouveau style, and they're highly collectible, as are Louis Comfort Tiffany lamps up through the early part of the 20th century. Jean-Michel Frank, a Parisian designer known for his understated but luxurious furniture, especially in the 1930s, designed lighting, as did many architects, such as Eileen Gray. Frank actually teamed up with artist Alberto Giacometti to design a pair of lamps, which this summer fetched $27,500 at a Wright auction.

More playful contemporary styles have been in demand as well. A series of transparent lamps from the Italian company Kartell, some in color with matching shades, display a design spirit similar to the whimsical see-through interpretation of the Louis XV style in Philippe Starck's now iconic ghost chair.

Thankfully, lighting design really has revved up. There's more of a push for creativity in high-end and even more mainstream lamps. As in all furnishings design, fashion also is a catalyst in lamp styles. Seattle-based jewelry designer Shannon Koszyk applied her techniques to lighting design, with a collection for Currey & Co. One of her lamps is a show of sophisticated and edgy goth, a slim rod punctuated almost dead center with a silvery skull. Materials also are crossing over. Skins, from real and faux leather to shagreen (shark), clad lamp bases. Feathers cover lampshades. And the boldness of some fabrics chosen for shades -- large-scale florals, paisleys and geometrics -- won't remind anyone of the darker, more somber embroideries of the Victorian era.

Lamps have always been about size, shape and proportion, just like other interior furnishings. For a long time conversation about shades has been nonexistent. That was due to their generic nature: white, sometimes pleated, predictable styles. Nonconforming shapes, including rectangles, exaggerated drums or even unusual asymmetrical styles, have greatly relieved the monotony and have added to a growing repertoire. One spring introduction from Surya, the Gabby, features a yellow ceramic body with a bold apple-green and white chevron shade.

Animal prints, houndstooth, horizontal stripes, and ikats are some of the surprising patterns that are available in shades today.

Caryn Kinzig, who lives in Philadelphia, and her sister-in-law Sharon Kinzig, who lives in San Francisco, are known for their artistic flourishes -- particularly embroidered or printed or hand-painted fabric lampshades that pick up from base colors, many of which are hand-blown glass in beautiful sheer colors. Their line is sold through the Artful Home catalog (www.artfulhome.com).

The envelope certainly is being pushed, as designers are considering ways to introduce texture, sometimes with surface applications, such as shells (real or ceramic), crystals or three-dimensional pieces, like a lamp by DwellStudio that consists of a trio of gold-leaf urchin shapes stacked on a slender post. Materials also are being coaxed into unconventional forms, stretching lamp bodies into new dimensions. A nautically themed lamp from Shades of Light is crafted from jute over a metal frame, coiling up to its hanging shade.

There are barely there, pencil-thin, skinnier-than-candlestick bases that satisfy minimalists; flat, ribbon profiles; short squat globes in translucent glass; and luminous mercury glass. And there are a range of materials from wood to cork, concrete and metals, sometimes even pierced, as in Moroccan styles that allow light to dance through.

At this time of year, particularly, as daylight fades earlier, there's something about table lamps that adds a warm glow to interiors. Depending on the style, a little bling or sparkle lends a dress-up touch. Some of the glazes used in porcelains also have a sheen or flecks of glittery mica. Metals and leafing (gold, silver or copper) also can add luster and a reflective quality, as do some shades, even in polished nickel.

Many retailing websites offer lighting design tips. On the Ylighting site (www.ylighting.com), for example, there's advice on harnessing the power of your table lamp, by addressing size ("the scale should complement other decorative elements in your space, especially the table it sits on"), layering light ("to accommodate different brightening needs, use table lamps in rooms that have support from other lights, such as ceiling lights") and considering the existing decor, as well as table color ("pale walls and surfaces will reflect the light, while dark colors and wood will absorb it, requiring more light output").

At Shades of Light, which has a brick-and-mortar store in Richmond, Virginia, and a bustling catalog and website business, there's a rich selection of styles. Table lamps are considered an important accessory "not only for ambient or task lighting, but also to enhance the style and colors for the space." Further advice speaks to design styles: "A beautiful crystal, porcelain or brass table lamp will evoke a classic traditional mood, while a metallic, glass or concrete table lamp will set a more sleek modern tone. Coastal themes and materials like driftwood, capiz and pearl shells, coral and bamboo bring a relaxed resort feel. Celebrate the rustic beauty of nature, with table lamps fashioned from materials like horn, wood, rock crystals and branches."

Shades of Light even has an in-depth bulb selector guide, which helps navigate through different shapes, wattages, voltages and types.

In the foyer, a single lamp or a pair might be used on top of a console table. This is a spot where you might have a little fun with color or pattern, particularly with a shade. A shade with texture, embroidery, beading or embellishing with pieces like shells, lends richness and personality.

While a common way to use lamps in the living room or bedroom is as bookends -- one on either side of a sofa or bed -- some designers like to deviate from symmetry by choosing a pair of simpatico but different pieces. They may be united in materials or finish -- say gold leaf or silver metal -- but with different shapes or even different finishes: for example, one in matte and the other in polished. They might even be different heights.

A console at the backside of a sofa or on a chest of drawers may hold one lamp, balanced on the other side with a grouping of framed family photos or sculptural objects.

On a narrow buffet, a more space-saving candlestick lamp with a tall body may serve for accent light. A pair of classical shapes in a vibrant color like coral, for example, can inspire other accents, perhaps a throw neatly folded on an ottoman beneath the table that supports them.

Ultimately and conclusively, lamps can complement a variety of decorating styles. They can be dramatic or quiet, glamorous or homespun, uber scale or petite, skinny or curvy, and even defy conventional forms. They can be simpatico with decor or a strong counterpoint. With so many options, you can layer in an artful, classic or fashion-forward design that will lend fluidity to a wide range of interiors styles.

Sources

-- Artful Home, 877-223-4600, www.artfulhome.com

-- Currey & Co., 877-768-6428, www.curreyco.com

-- Ethan Allen, 888-324-3571, www.ethanallen.com

-- Hudson Valley Lighting, 845-561-0300, www.hudsonvalleylighting.com

-- Kinzig Design Home, 610-322-9383, www.kinzigdesign.com

-- Regina Andrew, 734-250-8042, www.reginaandrew.com

-- Serena & Lily, 866-597-2742, www.serenaandlily.com

-- Surya, 877-275-7847, www.surya.com

-- The Natural Light, 800-331-3898, www.thenaturallight.com

-- YLighting, 866-428-9289, www.ylighting.com

-- Wildwood Lamps, 252-446-3266, www.wildwoodlamps.com

SIDEBAR A

GET YOUR LIGHTING IN SHAPE

New shapes make table lamps anything but mundane. They can add an edge, artistry or a sculptural element in a host of materials and finishes.

SIDEBAR B

BEYOND THE LIGHT

Adding a trending pattern like a chevron, Greek key or Ikat design in a table lamp can bring fresh life to a tired space, according to Shades of Light. No question that color, pattern, embellishment and trims completely shift the aesthetic of the lamp itself, adding another layer of interest.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

There is nothing more glorious than clean, fresh smelling bed linens, comfortable pillows and a fluffy duvet to slink beneath for warmth, especially in the cooler fall and winter months.

Some prefer their bedding like their sleep time -- quiet, neutral, monochromatic with more tone-on-tone subtleties in patterns. Others, though, dive right into color and pattern. And pattern need not be restricted to a single design. In fact, the most interesting beds are outfitted with different motifs connected by color and/or scale.

Swapping out bed linens is the easiest way to lift the mood of a bedroom, morphing the vibe of a space from elegant to sporty, beachy to tailored, even whimsical.

Retailers and designers long have made it easier by putting together coordinated packages that eliminate the guesswork. So a duvet cover may show off two different flavors, one on each side, which is nice, since anyone who has ever battled a queen-sized duvet -- stuffing ends into corners -- doesn't really want to repeat the task as often as changing sheets. Shams and pillowcases don't have to match, and of course, there are toss pillows that can be popped in and out as often as you wish, even with a bit of a seasonal touch. Skulls? Angels? Santas?

With a pre-picked effort that takes the angst out of mixing and matching comes the potential for a more sophisticated layering in a range of color palettes and design motifs. That works for all bedrooms -- master or guest. And it can do wonders for the standard issue dorm room.

As far as patterns are concerned, some have become more complex, largely owing to expanded technical capabilities. At Heimtextil, the big international textile show in Frankfurt, Germany, earlier this year, dazzling graphics were possible because of enhancements in inkjet printing. Most noticeably, pattern on pattern, like montages; uber-scale florals or tropicals, some photorealistic; varied scales, starting small and exploding into larger images from top to bottom; and pop-art geometrics.

Inspirations haven't really changed so much, and nature often heads the list. But interpretations -- the way the artist sees it and the way designers put it together -- bring some collections to life in very fresh visuals.

For the duo behind Madcap Cottage -- Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke -- a trip to the Cotswolds of south-central England translated to engaging florals for their just-launched bedding collection for HSN (aka the Home Shopping Network).

"We were driving through hedgerows the first day and we pulled over by the side of the road and had a picnic," says Nixon. "There were cornflowers and phlox, Queen Anne's lace and hollyhocks." With his sketchbook always near, John began to capture the moment: "a sunny afternoon, flowers moving in the breeze, a strong graphic opportunity, colors from the garden, bringing the outdoors in."

And though romantic, the patterns have a modern edge, such as beds of roses on awning stripes with mega rickrack-like details and colorful zigzags, every bit a reflection of Madcap style.

For West Coast-based Barclay Butera, pattern on pattern has become a signature -- and in the bedroom, it's especially dynamic. Here's how a favorite coastal theme plays out: with blue and white, for sure, but accented strategically with red for great effect. The magic is in the mix -- a rich deep blue paisley for the duvet; striped shams with matching draperies; solid blue oversized pillows with white borders; a bold white on red print for accent pillows; and a graphic anchor in red on white with red piped border and a small red houndstooth fabric on a bench in front of the bed.

In other collections, Butera might introduce on-trend finishing touches from accessories or upholstery details, including nailheads or appliqued trims.

What often captures our attention as we're trolling the bedding aisles in department stores or checking out sheet possibilities online is the crispness of design as well as the artful teaming of colors. Sometimes it's the simplest pairing of white with bright: aqua, coral, yellow, indigo or black, for example. This can be dramatic in large-scale patterns or more toned down with smaller motifs -- and all, of course, beautifully play off of crisp white.

Black and white is a particularly strong and perennially popular combination -- it suits stripes, geometric patterns and toiles, and beautifully takes on almost any color for punctuation -- whether it's a flange border on a pillow or a solid hue contrast. The solid can either be subdued, like a pale pink, or electric, like an apple green.

But even a pattern with a whisper of white can be an amazing companion to white sheets. A perfect-for-fall print at Pottery Barn teams autumnal hues of burnt orange and golden caramel with white highlights in a large-scale organic pattern on a gray ground -- a fetching combination.

Putting patterns together lifts the design to another level. An appealing modern combination is a check in luscious citron from Marimekko at Crate and Barrel, shown with a very open citron-on-white design of trees for shams and duvet cover.

A popular pairing of gray and mustard makes a bedding collection from Jonathan Adler pop -- especially when the dominantly mustard shams and solid-color pillows are part of the mix.

Even prints in two different colors can coexist handsomely. At Serena & Lily, big blue and white block print live with a smallish coral and white pattern. Blue-and-white awning striped shams are the perfect complement -- all this in a room with rich tan walls.

A fanciful floral, which almost looks like a child's painting of daisy-like flowers in red and orange with blue centers teamed with a soft graphic and a stronger polka dot.

When designers do the legwork for you, and it's done well, you want to buy in. But what if you want things a bit more eclectic? There are no rules about mixing brands and patterns, just a few guidelines for getting a coordinated look. (Check out Crate and Barrel's interactive mix-and-match design tool.)

"Buy sheets in different colors or even patterns," advises Nixon. "You don't have to match them. Think tonally. If you love blue, green or pink, put together pieces that reference that color. Use color as your guide. Be as graphic as you want to be. Mix and match with what you already have.

"The bed is such important real estate, but it's so often overlooked," says Nixon. "It really can have an impact on a space. Plus, you spend so much of your time there. Why not make it magic? Fall asleep to fabulous ... wake up to wonderful."

Sources

-- Barclay Butera Interiors Inc., 800-326-2613, www.barclaybutera.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Madcap Cottage for HSN, 877-916-0354, www.hsn.com

-- JCP, 800-322-1189, www.jcpenney.com

-- Kohl's, 855-564-5705, www.kohls.com

-- Emily and Merritt for PB Teen, 866-472-4001, www.pbteen.com

-- Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, www.potterybarn.com

-- Serena & Lily, 866-597-2742, www.serenaandlily.com

SIDEBAR A

BEDDING BONANZA

These days, it's sooo easy to spruce up a drab dorm room. Since most are dominated by the bed -- voila!

Fun, colorful bedding can go a long way.

The price range is pretty rich, as much as the availability of color and pattern. Change it up seasonally or more often if you get bored.

SIDEBAR B

PILLOW PARADE

Along with bedding collections, which sometimes include comforters or duvet covers plus shams, accessories also can enhance the look. Any number of pillows, just like those that can perk up a sofa or chair in a living space, throws, and even draperies may be available as part of the set. Or you can go rogue and mix it up, keeping in line with similar colors.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Perhaps it's the mystery of the sea that captures the imagination. And how can we not be drawn in by the beauty of the color alone, starting with the glorious blues, from inky indigo to aquamarine? Whether it's the Caribbean or the Aegean, the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans, Lake Michigan or Lake Como, the water -- and the life within -- most definitely informs the interiors of the homes near them.

But you don't have to live on the water to reap the benefits of the design. Especially this year.

Coastal decor, like Southwest and other region-specific styles, always has an audience. But page through summer catalogs and you can't help but notice enchanting images of sea critters on pillows, plates, napkins, fabrics and even wallcovering that may be equally tempting to the landlocked.

Even before we saw the glorious under-the-sea themed fabrics in Paris showrooms in January, we knew this was more than a passing fancy when we spotted a particular shop window in the Place du Faubourg Saint Honore. It was filled with an entire tableau of sea creatures: fish, anemones, coral -- all crafted from passementerie and elegant upholstery and drapery trims.

"We all are drawn to the sea," says Chris Sotz, a home decor buyer at Anthropologie. "The ocean provides inherent muses and models. The fantasy about the sea translates to painting, watercolors."

Italian designer Paola Navone says that her Fish collection of tableware for Crate and Barrel was "happily inspired by the Mediterranean sea ... the fish and all their beauty, curious shapes and personalities."

For the Anthropologie team, it was a concept trip to Sardinia that generated a sea of ideas. Sardines and octopi especially struck a chord because artists had fun graphically laying them up end to end or superimposing images on disparate prints such as florals.

Decorative artists long have been fascinated with aquatic life. Captivating naturalist vintage hand-colored lithographs from the 18th and 19th centuries depicting fish, coral, anemones, urchins and nautilus are popular collectibles, beautifully displayed in traditional or modern decor. So are typical Japanese woodblock prints of carp.

The freshest images today also transition well even as they shine in coastal style, which has been morphing to less cluttered, more streamlined looks that are more sophisticated than kitschy, and quite evocative graphically. This is where under-the-sea themes are particularly sparkling, with amazing graphics, digital technology paving the way after the initial artwork is executed. If you've never imagined an octopus as a focal point (other than on a plate doused with lemon and olive oil on a beach in Santorini), there are plenty of them on pillows and dinnerware this year -- and some are so stylized that you get lost in the shapes.

Playful, fanciful images are like screen grabs from "The Little Mermaid" -- except that the colors, while vivid, are dialed down a bit to blend. And not all of the sea motifs are in Technicolor, either. Shades of gray or sand on white as in a series of pillows at West Elm grab attention in a stunning modern setting with a blue-painted barn-planking background and modern gray sectional. One other interesting note: the pillows are screenprinted on raw silk and adorned with beads and sequins, a wonderful study in contrasts that lends edginess.

So what elements can be woven into sea themes?

Sea creatures, of course. Coral has become iconic, the equivalent of the nautical anchor emblem. We love the patterning of its intricate branching and variety in type (wrinkled brains, cabbages, antlers and polyps), as well as color (not just red, but brilliant blues, lavender, yellow and black). There are lacey as well as very bold interpretations.

Natural materials, such as shells, mother of pearl and woven sea grass, are organic elements that bridge coastal and other styles of decor.

Shapes also play a role. For example, naturally curvy sea horses can be a prime design element. A simple metal tub on stand from Frontgate is distinguished by sea horses that form its handles; it's constructed of powder-coated aluminum with a painted, antiqued white finish. It's the kind of versatile piece that can be filled with ice for beverages on the deck or with greenery or ornaments for a holiday centerpiece. Another curvy sea horse with scrolled tail is flattened out, with hooks added for use as a caddy for beach towels or as a drying rack for swimsuits.

All shades of blue also are essential ingredients, which is one reason for the appeal of sea or beach glass as an accessory. The smooth, weathered shards in shades of blue and green are especially beautiful in a clear vessel. (One source: Bed, Bath & Beyond, where a 3-pound bag sells for $8.99; www.bedbathandbeyond.com)

Appliques, embroidery or beading in pillows or table runners introduce texture, which can be smooth as well, with mother of pearl or other shell motifs used on placemats or trims or as inlays in furniture. Rougher surfaces are suggested by synthetic corals, as in a column lamp from The Natural Light, with its intriguing arrangement of stacked barnacles.

For summer entertaining outdoors, the aquatic designs seem to work especially well. But they can be effortlessly integrated into existing decor:

-- Pillows are an easy way to introduce sea critters, which can be front and center on neutral ground or part of an overall pattern. Pillows on a sofa designed by Barclay Butera for Highland House, for example, feature a fish reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints in a blue-on-white pattern that doesn't jump out. Even subtler is a print made up of sea anemones that you really can't make out unless you look closely.

-- Neutral additions can be furnishings such as tables made out of driftwood, whose natural shapes are incorporated into the design. Or go bold with a single chair that looks like it's made out of real coral. The design by Marjorie Skouras for Currey & Co. is crafted from powder-coated aluminum and can be used indoors or out on the deck.

-- A piece of art can create a dramatic focal point. A supersized framed print of blue coral from Williams-Sonoma Home grounds a living space and echoes a blue and white palette punched up with coral accents. The modern water color-y feel lends modernity as well as softness. Smaller prints of coral can be grouped together. And you might consider a feature wall with wallcovering in a sea theme: fish or coral. Anthropologie and Sanderson are among possible sources.

-- Look to lighting as a possible option. At Currey & Co., there are chandeliers with real shells. A lovely, white lamp with white shade at Pottery Barn has a columnar base that is studded with flowers crafted from shells.

-- Dinnerware and serveware are rich in marine themes, and you'll find the designs on ceramic, metal and melamine. -- Coral reefs and sea life are popular themes on bedding. Choose from duvet covers and shams with solid sheets or simply accent with pillows, which can be quite dramatic with red coral branches on all white.

-- Coral branching lends itself well to tree-like designs that can be utilitarian, say for jewelry, such as one white enamel-coated metal model on a marble stand at West Elm.

-- Faux white shells decoratively placed on a grapevine wreath with a burlap ribbon from Pottery Barn (or do it yourself with real souvenir shells) create a handsome decorative accent, which can be used year-round, adding a bit of coastal cheer during the holidays. Besides, a little year-round beachy style is relaxed, feel-good decor.

"Think about the ease with being at the beach and the calm when you're near water," says Sotz. "Many of us have memories of being by the sea as a child. This is a nice way to bring that feeling home."

Sources

-- Anthropologie, 800-309-2500, www.anthropologie.com

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Frontgate, 888-263-9850, www.frontgate.com

-- Garnet Hill, 800-870-3513, www.garnethill.com

-- Highland House, 336-889-5600, www.highlandhousefurniture.com

-- Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, www.potterybarn.com

-- West Elm, 888-922-4119, www.westelm.com

-- Williams-Sonoma Home, 877-812-6235, www.williams-sonoma.com

SIDEBAR A

SEA LIFE AT THE TABLE

From playful to elegant, under-the-sea themes are riding a wave of popularity indoors and out. From fun and beautifully evocative images on plates -- such as sardines swimming alone or in schools, a striking vertical banding, or octopi showing off their tentacles and stretching their bodies over platters or the sides of bowls -- the selection may have you humming the contagious, island-y tune.

SIDEBAR B

A WATER LIFESTYLE

Accessories can introduce a bit of seaside flavor to every room of the house. From patterned pillows and throws to lamps and planters, the selection of aquatic life is as engaging, colorful and whimsical as you like. There are so many options you can easily jump in -- even if you don't live near the water.

(For editorial questions, please contact Universal Uclick at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)