Contemporary Desk Lamp Trends: Does Style Surpass Quality?

Choosing a contemporary desk lamp may seem like a great addition to any room. However, there are several reasons this could be a costly investment.

Life Span

A contemporary desk lamp that will last a lifetime may end up costing you a lot more money than a traditional lamp. While quality doesn’t have to take a back seat to design, it often does. You end up paying for the designer rather than the materials.

Another thing to consider is that a contemporary desk lamp design may look good with your décor now, but it may look dated and out of style five years from now. Contemporary looks are made with different design elements and may be more difficult to update to match your look. In this instance the quality won’t matter as much if you’re going to grow tired of the design in a matter of years.

What You’re Paying For

Many people incorrectly assume that a high price tags will automatically equal high end quality. This isn’t true, at all. A designer contemporary lamp can cost as much as five times what you would get a traditional lamp for. This isn’t because more care is taken in production, it’s because the manufacturer had to pay top dollar to use a designers name. While you will  have a piece of functional art in your house, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to last any longer or provide more options than a traditional piece.

On the other hand, a mass producer may skimp on the materials used in a cheaper product. A designer may demand that higher quality materials be used. Before you shell out a lot of money on something like a contemporary desk lamp, check to see what kind of materials are used, and check other customer reviews on the same product.

Safety

Safety is one area where a contemporary lamp may serve more useful. As safety standards change over time you can be assured that a contemporary desk lamp, or one that is a brand new style, will meet the current safety standards set for today’s time. An older or more traditional desk lamp would have been made to meet the standards of the past. This is something that’s easy to check. The desk lamp will have a UL listing tag on both the lamp, and the packaging material. You can check to ensure the UL listing is current for what is required.

Energy Savings

Most contemporary desk lamps are made with energy conservation in mind. This is another area that may show higher quality in a contemporary design. Since energy conservation wasn’t as much as a concern twenty years ago as it is today, the newer designers are incorporating energy saving designs into their work. Spending a little extra money on a contemporary design today may save you some money tomorrow.