It might sound a little outlandish to say, but decorating a home is not all that different from the world of fashion. When it comes to presenting a home, everyone has a signature style, even if the people don't realise it themselves. Usually, it is something that relates to their own sense of comfort, and can be reflected in something as simple as the home lighting system that they have installed. Soft tones or bright beams, whatever the preference is, it is telling of the home owner's sense of style.

When it comes to a sense of home, most of us try to make our abode as comfortable for ourselves as we can. When we want to relax, the type of light that we relax in does make a difference, with strong light usually not a good idea. It's much better to have soft light in the living room with warm tones helping to bring us to a slower rhythm and be more at ease. In the dining room, meanwhile colours like red or yellow are common to encourage our appetites, while a soft light helps to accentuate the mood. Lighting therefore is all part of creating the atmosphere.

But when it comes to the particular decor, and in particular the style of the lights used to create that atmosphere, our choices are vast. In fact, there are too many categories to discuss here, but there are two that are particularly influential. The first is the floor lamp, which can add considerable character to any room, while the second is the table lamp, which can accomplish precisely the same thing.

These are two of the most commonly perceived items of lighting furniture there can be, with both having long been used as a tool through which to add extra light to where it is needed. Both are used in forming living rooms, bedrooms, studies and even dining rooms and both are available in models that complement or match the decor of an entire room.

In fact, the only real difference between the two is that the floor model is much taller, standing around 5 ft in height, while the table version sits at a height of around 1 ft.They are equally essential items in modern, contemporary and traditional homes, and their necessity to any home has been assured by the fact that there is a vast range of designs available for both.

Surprisingly, the taller of the two might be considered the most portable, since often they are moved around a room as is needed. For, example in a living room, where one might sit and read after dinner or in the late evening, it's not unusual to move the lamp to a favourite chair to aid in reading, with the main lights of the room off or dimmed. Another member of the family may move it the next day to suit their needs. This makes the functional nature of the lamp significant.

For those with a traditional, plush living room there is no shortage of options. However, a personal touch is provided with, for example, floral designs incorporated into the stand itself. The Jemima Antique Floral floor lamp is a perfect example of this. It is cream in colour and simple in design, but for the intertwining flowers seemingly creeping up its stand. A more elaborate, striking type is provided by Tiffany lamps, which uses hand-crafted, finely-cut stained glass shades to add a sense of the antique.

For a more contemporary feel, of course, one usually turns to chrome, with the Arc Neo 3-Light lamp providing an almost futuristic feel by it's three-light head. The chrome stand branches into three individual lamps arcing over the user.

Table lamps are just as imaginatively designed, with Tiffany stained glass lamps also available in table sizes to provide a touch of class to a reading or writing desk, in a study or living room. A Lemington lamp, meanwhile, provides that sense of tradition with a balance between a simplistic and an innovative design. It's stand has a hinged swing arm that allows a range of motion to suit the user's needs.

For the more adventurous, the Blue Glass Pebble lamp provides an almost bizarre example of home lighting, presenting a lamp that looks to be a large marble. Not ideal for reading with, it emits a gentle glow that creates a calming mood. It is a perfect example of the beauty that these a familiar providers of light can boast.