How To Choose A Table Lamp
Have you ever wondered how to choose a table lamp for a room in your home?
There are considerations you need to keep in mind when buying a table lamp.
First, determine how much light you will need in that space. Keep in mind what purpose it will serve.
When choosing a table lamp, consider the color of the lamp base and shade.
Types Of Lighting:
Natural lighting: Natural lighting is light that occurs naturally during daylight hours.
Ambient lighting: Ambient lighting is also called general lighting. This type of lighting provides the overall illumination for a room.
Task Lighting: Task lighting is lighting you need for a task. Such as paperwork, a hobby, putting a puzzle together, etc.
Accent Lighting: Accent lighting, also called highlighting, emphasizes objects by focusing light directly on them.
Decorative Lighting: Decorative lighting is more of a style that fits your personality and provides light for aesthetic purposes.
It is lighting that sets the mood and ambiance, after all. A change in lighting can turn a blah and boring room into something cozy and stylish.
How To Choose A Lamp Size:
Pay close attention to the diameter of both the base and the lamp shade.
You will not want your choice of table lamp to overwhelm the space where you plan to put it.
But you also don’t want to buy a lamp that will look too small for the space.
There are four things to keep in mind when choosing a table lamp:
- Shade height
- Lamp size
- Shade style
- Bulb type
The Correct Way To Determine Shade Height:
First determine the perfect height range for your lamp. You might sit in the space next to where you are going to place the lamp to get an idea.
Measure from the surface you are placing the lamp to eye level. This is your base measurement.
To find the average height of the shade, divide the base measurement by three.
For example, let’s use 18″. Divide this number by three, which is 6″. This is the average height of the shade.
Or You Can Eye Ball It:
Or you might already be accustomed to choosing lamps for the rooms in your home. In that case, you could throw caution to the wind and just eye ball it.
Once you’ve chosen lots of decor elements for your home, you’ll be aware of the style you lean toward. As well as the confidence to make these choices.
These are the lamps I chose for my dining space.
I spend a lot of time looking online before I purchase something for my home. I’ll read reviews and the questions and answers that are listed.
Then I’ll copy that particular item and Google reviews away from the site itself. There are many review sites that are not affiliated with online shops.
These are the lamps that I’m using in my bedroom.
Why Choosing The Right Lamp Is Important:
When choosing a table lamp, I’ll look at all the other decorative elements of a room. Then I’ll determine the style and size of lamp I want.
In full disclosure, I am not an interior designer. Instead I am more of a decorating hobbyist. I’ve decorated many homes over the years.
This means that I’m interested in decorating. But I make my choices more by instinct and by being aware of my current style choices.
Keep in mind that choosing a lamp is an important part of designing a room that you will love.
Table Lamps In Kitchens:
I have three lamps in my kitchen. And I placed them according to what I typically do in that particular space.
I don’t like overhead lighting and rarely use it in the kitchen. Or the bathroom for that matter. I have a small lamp in my bathroom as well.
Next to the stove I have a small lamp. Since there’s a light above the stove, I don’t need a lot of separate lighting here.
I also have a small lamp next to the refrigerator, at the space where I prepare food.
I’ve placed the tallest and brightest lamp on my coffee bar, further away from the other two lamps.
The Purpose Of The Lamp:
If the purpose of the lamp is for reading, you should choose a light bulb that is 60 watts or more.
If you’d like to use an energy saving LED bulb, look to the lumens output of the LED and the comparable rating.
For extra flexibility, choose a dimmable bulb. If you are going to go with LEDs, make sure that the LED bulb is dimmable, as some designs are not.
12 Neutral Table Lamps Under $50:
Below are 12 neutral lamps under $50 that I would choose for my own home.
- SAFAVIEH Lighting Collection 28″ Kyler Rustic Farmhouse Lamp
- Simple Designs 20.4″ Traditional Ceramic Purled Texture Lamp
- Elegant Designs 20.4″ Juliet Vase Decorative Ceramic Table Lamp
- Ceramic Genie Tear Drop Shaped Glossy 26″ Table Lamp
- Donnford 20″ Textured Diamond Pattern Ceramic Table Lamp
- OYEARS 3-Way Dimmable 22” Touch Control Table Lamp
- Collective Design Distressed 23″ Cream Table Lamp
- JONATHAN Y Anya 20.5″ Glass LED Table
- JONATHAN Y Owen 20.5″ Resin Table Lamp
- Safavieh Lighting Collection 24″ Atlas Clear Crackle Glass Lamp
- BOBOMOMO Resin 20.5″ Farmhouse Lamp
- Elegant Designs 20″ Mercury Glass Table Lamp
I like to buy neutral table lamps these days. They go with everything and every color of furniture. So you really can’t go wrong with a neutral table lamp.
{This post has affiliate links}
I tend to just buy what I see and love. It doesn’t necessarily have to match my decor. If I like it, that’s all that matters. I have some neutral lamps, but I also have some fun lamps, like my peacock lamp. It’s one of my favorites.
Unfortunately, for my table lamps to read by I need 3 way bulbs and it is really hard to find one that I like that takes them. These are all very nice lamps for accent light.
I am a just wing it type of girl BUT you gave some really good information on how to really choose the best option for your needs. So glad you are in a safe, social community and your flowers are beautiful. Hope you have a good day and stay cool.