A few shades of light

BRASS LAMPS
Classy and comparatively heavy, these lamps will be perfect for your living room. Not only do they have an aura of sophistication, they can even act as a beautiful showpiece when placed strategically. Aarong has a beautiful collection of brass lamps starting from Tk3000 and you might find a few in Udayan (located in Gulshan). 

WOODEN LAMPS 
Found in Idea (located in Banani 11) or Artifacts(located in Dhanmondi)  starting from Tk1000, these are not only aesthetically pleasing but are a great option for those trying to include a bit of nature into the house. 

As many of them have double lighting, they are also much brighter.Their colour should match the wood colour of your furniture. You can also use a wooden base and have the shade made of colourful printed cloths for a more modern feel. Large flower prints are trendy because of the chic essence they bring into the room.

PAPER LAMPS 
From multi-coloured printed tissue paper lamps to those in crisp clean colours, paper lamps look the most artsy among the lot. The perfect blend between cute and stylish, they can add a splash of colour to your room. Trending right now are shades of red, blue and orange. Add a few lamps of different colours for the dramatic vibrancy. Ranging from Tk600 to Tk3000, you can buy them at Jatra, Artifacts or Idea.

GLASS LAMPS 
The epitome of elegance – glasslamps are not only classy but glamorous too. Mimicking the design of chandeliers, these are perfect for large spacious living rooms or dining spaces. Older versions had clear glass, but shops now have them in green, blue, red or even black. The glass reflects light even more and so your room ends up looking incredibly illuminated and magnificent. A good place to shop for these would be Lighting Palace and nearby shops at Gulshan1, their price staring from Tk25000 and going as high as over one lakh.

CLOTH LAMPS
Even though most traditional lamps have the shade made of cloth, in recent years some shops have introduced lamps entirely made of cloth, usually with a wooden or bamboo structure to support it. The material can vary immensely, with even a few rare ones being made of the traditional gamcha cloth. These can be rather quirky and unique, based on the material and the colour of the cloth. Many even have intricate details painted or hand-crafted on them, and those cost around Tk10000. Less fancy ones begin at Tk1400 with possible shops being Aarong, Aranga and Jatra.

THE OUT-OF-THE-BOX LAMPS
Many shops have bamboo lamps or clay lamps that channel a very Bengali feel, adding just the right amount of heritage into the room. Plastic lamps are a good choice for those with young children who might end up breaking the glass or ceramic ones. Speaking of ceramic lamps, there's plenty of variation too! Many ceramic vases are used as bases, and can have funky designs or intricate details or can be absolutely plain as well. For a more Mughal feel, add tassels to your lamps or buy the colourful Turkish lamps for an outlandish experience.

CHANDELIERS 
Those looking for more expensive lighting, there are plenty of shops around Gulshan and Banani that sell chandeliers. Starting from around Tk 22000 to over two lakhs, these are the ultimate beauties that can glorify any room. They now appear in plenty of colours, though shades of gold still remain immensely popular. 

MAKE YOUR OWN 
Many shops, Artifacts being one of them, will design custom made lamps for you. You can pick the materials or even use that old vase in your storage, which they will turn into a stylish lamp that will compliment your room.

Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed