How To Choose A Table Lamp? 7 Steps To Choose Right One

How to choose a table lamp that not only fulfills your specific lighting purpose but also harmonizes with the overall aesthetic appeal of spaces. A good lamp should be a great combination of many factors such as the lamp’s purpose, features, size and scales, lampshade, style of lamp and space, suitable bulbs, and where to buy.

Feel a bit overwhelmed? Don’t worry. Follow these 7 steps below and you're sure to find a good table lamp anytime!

Step 1: Identify Your Purpose

Table lamps serve as a main light source, providing ambient lighting or as a secondary light source, lighting up a dark corner, acting as a background, or highlighting the areas. Table lamp types are varied by their intended lighting purposes. Thoroughly understanding your lighting needs to ensure that the lamp can perform its role perfectly. Common table lamp lighting effects include:

• Natural lighting: Replicating natural daylight, this light can positively boost mood and cure bad emotional states. Standard or traditional table lamps should be considered if you need natural lighting for your spaces.
• Ambient lighting: Another name is general lighting, as the name suggests, this form of lighting is responsible for serving overall illumination in a room. Candlestick or buffet table lamps are famous for their ambient lighting.
• Task lighting: Providing focused illumination, this kind of lighting is perfect for activities such as preparing food over a kitchen counter, doing paperwork in a home office, reading, or knitting in a living room. Desk table lamps are smart options for additional brightness.
• Accent lighting (focal lighting): This soft, relaxing light not only brings warmth and sophistication to spaces but also draws attention, highlights, and adds flair to a particular architectural area or your decor such as sculptures or artwork collection. Spotlight table lamps are very beneficial for precisely focused accent lighting on whatever you want to call attention to. 
• Decorative lighting: This lighting typically is not as bright as others and is primarily used for purely aesthetic purposes as jewelry for architecture. Decorative lighting is found in a wide range of unique shapes and materials table lamps, reflecting personal style or affluence. Table lanterns, thematic, and statement table lamps are preferred for their decorative lighting.

Step 2: Consider Table Lamp Features

A table lamp that comes with special features can upgrade and offer you a more convenient and multi-task lighting option that is worth the initial investment. Here are some useful features that should be considered for table lamps to maximize your lighting experiences:

• A dimmable table lamp: You can adjust the brightness of the lamp at different times of the day or weather change to reach the lighting effect needed.
• A bendable arm: This feature allows you to adjust and direct light to areas where you want to focus and create glare-free illumination for concentrated tasks such as knitting, reading, and working or for highlighting something on the table or the wall behind.
• A night light feature: This feature can upgrade your table lamp to a perfect hybrid solution as it remains the standard lamp lighting at other times of the day while providing a soft, relaxing light for winding down at night.
• A USB table lamp: It's a convenient feature that provides extra outlets for easily charging your tablet or smartphone while lying on the bed or relaxing on the sofa. Moreover, it's safer as you don't have to stretch cords or charge from the power source.

Step 3: Evaluate The Size And Scale

The size and scale play a pivotal role in determining both the functional and aesthetic achievement of a table lamp. A too-small lamp cannot generate adequate light for a large space or a too-large lamp on a tiny table or space is weird and overwhelming, and can not achieve the desired decorative effect. Choosing appropriate size and scale for a table lamp by considering:

• The height of table lamp: Table lamp height should be no more than 1 ½ times the height of the furnishing they sit on and the bottom of the shade should be at your eye level.  For instance, the ideal table lamp tall for the living room should range from 24 - 34 inches. Similarly, a nightstand lamp should be  19 - 21 inches tall from the top of the mattress.
• The lampshade of a table lamp: The correct proportion height of the lampshade and overall lamp range from 1/2 to 3/4. The shade's diameter should double the base of the lamp diameter. Otherwise, the shade can overwhelm the look of the lamp or might not cover up the lightbulb completely.
• The base size of table lamp: Besides hard materials, to ensure stability, the width of the lamp base should be around one-third to one-half the width of the table it is placed on.
• Overall scale: Keep in mind the simple but perfect formula when measuring lamp size “A larger surface = A larger lamp”. The overall height, lampshade, and base size should be proportionate with the spaces it is sitting on, resulting in a perfect overall scale.

* Note:

• Base weight and design play an important role and should be in coordination with lamp height and material to ensure that your table lamps are stable. This prevents the lamp from tipping over easily, especially if you place the lamp where many people frequently walk through. 

• If you buy the lamp base and lampshade separately, check if the harp is visible or matches the finish of the table lamp or not. It's better not to see the harp because that means the metal frame that holds the shade in place.
• Depending on the number of furniture and the room size, the number of table lamps varies to bring the feel natural and complementary. For example, it could be weird and cluttered if there are too many table lamps in a small room and vice versa.

Step 4: Choose Right Shades

The lampshade is also a vital consideration in determining the light quality, effect, and direction, creating the desired ambiance and enhancing the overall aesthetic via lampshade color and material.

Lighting effect based on lampshade types:

• Translucent: Commonly made from paper or silk, emits the most light from the bulb and creates a wonderful glow around or adds much-needed light to a dark space. This shade is preferred to be placed in the living room or home office to provide adequate illumination.
• Perforated: Made from wood, rattan, or metal. Relying on the shape of the shade’s openings, the light passes through and creates wonderful shadows on the surrounding surfaces, setting the mood of mischievous, cheerful, and lively. This shade is an ideal solution for dead corners in a lobby or a transition space like a hallway.
• Solid shades: Usually made from metal or porcelain, generate less light and mainly push the light upwards or downwards so the light is diffused from the top or bottom of the shade. Their ideal placement is next to a couch or bedside table, on a buffet table, or at the end of a hallway.

Lighting effect based on lampshade color:

• Light-colored or thin shade: White, cream, or pale are the most favored color shades as they are suitable for a modern or minimalist style, adding a soft or much-needed light to your space.
• Dark shade: This shade color allows light distribution from the top or bottom of the shade, creating a striking display of light, suitable for a buffet table or the end of a hallway.

Visual effect based on the shape of lampshade:

• Drum: Add an elegant and modern look, suitable for classic style.
• Square: Bring a contemporary and sophisticated appearance, suitable for modern style.
• Rectangular: Definitive corners form its sharp and flat edges, well matched with modern style. 
• Oval: Have a refreshed and updated look, and improve the overall appeal. 
• Empire: Another name is a tapered drum, well-paired with many lamp types, commonly used to update the old lamp.
• Bell: Generate greater lumens from the lower side of the lamp, one of the most popular shapes.

Besides, lampshade materials are also an important factor to take into account due to their pros and cons.

• Paper shades: While easily torn, difficult to clean, and pose a high risk of fire, paper shades are perfect choices for low-budget, bringing a pleasant feature of light.
• Fabric shades: Despite drawbacks such as the color of the fabric fading after time, fabric shades are lightweight, possible to wipe off stains, and more durable (not break like glass or tear like paper).
• Glass shades: The shade color is enduring and easy to clean but easily damaged as they are heavy and can shatter if dropped.
• Metal shades: Although this is the most durable and long-lasting material, they have high up-front costs.

* Note: To look harmonious, match the lampshade and base in color, design, shape, and material. For example, a heavy shade pairs with a sturdy base, while a modern shade suits a sleek base. Moreover, considering the room's decor, dark wood accents pair well with a polished wooden lamp, while a clean, modern room benefits from a simple ceramic lamp with a plain shade. 

Step 5: Determine The Style

Besides being used as a source of lighting, table lamps stand out aesthetically,  add personal style, and set the room's tone. Consider the overall aesthetic appeal of the space then decide whether you prefer a lamp with a modern or traditional, transitional, minimalist, or eclectic design.

Some popular table lamp styles:

Traditional Table Lamp Traditional table lamps are famous for their elegance, symmetry, and conformity.	Modern Table Lamp This table lamp type is commonly made from metal or other quality materials, suitable for contemporary style.
Industrial Table Lamp This table lamp type is regularly made from raw and rough materials and comes with exposed and visible bulbs.	Mid-Century Modern Table Lamp Mid-Century Modern table lamps are mostly made from natural materials like wood but come in various colors.
Country Table Lamp Country table lamps bring a warm and inviting vibe.	Tiffany Table Lamp Tiffany table lamps famous for iconic decorative and beautiful stained glass shades.

Step 6: Select Suitable Bulbs

The bulb type is a crucial factor that guarantees the lamp’s functionality. Table lamps can use different light bulbs such as incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent (CFL), and LED. To choose the right light bulb, consider the following factors:

• Bulb types: You should make sure that you choose the right one among a wide range of bulb types to ensure lamp compatibility and stable performance, 
• Lumens: While usually ranging from 200 - 800 lumens, table lamps aiming for reading need 450 lumens, ambient lighting needs 200 - 300 lumens and task lighting goes for 800 lumens. Depend on individual tasks to verify lumen needs.

• Light bulb temperature: Bulb temperatures can make a big difference in how a room feels. Though everyone has their own preference color temperature, 2700K bulbs are popular for table lamps to create a cozy feel with a nice “warm white” light.

• CRI: The higher CRI is, the brightness the bulb emits. So if you want a light replicating the sunlight, CRI range from 90 - 100 is great. Otherwise, CRI from 60 - 90 is acceptable.

• Energy saving, long life span, low heat emission, environmentally friendly: If you prioritize these factors, you should choose LED bulbs. In addition, LEDs are the safest bulbs to use.

Step 7: Choose Right Places To Buy

You’re hunting for the most suitable table lamps at a reasonable price, and you’re getting overwhelmed as there are SO many brands out there. Save time and effort with a summary below.

Brands	Prices	Features
Target	Low to moderate $20 - $300+	Trendy and stylish designs  Budget-friendly
Lamps Plus	Low to moderate $50 - $1,500+	Come in a wide array of designs Primarily in North America
Crate & Barrel	Moderate to high  $50 - $2,000+	Famous for its chic, modern styles and fine craftsmanship Focus on modern aesthetics and functionality
Serena & Lily	High $100 - $1,500+	Focus on quality craftsmanship with sophisticated design Combine classic elements with modern sensibilities
Hirosart	Relatively competitive $49 - $100+	Specialize on unique and artistic epoxy lamps Customize anime or iconic characters Express personal style and preferences

Check out more information through the article: best lamp brands

Conclusion

Hope this insightful guide on “How to choose a table lamp” benefits those struggling to harmonize ideal lighting and stylish decor. It covers how to compliment your space by considering lighting purposes, lamp features, size and scale, lampshades and bulbs, and famous brand suggestions.