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Table lamps are a tried and true classic - and not without reason - but they're far from the only option out there (by LLI Design)[/caption]
There's nothing inherently wrong with using a table lamp to get your bedside lighting; after all, they are the most ubiquitous choice for a reason. Table lamps are inexpensive and easy to set up; as long as you've got $20 and an outlet, they're good to go in as little time as it takes to plug them in. If you're willing to spend a little more, you can even get some really stylish designs that can spice up your room, and either way, they're relatively easy to swap out if you want to change up the look of your bedroom. So what's the problem? Simply put, table lamps are clunky: they take up most of the space on your nightstand (not to mention one of your outlets!), they're awkward to turn on and off while you're in bed, and offer little to no control over how much light they produce or where it's directed.
If you want to make a stylish statement with your bedside lighting, pendants are the way to go, with a huge selection of styles and a lovely symmetrical look (by Rachel Laxer Interiors)[/caption]
If your biggest concerns is reclaiming the surface space on your nightstand, or if you really want your beside lighting to make a statement, you might want to consider upgrading from a table lamp to a pendant light. Now, pendant lights (and most of the options from here on out) will need a little electrical work to wire in and install. But mounting twin pendant lights over the nightstands on either side of your bed is not only a great way to clear off the table, but also perfect for building a really gorgeous symmetrical design. Pendant lights also come in probably the widest range of styles, so if you want a look that really expresses your personal aesthetic, this is the way to do it. The drawback? As with table lamps, pendant lights don't typically offer a lot of control over the light they produce beyond the height you hang them at during installation.
Simple sconces clear off your nightstand and put a light conveniently over your shoulder - perfect for reading in bed (by carré designs)[/caption]
Wall sconces are another great alternative, and one you might have seen in a hotel - mounted to the wall behind the bed, either directly above where you sleep or off to the side (in roughly the same place you'd put a table lamp). As with pendant lights, you'll probably need an electrician to install a new sconce, but they keep your nightstand clear, and are usually pretty unobtrusive in design if you want something a little less showy. Since they're positioned behind and above your head, sconces make great reading lights, too!
Swing-arm lighting can be pushed out of the way or pulled to where you need it, ensuring the light shines exactly - and only - where you want it to (by Vani Sayeed Studios)[/caption]
If your primary concern is getting control of your lighting - specifically, if you share a bed with someone who doesn't share your bedtime (or if one of you likes to read at night but doesn't want to keep the other awake), your best bet is a subset of wall sconces called swing-arm lights. As the name implies, these lights are attached to bendable metal arms so you can grab onto them and adjust the height and direction of the light so it's pointed right at your book and not at the face of the person sleeping next to you. Swing arm lights come in all kinds of designs, from simple fixtures with lights that swing side to side to elaborate ones with pulleys or accordion arms if you want either more control or a slightly more whimsical look.
Recessed lighting gives you soft, diffuse, dimmable light above your bed, and can add a great layer of lighting throughout your bedroom (by Highmark Builders)[/caption]
If you really want your bedside lighting out of your way, though, your best option isn't a fixture at all, but recessed lights installed directly above your bed. This is definitely the most invasive type of lighting to install (you'll have to cut some holes to stuff the lighting fixtures into your ceiling), but is also the most unobtrusive once you've got it set up - when they're turned off, you'll hardly even notice they're there. On a dimmer switch, recessed lighting makes a great soft background light for snuggling up in bed and watching a movie or the nightly news, and because they're so out of the way, they're also great for using in tandem with some of the other options on this list - giving you both beautiful layered lighting and great control over the light levels near your bed.
Wenge Queen Sized Bed with Built In Lights T2666BBA53206 from Rossetto[/caption]
This last option is a bit of an oddball one, but it should appeal to anyone who's suffered through huddling around a reading light clipped to your headboard. The idea here is the same, but the execution is a whole lot more elegant: headboards with soft reading lights integrated right into their design. These are, admittedly, a little difficult to find and generally skew towards a more modern aesthetic where you can find them, but they really can't be beat for that late night reading, since the lights themselves are very, very close to where you're reading and designed to be not-too-bright - just enough to see by but not so much that it'll keep someone on the other side of the bed awake!
The obvious drawback to using anything other than a table lamp for your bedside lighting is that can require quite a bit more installation and is often a little more expensive. But what you get in exchange can be well worth the effort: a unique and pleasing design, good lighting control, and a setup that won't be in your way!...
Cosmology Table Lamp 50072 in Black from Zuo Modern[/caption]
One of the biggest mistakes people make, especially when it comes to table lamps, is assuming that most lighting fixtures are more or less the same. After all, the words “table lamp” probably conjure up a pretty clear image in your head, right? A simple base, a central shaft of some kind or another, topped off with a lamp shade. Maybe the shade has purple polka dots, or maybe the base has some pretty detailing, but beyond matching colors and patterns, choosing one doesn’t require a whole lot of brain power. That is, until you start to question that definition of a table lamp. Just one lamp shade? This one has three. Does it do anything for the quality or quantity of light the lamp produces? Well, honestly, no. But every guest who sees it is going to do a double take. That means that instead of a generic reading lamp or basic source of light, you’ve instantly got a statement piece – a simple yet surprisingly effective conversation starter.
Artemis Table Lamp 50071 in Gold From Zuo Modern[/caption]
Lamp shades can be dressed up in a huge variety of ways – different sizes, shapes, numbers, colors, materials, and so on. But there’s also a lot of room to have fun with the base of the lamp, too. I’m willing to bet you’ve seen at least one lamp with a dolphin-shaped stand, and ridiculous as that might be, it’s a good example: pretty much as long as the design is tall enough and narrow enough to support a lamp shade, you can probably find a lamp in that shape, whether you’re hoping for a bag of golf clubs or a driftwood sculpture. These range from kitschy to striking, and can be used either as an expression of your own personal taste, or as something a little more daring. Depending on your taste, this Artemis lamp could probably qualify as either – a gold plated polyresin rifle acts as the main base of the lamp, creating a posh urban grunge that acts as an instant focal point of any room it’s in. Bonus? When the light’s turned on, it not only illuminates the room, but highlights the fine detail on the “gun.”
Salon S Table Lamp In Purple And Blue From Zuo Modern[/caption]
Some of my personal favorite modern designs are ones that brazenly steal from antique form, take it apart, and make it entirely new. Many modern lighting fixtures use this technique to create a eye-catching, double-take inducing appearance, like these Salon table lamps. Made with clear plastic cutouts in the shape of highly traditional table lamps, right down to the “pleating” on the plastic lamp shade, these offer a clearly tongue-in-cheek re-imagining of the fixture. All the parts are right, but in pink, blue, gold, silver, black, and red, they’re every inch a bold modern statement piece. You can find coordinating chandeliers in similar styles, but personally I like these lamps just fine by themselves, as they present a perfect opportunity to add a playful pop of color to a living space, as well as adding a little extra light.
Pulsar Table Lamp 50007 in Chrome from Zuo Modern[/caption]
Believe it or not, even the bulbs can be a unique design feature in a modern table lamp. If you’ve spent any amount of time looking into modern ceiling lamps, this is probably a trend you’re at least partially aware of, but many designers have begun to put a strong emphasis on the bare bulb. Now, I don’t mean that lonely lightbulb hanging in your garage or attic, but it isn’t all that different, either. Chrome-coated bulbs on long, colorful cords have become a sort of contemporary chandelier, and even table lamps are picking up on this trend, made with unique-shaped or finished bulbs, an unusual number of bulbs, or bulbs in a non-traditional placement – especially without a shade. The Pulsar table lamp from Zuo Modern is an example of all this – an asymmetrical, slightly retro starburst of lights that definitely serves as a table lamp, but looks like a whole lot more.
Eruption Table Lamp 50080 in Clear from Zuo Modern[/caption]
Finally, there are some modern table lamps that ditch the whole notion of what a table lamp ought to look like and start over from the ground up. The function remains: you plug in a compact fixture that capable of partially or completely lighting a living space. But the style is totally different. I’ll use this gorgeous Eruption lamp as an example, but it’s by no means the only unique design out there. This one in particular replaces the traditional base, shaft, and shade with a simple glass cylinder. The bulb is mounted to the back of the fixture with a cord that drops down behind, but from the front, it appears as though the simple globe of light is floating. This is a petite light, and ultimately a very simple one, but it’s so amazingly modern and elegant its simplicity that I find it – and other innovative designs like it – utterly irresistible. After all, what would you rather have: a light that makes light, or a tiny, personalized piece of art that makes light?
But what do you think of these modern table lamps? Do you like the slightly more daring look, or do you prefer something simpler and more traditional? Let me know in the comments below!...
Patterson Table Lamp From Dimond Lighting[/caption]
Any real estate agent or interior designer will tell you that one of the best choices you can make to raise the value of your home is to make sure you have built in lighting in every room. But having lots of light at the flip of a switch isn't always enough. Table lamps offer an extra layer of lighting, lighting in a specific area (like next to a favorite chair or on your bedside table), and maybe most importantly, add color and depth to your decor. Something like this Patterson Lamp is simple and sleek, with a dark finish that's ever so slightly unexpected.
Shop Table Lamps by Dimond Lighting:
Alva Contemporary Table Lamp From Dimond Lighting[/caption]
When you think of lamp shades, you probably think of some shade of off-white or cream, maybe smooth and maybe with a ripply texture. But that style is as tired as it is traditional. The black shade on the Patterson lamp is stunning by contrast, and choosing a lamp shade in any bright, bold color is a great way to easily add visual interest to your space. I especially like this Alva Lamp from Dimond Lighting, which adds a bright pop of color and a distinct personality you won't get from any other kind of home decor (at least nothing that's also practical!).
Cressona Table Lamp From Dimond Lighting[/caption]
Of course, making a statement with your lamp shade is about more than just color; the fabric it's made out of is important too. Whether a rustic, sackcloth type textile or something more elaborate (like the gorgeous purple shade with flocked floral detailing on this Cressona Lamp). This is a great way to either bring out a color that's already in your decor, or play on an existing pattern. Importantly, the thickness and color of your lamp shade will also alter (if slightly) the color, quality, and amount of light, making this an even more important decision.
Lauren Table Lamp From Dimond Lighting[/caption]
Similar to opting for a table lamp with a textured fabric lamp shade, you can also get a lot of mileage out of shades with finer detailing, especially repeating patterns. This Lauren Lamp is a picture perfect princess lamp, with a delicate pink-on-pink floral design that gives it a nice effeminate touch. Better still, the color of the shade ever so slightly tints the light, helping cast the color on the room as well a coordinating with your surrounding decor.
Laurie Table Lamp From Dimond Lighting[/caption]
Of course, adding texture doesn't have to be quite so wild and bold - in fact, it can be quite simple. Traditionally, that would mean simple folds on a light white fabric shade, but since we're going for bold rather than boring, I'd point to this Laurie Table Lamp. With a dark neutral bronze faux-silk shade and subtle rippled detailing, this more traditionally colored table lamp is anything but ordinary, drawing the eye with waves of subtle sheen and shadow.
Fairfield Table Lamp From Dimond Lighting[/caption]
Sometimes, though, the most elegant solutions are the simplest ones. I love love love this Fairfield Lamp, with it's gorgeous, multi-toned blue polka dots. It's otherwise a simple white lamp shade, but between the decorative glass and chrome base and the different shades of blue dots, it's lovely, eye catching, and different - the perfect way to add that little extra something to your living space (and not just light, either!).
So if you're looking to add a little extra light to your living space, consider adding a table lamp - not only will it act as a nice piece of decor, but if you find one with a nice lamp shade, it can be an incredibly attractive (and effective) centerpiece. How do you feel about designer table lamps? Are you more interested in getting lots of light, or a stylish look?
Shop All Table Lamps:
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One of the easiest ways to find a table lamp that will really make a statement is to look at the color. There are two ways to go here: one is to find a table lamp like this Porterdale Tiffany Table Lamp from Dimond Lighting with a multi-colored body or shade. The colors should be similar or at least complimentary, and most if not all of the colors should be carried out through the rest of the room. Ideally, you want to have some fabric and paint swatches on hand when you choose this type of table lamp, because if the colors mesh well, that single piece can give your whole space a sense of harmony and unity.
[caption id="attachment_2822" align="aligncenter" width="251" caption="Alva Contemporary Table Lamp In A Black Nickel Finish With Triple Purple Sphere Design"]
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If you aren't big on subtle blending, the other option is to go with a lamp more like this Alva Table Lamp that's a single bold color head to toe. This is especially effective in rooms that are otherwise relatively neutral (as they act as a dramatic focal point), or in rooms that are more or less monochromatic, either in the same color or a contrasting shade.
Texture
[caption id="attachment_2817" align="aligncenter" width="293" caption="HGTV Ceramic Table Lamp With Gray Shade"]
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But table lamps don't have to come in a bold color to be eye catching. This Ceramic Table Lamp is ultimately just a silver table lamp with the silver lamp shade, but the hammered metallic texture on the ceramic body plays an excellent counterpoint to the simple, rugged textile texture of the lamp shade, and the two together make for a visually interesting focal point by contrast. When looking for a lamp where texture is the main feature, look for 2-3 contrasting textures in a simple color scheme to really draw the eye.
[caption id="attachment_2823" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Avonmore Table Lamp in Chrome with Black Organza Shade with Flocked Patterned"]
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For a more opulent space, look for a table lamp like this Avonmore Table Lamp with a relatively simple body but a lampshade made of an intricately patterned material. The texture doesn't necessarily have to match your furniture, but table lamps with upholstery-esque lampshades can be especially pretty in a very fabric-heavy space. Be aware of the thickness of any shade you buy, though, and what effect it will have on the color, quality, and quantity of light the lamp produces. Just like you don't want to get a functional lamp that doesn't look pretty, even the prettiest lamp is a waste of space if it doesn't produce enough light, and very thick shades can significantly dampen even bright bulbs.
[caption id="attachment_2821" align="aligncenter" width="265" caption="Burns Valley Table Lamp in Espresso Wood with Cream Linen Shade and Off-White Fabric Liner"]
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I'm also going to lump wood in as an example of a natural texture. Whether the space you're lighting is a rustic log cabin or a modern glass-and-metal loft, a piece of wood can really beautify your space. Something simple like this Burns Valley Table Lamp showcases both wood and simple, elegant craftsmanship, though for a more rustic look you might want to try out a lamp made out of a piece of natural driftwood, or even a solid, bark-covered log.
Shape
[caption id="attachment_2820" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Athens Table Lamp in Oil Rubbed Bronze with Taupe Faux Silk Shade and Silver Foil Liner"]
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Sometimes, a pretty table lamp is one that's purely interesting to look at, and often that means that it has a base that comes in an interesting or unique shape. The design can be simple, like the stem of this Athens Table Lamp, but because it's unique (and more complicated than a simple ceramic vessel), even if it's paired with a completely average lampshade, the shape will be eye catching and just enough out of the ordinary to enhance the look of your room. There are hundreds or thousands of designer table lamps out there with simple but interestingly shaped bases - way too many to mention here - and designs run the gamut fro simple tree branch silhouettes to complicated, layered modern patterns, but a shaped lamp is an excellent way to insert an interesting, statuesque piece into your room without having to worry too much about coordinating colors or textures.
Theme Table Lamps
[caption id="attachment_2816" align="aligncenter" width="293" caption="HGTV Bottle Style Lamp With Cork Neck"]
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Finally, some table lamps are designed with a very specific staging in mind. This Cork Topped table lamp from HGTV Lighting, for example, is the perfect pair for a sandy seaside or island theme. Lamps like this are almost more like props than anything, acting as a set piece for a very specific design that just happens to have a lighting fixture attached to it.
[caption id="attachment_2819" align="aligncenter" width="268" caption="Ethan Adjustable Tripod Table Lamp in Restoration Black"]
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Similarly, some theme table lamps evoke hobbies rather than scenery. This Ethan Vintage Tripod Lamp is a pitch perfect miniature theater lantern, and makes an excellent pair for a home theater, TV room, or even an artists loft - perfect for anyone who loves the theater, works behind a spotlight, or hopes to find themselves in front of one. Table lamps like this are available in a whole variety of interests - from maritime inspired to steampunk-chic, with just a little work you can find a designer table lamp to accentuate your personality as well as your decor.
While designer table lamps might take a little bigger bite out of your budget than one you might find at your average mega-store, they really are worth the splurge. Whether you want a bold pop of color or a lamp built into a stack of books, there's a lamp out there to give your space just the right amount of personal flair. What are you looking for in a table lamp? Do you love to play with design, or are you just looking for something nice to put on your end table?...
