Table lamps are small but mighty. As well as providing the lighting you need, they are also one of the easiest ways to change how a room looks and feels, making it more practical very easily.
What is a table lamp?
A table lamp is a small and generally compact and light weight light that has been designed to sit on a small surface at home such as a desk, bedside cabinet, or side table.
A typical table lamp would come complete with a base, a shade , and a bulb inside.
What they’re used for
- Task lighting: reading, studying, writing, working at a desk
- Ambient lighting: soft, overall glow that makes a room feel comfortable
- Accent lighting: highlighting a corner, artwork, or décor
Common types
- Bedside lamps: these provide a softer light, often supplied with warm bulbs
- Desk lamps: brighter and more focused, usually adjustable in both brightness and direction of the lamp
- Decorative lamps: lamps that are chosen mainly for style, shape, or materials – often chosen for design over practicality
- Touch lamps: these turn on and off with a tap and do away with the need for fiddly sometimes hard to find switches
- Smart lamps: dimmable or controllable via either phone or voice control
Table lamps are available to buy at websites such as Price Crash Furniture and come in a very broad range of styles to suit all tastes and budgets. These include the diverse choices of modern, minimalist, vintage, rustic, industrial and more. Materials used in the design and manufacture have a big impact on the design and appearance of your chosen lamp. Materials will typically range from ceramic, glass, metal, and wood to fabric or paper shades.
Why they are a popular choice for any home
- They give localised light—perfect for reading, writing, or working without blasting the whole room.
- Softer than overhead lights, which reduces eye strain and harsh shadows.
- Instantly makes a space feel warmer and cozier.
- Great for evening wind-down lighting instead of bright ceiling lights.
- A lamp will often be multi purpose within a room and act also a decorative item—adding colour, texture, or a design statement.
- Easy way to refresh a room without rearranging furniture.
- Portable and easy to move wherever you need light.
- Useful in spots where ceiling lights don’t reach well (corners, desks, bedside tables).
Things to consider when choosing one
- Brightness (lumens): higher for desks, lower for mood lighting
- One small lamp will typically use less energy than lighting an entire room.
- Bulb type: LED is energy-efficient and long-lasting
- Shade shape/color: affects how light spreads
- Height: should match the surface it sits on
In short: table lamps are practical, stylish, and flexible—kind of the Swiss Army knife of home lighting 😄