Paper lighting KAMIA

In Japan, lanterns made of washi paper stretched over a bamboo frame lit homes long before electricity. In the 1950s, designer Isamu Noguchi drew on them for his Akari spheres, which made the paper lamp famous around the world. Today, rice paper and pleated paper remain the signature of Japanese and japandi style.

Rice paper, thin and stretched over a frame, gives a very even light with no hot spot: it's the classic Japanese sphere. Pleated paper, thicker, draws lines of light and shadow on the shade and adds texture. Both give a soft light; the choice is mostly a matter of style.

An LED bulb, always: it gives off very little heat and won't damage the paper. Choose a warm light, around 2700 K, for the soft glow of Japanese lamps. The maximum recommended wattage is listed on each product page.

Anywhere except damp rooms: avoid the bathroom and the area above a hob, as humidity and steam warp the paper. Elsewhere, a spherical pendant fits above a sofa, a coffee table or in a bedroom, where its diffused light won't dazzle. A table lamp suits a bedside or a console, and a globe floor lamp lights a reading corner.

Dust it regularly with a feather duster or a soft brush, with the lamp switched off and cool. Never use water or cleaning products: paper stains and warps. For a pleated shade, a hairdryer on the cold setting is enough to blow the dust out of the folds.