In article , RBM wrote:
No risk at all. Install a three way dimmer at either location, or if you
really don't need the light, use smaller wattage lamps

I prefer lower wattage lamps if you hardly ever need "full" brightness,
since incandescents operate with much less energy efficiency when dimmed.

A 40 watt 120V incandescent when dimmed to brightness of a 7 watt one
consumes about 18-20 watts (for usual A19) and about 13-15 watts for
tubular "refrigerator/showcase" models. Tubular "refrigerator/showcase"
120V incandescents up to 40 watts are typically vacuum models while 120V
40 watt A19 typically has a gas fill, and when close to
vacuum-vs-gas-energy-efficiency-breakeven-point of filament design (higher
watts per unit visibly apparent filament length does better with gas,
lower prefers vacuum) the vacuum ones have energy efficiency worsened less
by dimming.

- Don Klipstein )