Photo by Phil Lederer.

Everyone could use another good night’s sleep, and, even after the most trying of days, pharmacological options abound for a good zonk. But for those looking for an all-natural approach without working up a sweat in the summer sun, Himalayan salt lamps from Sarasota Trading Company offer an aesthetically pleasing alternative. A natural air purifier (through a process called hygroscopy, whereby the salt absorbs water molecules and whatever molds, bacteria or particulates they may carry) and sleep aid (purportedly through creating negative ions), the science may be iffy but the trend is spreading. Each hand-carved from a single, sizable crystal, the rough-hewn facets evoke a rustic atmosphere, while the cool pink glow from the setting sun shining through its opaque mass lend a weightlessness incongruous to its solidity. Hollowed out and inset upon a simple ring base, light a bulb under the crystal for a shine that fills the room regardless of the hour. Available in three sizes, pick the one that’s right for you or all three for a house set. 

Photo by Phil Lederer.

Sarasota Trading Company, 522 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, 941-953-7776.