Most people buy a table lamp for how it looks, then discover within a week whether it actually works. The difference between a lamp that earns its place and one that becomes clutter comes down to four decisions — and only one of them is about style.
1. Start with height, not looks
A table lamp should sit so that the bottom of the shade is at roughly eye level when you are seated. For a bedside lamp beside a mattress top of about 60cm, that usually means a total lamp height of 45–60cm. On a side table next to a sofa, 55–70cm is the comfortable band.
If the shade sits below your eyeline, you get glare. If it sits well above, the light lands behind you and the page stays dim.
2. Match the shade to the job
| Shade shape | Light behaviour | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Drum / cylinder | Wide, even wash | Ambient light, bedside |
| Empire / tapered | Focused downward | Reading in a chair |
| Rectangular | Spreads along a wall | Desks, sideboards |
| Small sphere | Tight pool of light | Accent, shelves |
An opaque shade throws light up and down; a translucent or linen shade softens and spreads it. Neither is better — they solve different problems.
3. Colour temperature matters more than wattage
For a living space, 2700K to 3000K is the sweet spot. Above 4000K the light reads as clinical — fine for a workshop, harsh in a bedroom.
If the lamp takes a replaceable bulb, buy a dimmable LED in the 2700K range and you will be able to tune the room to the hour. If the lamp has an integrated LED, that decision is made for you, so check the colour temperature before you buy rather than after.
4. Decide where the switch is
This sounds trivial until you are reaching behind a bookshelf every night. Look for:
- A switch on the base or the cord, not just on the socket
- Touch dimming if the lamp is within arm's reach of a bed
- A USB port only if you genuinely charge there — otherwise it is clutter with a cable
A short checklist before you buy
- Measure from the surface it will stand on to your eye level when seated.
- Pick the shade shape from the job, not the trend.
- Confirm 2700–3000K and check whether the bulb is replaceable.
- Check where the switch is and whether the cable length reaches your socket.
- Only then choose the finish.
Get those five right and almost any lamp you like the look of will work.
Browse our lighting range — every lamp lists its height, shade material and colour temperature, so you can check all five points without guessing.
