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Having a well-lit room is important—but so is a well-designed lamp. Big, tall floor lights and dramatic pendants may be the go-tos when it comes to making an interior design statement, but the pared-down table lamp is just as significant, especially when it comes to the practical matter of lighting a dark corner or reading your favorite book. Whether perched on a nightstand or a windowsill, these small objects can make a room brighter and more interesting. Naturally, the options seem boundless—electricity has been a thing for a while, after all—whether your style demands a classic, lamp-shade-plus-stand look or a more outside-the-box option, like a desk-side light that resembles a glowing crystal ball. Here, a closer look at nine of our favorites.
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Dyson Lightcycle Morph
Image Credit: Dyson Yes, the beloved vacuum-maker does lamps, too, and they’re some of the very best out there. Above all, Morph is customizable—you can adjust its double-hinged arm so that the lighting component is directly illuminating whatever it is you’re looking at, and you can change color temperature and brightness via the lamp’s accompanying app. It’s also good for you. The Morph’s LEDs are engineered to emulate the sun’s rays, which helps counteract blue light from computers and smartphones that may shut down the release of melatonin and keep you up at night.
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Williams Sonoma Home Ingrid Table Lamp
Image Credit: Williams Sonoma Home If you’re looking for a bigger, more sculptural lamp that will make a statement in an otherwise monotone room, Ingrid is a good place to start. Drenched in a poppy blue, the bold lamp is comprised of many different geometries, so it has a striking silhouette. Should the cerulean shade not be to your liking, it’s available in white as well.
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Flos Last Order
Image Credit: Flos Most lamps have a shade, or something like it, that diffuses light up and outward. Last Order changes the paradigm, diffusing light through its glass base instead. The fluted structure is modeled after ancient columns, though if you’d prefer, it can also be ordered sans the extra texture.
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Herman Miller Lotus Table Lamp
Image Credit: Design Within Reach You can’t go wrong with something designed by George Nelson. This particular lamp isn’t quite as iconic as some of his more famous designs like the Marshmallow sofa, but there’s a beauty to its simplicity. Inspired by silk-covered Swedish lamps, it adds a warm, soft glow to any space.
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Artifox Table Light
Image Credit: Artifox Artifox’s lamp is for the minimalists out there. Its shape is simple, sleek and above all symmetrical. It also has a natural softness to it, as there are no harsh angles in its design, instead taking inspiration from the more whimsical facade of a mushroom lamp. It’s not exactly rewriting the interiors rulebook, sure, but sometimes it pays to stick to the classics.
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Lladró Firefly Lamp
Image Credit: Saks Fifth Avenue Lladró has earned a reputation as one of the more revered porcelain manufacturers in the world, an expertise that it often puts to the test via intricate, sculptural designs. Firefly is no exception, featuring many different textures but above all showcasing a wide range of bright, fun colors. Add one to your living room or lounge for a bit of extra visual pizzazz.
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Hermès Harnais Bedside Lamp
Image Credit: Hermès If you’re going to shell out for an Hermès lamp, make sure it’s one that incorporates some of the brand’s famous leather. The handsome Harnais—which translates to “harness” from the French—takes inspiration from horse reins, incorporating stitched taurillon leather on each of its three arms. It’s multipurpose, too—the base can double as a change tray.
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Ralph Lauren Carthage Lamp
Image Credit: Ralph Lauren Looking for something with a more vintage feel? Ralph Lauren’s Carthage lamp has that in spades. Made of solid brass, its shade resembles a helmet, while its base resembles an old-timey telescope. Best of all, it’s relatively customizable, as its height can be adjusted to best suit your aesthetic needs.
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Foscarini Lumiere 05 Lamp
Image Credit: Foscarini Foscarini’s lamp was first designed by Rodolfo Dordoni in the 1990s, and it’s been one of the brand’s most popular offerings ever since. Its tripod base sets it apart, giving the lamp a different, edgier look over many others on the market—the glass shade is another sleek touch.
