I purchased a new lamp to light my bedroom. For a long time, I’ve been searching for the perfect lamp.
This is the lamp I have used for several years. It’s OK, but it is too big for the small drawers on my nightstand.
I’m very picky about the lamps in my home. I usually use thrift store finds like the white plaster table lamp in the living room, the Serena & Lily table lamp knockoff for the guest room, and my favorite Pottery Barn lamp knockoff for my foyer. This gives me a look I want without spending a lot.
Recently, when I was renovating the guest room, I realized that the lamp on my nightstand would work better for the guest room’s night table, so I moved it.
This intensified my search for a smaller lamp to fit my night table. Many of the lights I found at HomeGoods and Target, Walmart, Target, Target, and online were too big, too small, or more rustic or modern than what I need.
Although I knew clearly what I wanted, I needed help finding affordable options. Yes, there would be many options if I wanted $300.
I chose to embrace the SLOW way of decorating. Instead of picking up the first thing you see, trust the process and embrace it.
The room has a second lamp, so having a light for the past two years has been acceptable.
While walking through HomeGoods, I came across the most adorable lamp made of blue abalone fragments and shaped like fish. The light was too cute not to bring home, as I live on a lake and have a great view from my bed.
It was great except for one thing. It should be higher than the clock or plant. I love to see different heights on a table display.
What did I do? To make a riser, I searched my scrap wood stash.
I didn’t know if there were any round pieces I could use as a riser, so I searched online for a round decorative riser that I could buy that was the same size as my base lamp.
What is a Lamp Riser?
Lamp risers can be made from wood, metal, ceramic, or glass. One adds height to a table lamp by making it look taller. This makes them more proportionate to other decorative items and gives the light more presence in the room.
Risers can be used similarly for home decor accents like flower vases, plants, and candles.
These wooden risers with feet for decoration were found on Amazon. The 5-inch diameter (the largest in the photo) was precisely what I needed.
The round, white-painted wooden riser adds 1.7 inches to the height of this lamp. This is enough to adjust the lamp base height and the two other items on the night table to make me happy.
The distressed white finish of the riser is also something I like. It will go well with another project I’m working on for the space, which I will share with ya as soon as it is complete.
This is how my nightstand looks when I’m in bed. The lamp looks balanced when viewed from different areas of the room.
Decorating with decorative risers is a quick and easy way to make an accent piece stand out.
Side note: I paid $29.99 for this lamp at HomeGoods. I linked it to see if it was available online at HomeGoods. It was, however found on Houzz at $300 per pair. HomeGoods is another reason to shop.
I use a tree trunk cut to lift the lamp and other small items from my kitchen counter. This acts as a tray and keeps the items grouped together by using a bigger riser.
Decorative Risers Using Books
Books are a great way to decorate your home with a riser.
You can find books in a variety of colors at the thrift shop, so you don’t need to buy any.
You can use spray paint or craft to alter the colors of books that you don’t like.
You can see that I often use books when decorating. This gives my decorative accents more prominence and interest.
You can improve the look of a decorative item by adding some height to it. A pedestal cake plate is a great option if you don’t own a riser or books. You can also wrap gift boxes in wallpaper or gift wrap. You can think of more things to use. Even a stack of plates is exemplary.
You can search the Internet for “wood risers” or “decorative risers” to find many in different heights, styles, and colors to match any size item, from a candle to a large vase or sculpture.
