How to Pick the Right Table Lamp for Every Room

A lamp that works beautifully on a bedside table can be completely wrong on a desk. Before you buy, it helps to think about the spot it's going in and what you'll actually be doing near it.

For a nightstand, look for a lamp no taller than about 55cm, with a shade that sits at or just below eye level when you're sitting up in bed — that way the bulb itself stays out of view. For a desk, prioritise brightness and a shade that directs light downward onto your work rather than out into the room. In a living room, a taller lamp beside a sofa or armchair should have its shade roughly at eye height when seated, casting a warm pool of light for reading without competing with the TV or overhead lighting.

Whatever the room, it's worth buying the lamp in person or checking dimensions carefully — a base that looks right in a product photo can feel oversized or tiny once it's actually on your table.