Lighting is often one of the things parents either ignore or forget about until just before the baby is born. As with any room, lighting should be installed at all levels: overhead, task and ambient. Day lighting or natural light are the preferred lighting sources. If the nursery has poor natural light consider installing a solatube to increase the room's natural lighting.
You should also consider purchasing good quality fixtures that can grow with your child. While that cute, inexpensive Princess lamp might fit your nursery theme, it may be constructed with materials containing formaldehyde, may be painted with lead or cadmium based paint or may constitute a fire or burning hazard. You may wish to check the CPSC recall site to check if any items in your nursery are on a recall list.
Floor lamps should be excluded from the nursery as they may be easily knocked over by you or pulled down by a toddler causing a fire or injury. Overhead lighting with a dimmer switch is ideal for the nursery in order to avoid harsh, glaring light. Be sure that you purchase dimmable bulbs and a good quality dimmer switch such as those from Lutron. Task lighting, preferably wall mounted that can be repositioned, should be installed out of reach of your infant and away from anything that might cause a fire hazard. And don't forget a high quality night light. Spending money on a high quality night light should reduce any fire risk and give you peace of mind. If you see any light fixture in the nursery begin to discolor or melt, remove it to reduce the risk of fire or injury. Although not specifically light related remember to install a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm.
Perhaps the most important factor to consider when selecting lighting is the bulb. Incandescent bulbs waste energy and are an unnecessary heat source. Incandescent bulbs of the 100W variety were banned in California this year and will be banned in the rest of the country beginning in 2012. Watch this melting bunny video to gain an understanding of the heat output of an incandescent vs. an LED bulb. If you choose to use incandescent bulbs use a low wattage to reduce the risk of a fire or burn injury.
CFL bulbs are more energy efficient as well as long lasting. However, CFL bulbs contain mercury and cannot be put in the regular trash bin when they burn out. Lamps containing CFL bulbs should be positioned so that the lamp or bulb may not be knocked over or broken. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and may cause irreversible neurologic damage in infants.
LED bulbs are generally considered the most energy efficient and long lasting. However, LED bulbs tend to be the most expensive and are not without risk. LED bulbs that are manufactured inexpensively may contain a high concentration of Lead. If an LED bulb is lead free it should state such on that packaging. You may wish to research the bulbs on the manufacturer's website and request a Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) to determine if the bulbs contain any toxic materials
Whatever lighting choices you make for the nursery functionality and safety should be the top considerations. There is an overabundance of lighting options that should fit any nursery theme and also grow up with your child.
What's on the patio? Is it a bug eater? Is it a lamp? No it's a heater posing as a lamp. 
Hanging lamp more your style - check out the stainless steel hanging lamp heater from 
Reminds me a little of the old "Smokey Joe" but seriously updated for the modern patio. The 
Keep your guests comfy while dining or just enjoying some cocktails with the 
Get inspired by the 
Charlie Baker landscape wizard also performs magic with his furniture line creating unexpected combinations such as the tree growing out of the table pictured below. For more information on his design work visit 
Heather Knight shares her love of the sea through her aquatic ceramic collection. To swim in Heather's ceramic sea visit 
