When it comes to brightening up your home, the details matter. The best home lighting combines all three types of lighting, ambient, task & accent lighting, to achieve a stylish and, crucially, functional space. Table lamps can do all three and that's part of the reason why we love them so much. 

Table lamps come in a huge variety of styles, sizes, shapes and colours so you're almost guaranteed to find the perfect lamp for your space. However, the downside to all those options is that it can be overwhelming. Our designers and product experts have got together to give their top tips and best picks to give you some inspiration.

The Perfect Piece: 5 Tips for Finding the Right Lamp

1. Understand the purpose
   What will you be using the lamp for? Do you need a unique piece to add some pizzazz to your space, or are you looking for something more functional for your office desk or nightstand? Know what task you want your lamp to perform so that you can pick the perfect one. If you’re searching for dedicated task lighting, stick to dark, opaque lampshades and adjustable options. If lamp decoration is your goal, then it’s okay to pick out a piece based strictly on its looks.
   
   
2. Choose the location wisely
   Pick out a place for your lamp to live before you buy it - trust us, it will save you a headache! Begin by looking for areas in a room that need some extra light, then consider what size of lamp will fit in the space.
   
   Some of the most popular places to put a table lamp are:
   
   1. The living room - an age-old classic that will never go our of style. Think side tables, coffee tables and dressers.
   2. Entrances and hallways - a small welcoming light to guide you in or along a hallways adds a cosy feel to a space, particularly in the winter months. Regardless of whether it's a period property or ultra-modern, a lamp will help brighten up the space and reach corners that overhead lighting can't get to. Perfect for pulling on and off shoes, or finding keys without shining too much light. A lamp with a sensor is a great option for convenience.
   3. Home offices need no introduction, but any study space or desk will benefit from a table lamp to provide focussed, task lighting and avoid straining your eyes. 
      
   4. Window seats are the perfect spot for keen readers, and a small lamp to help them read late after dark is a lovely touch. Whether it's an ocean view or rural landscape, it's the ultimate place to curl up and enjoy with a warm-white table lamp
   5. Kitchen island - it might not be your first thought but table lamps are a brilliant way to add a touch of elegance to your kitchen and soften the space. From kitchen islands to cupboard tops that don't quite get the light they need otherwise. These lamps are about form and function.
      
      
3. Match your lamp to the space
   While contrast is okay, your lamp should still fit into the overall theme of the space it’s in. Treat decorative lamps like an accessory and be sure that they add to, rather than detract, from the room.
   
4. Pick something with personality
   If you find a lamp you love - base, body & shade - go for it. Getting recommendations and other opinions is helpful but ultimately you're the one who will look at it day-in-day-out, and you want something that will make you smile.
   
   
5. Size does matter
   It’s important to match the lamp size to the space it’s in. A large lamp on a small table will look silly and be more likely to get knocked over, while a small lamp on a large table will also look out of place. Below are some notes on recommended sizing to help get you started. Another trick we like to use is, if you have other table lamps around the house, try them in the target space to gauge the size. The style or décor might be wrong but it'll give you a better idea of what will work.

Table Lamp Size Guide

The size of your table lamp is almost as important as the design. A lamp that’s too large can overcrowd the space and draw attention away from other features of the room. Similarly, a lamp that’s too small may not have the desired lighting impact. 

The key dimensions to consider when choosing a table lamp are:

• The bottom of the lamp shade should be no higher than eye level.
• The lamp shade should be about 1/3 of the lamp’s height.
• The lamp should be no taller than 1.5x the height of the table.
• The base of the shade should be about twice as wide as the base of the lamp.
• The lamp shade shouldn’t be wider than the table the lamp is on.

Best Table Lamps: Our Top Picks

As mentioned, it's ultimately down to personal preference and what suits your space so we've chosen versatile lamps that our customers know and love. If you'd like some specific help,  reach out to our friendly team with as much detail about what you're looking for and we'll do our best to help you find it.