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The Best Table Lamps for Every Style in 2024
Set the mood and make a statement in any room of your house with the help of our hand-picked table lamp finds.
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times. When it comes to interior design, good lighting is everything. And, as it happens, you’re in luck. We’re taking the guesswork out of finding your light, bypassing the “good” options and directing you straight to the crème de crème table lamps for your house.
We’ve scoured the market and compared silhouettes, materials, scale and price to find the best table lamps for mod lovers, minimalists, farmhouse dwellers, contemporary queens and those with a design style somewhere between.
So, whether you’re months into your search for a daresay, magical mushroom lamp to polish off your mid-mod lounge or are just dipping your toe into the proverbial light fixture pool to locate the little Italian marble table lamp of your dreams — we’ve got you covered. Read on to get the 411 on table lamps, then shop our curated picks for every style in the links below.
White Traditional Sitting Room With Two Dressers
In this sitting room, antiques are mixed with minimalist, modern pieces for a refined feel overall. In the niches alongside the fireplace, two dressers work in tasteful extra storage.
Photo by: Laurey Glenn
Laurey Glenn
What to Know About Table Lamps Before Shopping
Table lamps are light fixtures that sit atop a flat, raised surface like a table, countertop, console, buffet, chest of drawers or dresser. There are no table lamp height or width specifications, but they are often taller and grander in scale than standard desk or bedroom lamps. So, how do you discern a table lamp from similar fixtures like a desk or bedroom lamp? It comes down to form versus function.
Desk and bedroom lamps are task lamps with shades often designed to direct light to aid with desk work, writing and nighttime reading. By contrast, table lamps are designed without task-related functions as a chief priority but instead created to achieve a desired ambiance, create emphasis, add grandeur or some specific decorative effect within a room. Table lamps may also feature a sculptural silhouette and direct light upward or out throughout a space rather than on the table below.
Of course, we feel it’s noteworthy to remind you that there are no rules. Table lamps may not provide the most ideal lumination for reading or writing, but that doesn’t mean table lamps don’t look next-level amazing on your bedside table or desk. Even the most decorative (read: impractical) table lamp designs offer some light to work with, right? Right.
And, here's a pro tip: One way to make a decorative table lamp more functional for reading or writing is to opt for a bulb with a minimum of 500 lumens. You can also transition between mood and task lighting by investing in dimmable smart bulbs.
Neutral Traditional Bedroom With Blue Hydrangea
This bedroom has a regal quality to it. Curtains line the wall behind the bed, a lovely layer of softness. For the palette, designers chose a serene blend of cream, white and pale blue.
Photo by: Laurey Glenn
Laurey Glenn
What's the Best Light Bulb for a Table Lamp?
The best light bulb type, color temperature and wattage vary from lamp to lamp, so we recommend reading the product listings to determine the best bulb for your fixture. That said, E26 60W max incandescent bulbs or 9W max LED bulbs are the standard options for most table lamps, including those on our list. Colorwise, we recommend bulbs with 2500-3000K as these bulbs offer a warm white light and achieve a cozy and calm feeling in your space.
Turn up the texture on your living room console with the help of this mod-meets-earthy table lamp from Target. The monochrome fixture features a snowy cement urn base crowned with a crisp tapered shade. At 14-inches wide and 23-inches tall, this sizable table lamp makes a statement solo or as a pair. And, don’t let its name fool you – this stunner is a shoe-in with farmhouse, contemporary, eclectic and transitional interiors alike.
Here’s your sign to dial up the contrast in your contemporary casa with the chic and shapely Danela Glass Table Lamp. Its inky tri-gourd body pairs with a tailored linen empire shade to stand 26 inches tall, promising to turn heads when styled against a neutral, saturated or pattern-papered wall. A brushed gold base and finial topper finish the table lamp with a whisper of glamor that ensures the fixture shines whether switched on or off. And, if black feels too bold — fret not, friend. You can snag the same curvy silhouette in two additional colorways: navy blue and airy gray.
Mad for plaid? Run, don’t walk to put an ever-charming Jameria Ceramic Table Lamp in your cart. The cheery light fixture strikes a balance between play and polish with a glazed-ceramic navy base, brushed-gold accents and a navy-and-ivory picnic plaid empire shade. The plaid linen shade features tidy pleating, lending the table lamp a tailored, custom appeal that looks far more expensive than it is. Style this 27-inch table lamp solo to illuminate your kids’ reading nook, or snag a set to bring height to your cottage-style dining room console vignette.
Illuminate your modern boudoir or contemporary foyer with this soaring and sculptural table lamp. The Amrita Globe Lamp forgoes a traditional silhouette and fabric shade for a mod metal-and-marble base and twin frosted glass globes. Two dainty metal arms hold the opaque globe shades at staggered heights, creating an attention-grabbing, asymmetrical design sure to elevate any lackluster corner of your home. Grab the 31-inch Amrita Globe Lamp in a monochrome black colorway, or opt for the gold and white marble finish to warm things up.
If you aren’t ready to give up the coastal grandmother aesthetic circa 2022 — you are in good company — and we have just the lamp to keep your passion for seaside vibes alive and well. The Florina Table Lamp is equal parts coastal and contemporary that promises to endure. Its streamlined silhouette is the sum of a rattan-adorned column base and paper drum shade. The matching, texture-rich lampshade and base feels expensive, and the sandy hue pairs well with any coastal pastels, beachy neutrals or deep-sea shades you have at play in your home.
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The first two words that come to mind when gazing upon this jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, room-making table lamp from CB2? Treat yourself. Bianca is a splurge-worthy table lamp with a pared-back Deco profile that allows the richly veined Italian Arabescato Corchia marble to shine. Each Bianca Table Lamp base is from natural, white-and-violet veined marble and crowned with a pleated ivory-linen shade. Bianca stands 20 inches tall and appears at home illuminating modern foyers, transitional lounges and contemporary consoles alike. Bonus: If the snowy stone isn’t your speed you can snag the same stone-forward fixture in a moody and dramatic Croatian red marble instead.
Bring your bohemian dreams to fruition with the Atolla Tassel Table Lamp from TOV Furniture. At 16 inches tall, this draped-and-dramatic tassel lamp adds softness, movement and whimsy to any dresser or console table in your home. Go understated with the cream or black finish, or liven up your vignette with the rich brick or emerald Atolla.
Top off your entry chest or bedroom dresser with this trendsetting and texture-rich number from CB2. The best-selling Scrunch Black and White Table Lamp by Kara Mann features a punchy profile and familiar, yet fresh print that demands attention from passersby when styled against white and saturated walls alike. It has a column body crowned with a pleated empire shade, both sporting the same 1980s-inspired zig-zag cotton fabric. The Scrunch Table Lamp is a medium height (23 inches, to be exact!), working well as an anchor for an asymmetrical vignette or in a pair to pack a contemporary primary suite with panache.
With a woven rattan base and posy-kissed pleated shade, the Julia Berolzheimer Rattan Table Lamp evokes images of a spring picnic savored in a blooming Southern garden. It stands 13 inches tall, making it ideal for tucking below the upper cabinets in your French Country kitchen or planting seeds of style on your daughter’s bedside table.
The sophisticated and timeless Clove Stem Buffet Table Lamp from Anthropologie is a foolproof finishing touch for your traditional table display. The cast iron body sports a storied gilt finish and features a dainty profile, complete with a pleated rosette base and bobèche to catch the “wax” dripping from the candle-inspired lamp neck. A pristine white drum shade tops the elegant iron body, juxtaposing with the aged metal below. Though the Clove is striking solo, the 28-inch table lamp’s delicate base makes it an ideal option for styling in pairs on an entry table or flanking a dining buffet.
What’s white, gold and gorgeous in any room of your house? You’re looking at it. The Metalized Glass USB Table Lamp from West Elm features a streamlined silhouette and a classic brass-and-white color palette that harmonizes with most spaces. Better still, each lamp is one-of-a-kind with a glass body that’s mouth-blown by expert artisans. The Metalized Glass Table Lamp stands just shy of 27 inches tall, and features a white linen drum shade and an integrated USB port for seamless charging.
15 Best Desk Lamps for Every Space
Work comes easy beneath the glow of a pretty, new desk lamp.
Add this top-rated cordless table lamp set to your patio this summer for a European bistro aesthetic. The metal duet is outdoor-friendly, battery-operated and features touch-activation. Plus, the affordable pair comes in seven chic monochrome hues, including classic black, white and gold, plus unexpected options like mint and orange.
The Cleo Table Lamp is the finishing touch you didn’t know you needed (but definitely, without question, do) for your midcentury kitchen, den or workspace. Though the glossy table lamp is on the shorter side at 15 inches tall, its scale makes it ideal for illuminating your terrazzo countertops or adding mood lighting to your low-profile bedside tables. The milk glass-and-metal mushroom lamps are available solo or in sets of two and come in three retro-chic shade colorways: taupe, rust or clover.
Rustic, farmhouse and industrial interiors – don’t worry, we didn’t forget about you! The Skye Table Lamp is our pick for adding ambiance to console table vignettes in countryside casas and urban apartments. Each Skye lamp measures 29 inches tall and features a timeless tempered glass body with a column silhouette showcasing the obsidian steel hardware. A textured ivory fabric shade tops off the lamp, washing the room with a warm, diffused light after hours. Love the lamp silhouette, but are less-than-smitten with the finish? The Skye Table Lamp is also available in gold or silver for a more glamorous appeal.
With an expressive silhouette and monochrome finish, the Mccoll Metal Table Lamp is the ultimate luminary eye candy for midcentury, modern, minimalist and contemporary design lovers alike. The metal mushroom lamp stands 27.5 inches tall and features a column body and coordinating dome shade. It’s stunning when styled solo beside an Eames-inspired lounge, but we especially adore the over-the-top statement created when you style a pair on an entry table or console. Snag the Mccoll in brass, black or white to complement your space.
Classic, transitional and tidy — the Beatrix Table Lamp is the best table lamp for just about any room, table, or purpose. The adaptable design looks lovely as a desk lamp, bedside reading light or formal buffet lighting in your formal dining room. Beatrix boasts a whisper-thin linear silhouette that leads to a sophisticated fluted neck and is topped with an architectural linen shade. Scoop up Bea solo or snag a set of two table lamps with a light or dark bronze finish.
