As winter closes in and the days get shorter and darker, I realise I need some lamps to brighten up the gloomy corners of my apartment. Can you suggest anything other than the standard IKEA lamps?

Cheers,

Bright Spark

Dear BS,

There are many shops selling lamps and lighting in Shanghai and it just so happens I have been helping someone source this exact thing, so I have a few recently researched places where you will definitely find some intriguing and different lamps.

My favourite is Light Scene. They have numerous ready-made lamps which you can buy from the shop, many of which are unique designs created by the owner’s husband. They can also make something you design or from a picture. Nothing is too much trouble for Lucia, so give her a call and make the trip out to Gubei to visit her store at 162 Yinzhu Lu, not far from Gubei Lu (Tel: 6295 7000 or 131 6279 1915).

For beautiful handmade lamps, lights and lanterns made from fabrics and made to order, Illu is definitely a must visit. Find them at Lane 450, Room 1, Xiangyang Nan Lu, near Jianguo Lu (Tel: 6471 8137, Web: www.illudeco.com).

For something different, visit 800 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu for seriously cool ceramic lampshades at ridiculously cheap prices. This little shop has no name but is definitely worth a visit to fill the dim corners of your apartment. Across the road at number 849 is Life Experience Paper which also has a lovely range of paper lanterns.

There are four large lighting markets in Shanghai – that I know of – 285 Tianlin Dong Lu houses a good one which has one particular shop with more funky, modern Western-style lamps than most of the others put together. Look for Image Lighting on the 2nd floor, 2016 (Tel: 6427 8342). You can find this place easily by walking south from IKEA on Caoxi Bei Lu and turning right at the furniture mart with outdoor furniture on display. Go in until you find the lighting building.

Yiren Gallery also has a great range of antique Chinese-style lamps, think lotus flowers and Mahjong bases. Find them at Jingqiao, inside the mall 633 Biyun Lu.

Anfu Lu is a little hit and miss for lamps but we have seen a few gorgeous ones there at around the time of writing – it’s always worth a stroll west from Wulumuqi Lu on a nice day anyway, so check it out when the next one rolls around.