The way most people buy a table lamp is by seeing one they like in a shop or on the internet, purchasing it spontaneously, taking it home, and then soon realizing that it either blazes them in the face when they sit down or appears tiny in comparison to their sofa.
An excellent lamp does not merely occupy an empty table top; it establishes the atmosphere for the entire room, reduces the severity of the overhead lighting, and in fact makes the space more comfortable to be in at night.
If you want to get it right the first time without having to overthink it, then here are the simple rules which actually matter.
1. Work out exactly what it is actually doing there.
Before you develop a liking for a lamp base, make sure you are honest about the way you will use it. Table lamps generally carry out one of three roles:
For task lighting you should read, write or work; look for a shade that has a direction or one with an adjustable arm so that you can direct the light to where you need it without it causing glare.
For ambient lighting you should have a soft, supplementary light for watching television or relaxing in the evening; a drum shade made from fabric or linen which disperses the light outwards in all directions is the best choice.
Accent/Sculptural: The lamp is essentially an artwork that by coincidence has a power source. In this category the sculptural bases made of glass, ceramic or metal shine.
If you know this at the beginning, you'll avoid buying a dull decorative lamp when what you really needed was a lamp to read by in bed.
2. The Golden Rule of Height: The Shade at Eye Level
The greatest error that people commit when using table lamps is setting the height wrong; if while sitting on the couch or lying in bed you can see the bare bulb glowing beneath the shade then the lamp is either too tall or your side table is too high.
As a general guide, if you are sitting beside the lamp then the bottom of the shade should come about to eye level.
As a guideline, the height of the table together with the height of the lamp should add up to about 58 to 64 inches from the floor, since this ensures that all the items are in proper proportion with the other pieces of furniture.
3. Match the amount of material to the furniture.
The size is just as important as the height; for instance, if you place a heavy and bulky stoneware lamp on a delicate glass side table with thin metal legs it will look unbalanced and awkward.
Match slim and minimalist lamps with lightweight, open furniture.
Place solid, textured ceramic, wooden, or stone bases on large credenzas, deep nightstands, and wide end tables.
Ensure that the lampshade is not wider than the tabletop, otherwise you'll hit it each time you pass by.
4. Avoid ruining a good lamp by using the wrong type of bulb.
Even if you buy a beautiful designer lamp, the entire room will seem like an examination room if you fit in a cold and harsh white bulb.
In bedrooms and living rooms use exactly 2700K (Warm White), as this type of light gives off that comfortable, golden evening atmosphere which is good for relaxing.
For a home office or desk, a colour temperature between 3000K and 3500K is sharp enough to help you stay focused without making the environment feel cold.
Make sure you check the number of lumens the bulb produces; for providing soft background lighting, 450 to 800 lumens (the same as that of a traditional 40W to 60W bulb) is generally sufficient.
Instead, combine different textures rather than matching all aspects.
It's not necessary for your lamp to coordinate with the wood of your coffee table or the fabric of your curtains. On the contrary, rooms appear more lived-in and layered when the items don't match.
If the living room has many clean lines together with leather and dark wood, then introduce a lamp made from rough, matte ceramic or plaster in order to add some texture; and if the room contains plenty of plush rugs and soft upholstery, a sleek brass or smoked-glass base will provide a sharp, modern contrast.
6. Seek out three small features that can make daily life easier
When you’re comparing options, pay attention to the small usability details:
Switches of the type known as dimmer switches—either a built-in rotary kind or one that is used in line with the cord—make a great difference, particularly when you are using a nightstand and need only enough light to wind down.
When it comes to switch positions, there's nothing more frustrating than having to climb up into a tall shade in the dark just to locate a small knob. Instead, look for switches at the base or for those that are on the cord and easy to reach.
If the lamp is placed on an open console table so that the cord will be visible, then you should check the cord; one that is clear or wrapped in fabric appears to have been deliberately chosen, while a cheap black plastic cord looks out of place on a white table.
The Bottom Line
There's no difficulty in finding the right table lamp: keep the shade at eye level, make sure that the weight of the lamp matches that of your table, use warm light bulbs, and let the base add a bit of personality to the room.