Like fine pieces of art, lamps bring character to our homes and help finish a room. And, like art, high-quality lamps can be pricey, so it’s important to pick lamps that look perfect in your home and that will capture your heart for years to come. I asked Rich and Beth, two of the talented designers at Nell Hill’s, to join with me in shedding light on how to pick a lamp that will truly light up your life.

Most rooms in your home will call on the power of three different types of lighting: task, accent and overhead. Start by surveying your space to see what’s missing.

I’m not a huge fan of overhead lights because they tend to cast a harsh, unforgiving light. So I tend to illuminate the rooms in my home with task and accent lights whenever I can.

Wall sconces make a great alternative – they brighten up your space without a harsh flood of light. But in rooms where overhead lighting is a must, such as your dining room, Beth urges installing dimmer switches.

The job of task lighting is to give you the proper amount of light to accomplish whatever job you need to get done, from paying the bills to reading that best seller you can’t put down.

When you need a pop of light to brighten a dark corner or give your room a warm glow, look to accent lights. In addition to positioning accent lights in prominent places, such as on a buffet or side table, I also like to tuck them into unusual spots, such as on the kitchen counter, in a bookcase or on the vanity in the powder room.

The lamps we pick for our homes should reflect our style and personality. When you go looking for lamps, think of it as a treasure hunt. Scout for a lamp that will blend with the style of your home and match the scale of your room and furnishings. Refuse to settle for anything that does not steal your heart.

I’m thankful that the days when we were expected to buy a set of four matching brass lamps are long gone because I’m a big fan of using a wide variety of dissimilar lamps in my home.

You could pair a chunky lamp made from a concrete urn or an old wooden finial with a lamp made from a fine porcelain vase. I have two really fun lamps available at Nell Hill’s Online right now. One features a fun rooster base and is a steal at only $39. The other, the Verdi urn table lamp, is a timeless classic that will work in just about any room and with any decor. It’s also at a great price. (Just click the “shop online” button at the top of the Nell Hill’s Web site home page to access Nell Hill’s Online.)

Part of the fun of picking a lamp is finding one that is perfect, right down to the last detail. Carefully consider the shape of the lamp. Do you want one with straight lines or curves? Do you prefer a thinner lamp base or one that’s hefty? Which will work better for the space – a short or tall lamp? (If you fall in love with a lamp that’s a bit too short, you can elevate it with a riser, like a stack of books.)

Pay close attention to the color of the lamp’s shade. If you want to use the lamp for task lighting, get one with a light-colored shade because it will give off more light. If you’re looking for mood lighting, you can’t beat a lamp with a black shade. Colored lamp shades, like red or gold, are also a great choice for accent lights because they add color to a room.

Note the kind of fabric used to cover the shade. Rich points out that different kinds of fabric provide different qualities of light and will dress up or dress down a lamp base. For instance, a linen lamp shade will give a more casual look than one made of silk.