You still remember the day you spotted that old lamp at your favorite antique store, which is why you might be a little hesitant to toss it in the donation pile. Unfortunately, even the sturdiest lamp can develop issues over time, increasing your risk of electrical shock, home fires, and inconsistent lighting. Here are three reasons to breathe new life into old lamps by having them rewired, and why you won't regret your decision.

From fantastic finials to custom-made sculptural designs, parting with that lamp and finding a new one might strip your home of some of its character. Although many lamp manufacturers decades ago modeled their designs after the popular styles of the day, you simply can't match the patina of an old silver buffet lamp or a hammered metal torchiere.

Although it is possible to invest in completely custom lamps, most department stores carry similar-looking lines of lighting, making your home look just like every other home interior on your block. On the other hand, by keeping that special lamp and having it refinished or rewired, you can keep something that nobody else has.

To protect your home's unique style without tossing out your great lamps, talk with a lamp repair professional about what they would suggest. Think carefully about your interior décor style, your lighting needs, and your budget. Some businesses can help with things like metal powder coating and refinishing, giving you the chance to add a little polish to that dated lamp — or change its color altogether.

Few things compare with the rush of spotting a truly incredible find at a store. Unfortunately, golden shopping opportunities don't happen every day, and if you trash that lamp you once loved, you might find yourself scouring the web and wearing out your shoes trying to find something just as good.

Additionally, since you never really know how much someone paid for a secondhand lamp in the first place, the lamp you have might be worth a lot more than the lamp you spotted in that lighting shop. For example, a Tiffany lamp passed down for a few generations could be worth thousands of dollars, and could be entirely upgraded by having a professional electrician rework the wiring.

If you are worried about the cost of refinishing or rewiring an old lamp, you shouldn't be. Although renovating an old lamp can seem like a little bit of an investment, it pales in comparison to newer versions of high-end lighting fixtures, with new retro-style cords and electrical components costing under $100 on average.

Unfortunately, saving money and protecting your home's character aren't the only reasons to consider a full rewiring job for that dated lamp. Since older electrical standards were different than they are today, ignoring that two-pronged plug could cause problems like electrical shocks and house fires.

On the other hand, professionals can carefully inspect the safety of existing internal wiring, and update it if necessary with wires rated to handle your lighting needs. Since every lamp is rated for a certain wattage of light bulb, being familiar with your desired interior light levels could help you to update lamps efficiently while protecting your family members.

Whether you discovered some interesting lamps at a garage sale recently or you are thinking about updating the lighting fixtures or chandeliers in your home, let the professionals at Lamps & Lamp Shades Specialties help. For more than 53 years, these lighting specialists have helped customers to design custom lighting, repair existing lamps, and create personalized shades. By doing something as simple as updating your home lighting, you can sleep a little easier at night while protecting your bottom line.​