How to Choose a Table Lamp: A Room-by-Room Guide
A good table lamp does so much more than just light up a room. It can transform a dark corner into a reading spot, add height to a sideboard, introduce colour to an otherwise neutral room, or make reading in bed a relaxing way to unwind.
Lighting is one of those little details we suddenly notice again with autumn approaching, and the evenings slowly drawing in.
Selecting the right table lamp isn’t always as easy as picking one you like. A lamp that looks perfect on a living-room console can overwhelm a bedside table, and a small lamp can get lost on a large sideboard.
So where do you begin? From table lamps for living room spaces to table lamps for bedside tables and those handy small lamps for table tops where space is tight, here’s our room-by-room guide to getting it right.
Table Lamps For Your Living Room
The living room is definitely the room where you can have the most fun with lighting. We all know the 'big light' is something many people now avoid in the evening and instead choose to illuminate their lounges in soft lighting created by several small light sources. This gives a much softer atmosphere in the evenings and means you can change the mood depending on what you're doing.
When picking out table lamps for the living room, think about what furniture they will be sitting on. The best table lamps for living room spaces are usually chosen to suit the scale of the furniture around them, rather than simply because they look good in isolation.
A larger sideboard can hold a taller, more sculptural lamp. A little side table next to an armchair needs something smaller so it doesn't overpower the space.
For something a little more playful, animal-inspired lamps can make brilliant statement pieces. Read our Animal Homeware Guide for more ideas on styling animal lamps and decorative accessories.
For the Sideboard: Go bigger
We like to use a sideboard for one of our favourite statement lamps. A great example is our Roseland Table Lamp with Plain Linen Shade. It’s tall enough to stand out next to large artwork and decorative accessories, but the linen shade keeps the overall look soft.
When styling your sideboard with a Table Lamp, don't feel like things have to be perfectly symmetrical. A lamp at one end of a sideboard, and a group of accessories at the other often feels a lot more relaxed.
For The Side Table: Add A Pop Of Colour
A side table beside an armchair is the perfect opportunity to introduce a bit of colour into the room. Our Ally Moss Green Ceramic Small Table Lamp is perfect here. The glazed ceramic base gives a neutral room a lift without taking over, and its smaller size leaves enough room for a book, drink or pair of glasses. And if your living room is mostly creams, taupes and natural woods, don’t be scared of colour. A green table lamp can be almost like a cushion or a piece of art – just enough colour to make the room more interesting.
Table Lamps for Your Bedside
A bedroom needs to feel calm and lighting plays an important part in that. Bright overhead lighting isn't ideal when you’re trying to relax in the evening. Bedside lamps give you a much softer pool of light and make the whole room feel warmer.
When choosing table lamps for bedside tables, comfort and proportion matter just as much as style.
You want the light to be at a comfortable level to you when you are in bed, rather than shining directly down from above or directly into your eyes. The height of the lampshade is particularly important here.
For a Larger Bedside Table
Got a substantial bedside cabinet? You can afford to go for something with a little more presence. The Natural Rattan Large Lamp with Drum Shade in our bedroom setting above is a beautiful example. Its natural tones work particularly well with soft linen and coastal inspired bedding, making for the type of calm bedroom you actually want to retreat to at the end of the day. It also it proves that neutral doesn’t have to be boring. Texture can be as interesting as colour.
For a Smaller Bedside
Some bedrooms do not have room for a huge bedside table. A small table top lamp is often a much more practical choice for smaller bedrooms, student accommodation and guest rooms. You still want enough room for your phone and book and that glass of water you promise yourself you'll drink.
If you are searching for small lamps for table tops or narrow bedside cabinets, look for compact bases that leave enough room for everyday essentials.
Our Trevino White Ceramic Table Lamp has a small footprint, so it fits well on the surface without disappearing into the room. This is especially useful around August and September when bedrooms are being refreshed for university. A small bedside lamp is one of those practical accessories that can make student accommodation feel that little bit less temporary and a lot more like home.
Table Lamps for Console Table
Hallways and entryways are often forgotten when it comes to lighting, but a table lamp switched on in the hallway in the evening is a much warmer welcome than a bright ceiling light. For a console table, the lamp needs to be tall enough to work with the size of the furniture below. This is again another place you can be a bit more bolder with your choice. Try a sculptural base, or an interesting shade that contrasts with the table. Style it with one of our mirrors or artworks and add a tray for keys, a small vase or a favourite ornament. It doesn’t need much.
Table Lamps for the Home Office
A home office lamp has to work a little harder. You want good lighting for the space to be functional, but that doesn't mean your desk needs to look like an actual office. A good table lamp can soften the space and make your workspace fit more naturally into the rest of your home, especially if your desk is in your bedroom or living room. Pick a design that lets in plenty of light, but doesn't take up all your working space. A small lamp is definitely better here. And once the laptop is closed, the lamp becomes ambient lighting rather than just something practical.
Table Lamps for Dark Corners
We all have one. That awkward little corner of the room where nothing seems to work. Before you add another plant, try a small side table and lamp. Lighting a darker corner can actually give the illusion of a larger space as the eye is led away from the central area of the room. It also gives you another layer of light you can turn on as it gets darker in the evening. A great example of this type of styling is placing a coloured Table Lamp on a small side table next to an occasional chair. It instantly turns an unused corner into a cosy reading spot.
Choosing the correct size is just as important as choosing the design. As a rule, start by looking at the piece of furniture.
For a large sideboard:
Choose a taller statement lamp that won’t disappear against the scale of the furniture.
For a bedside table:
Find something that casts useful and soft lighting without covering the whole surface.
For a small side table:
A compact lamp leaves room for the things you’ll actually use it with.
For a console table:
Pick something that’s tall enough to work with mirrors, artwork and taller decorative accessories.
Choosing the Colour and Finish of Your Lamp
This is where things get more interesting. Once you’ve got the size right, you can start to get a little more playful with the colour and texture of your lamp. You don't have to match your lamp to everything else in the room, sometimes the opposite actually works better. A shiny green table lamp can add a lovely flash of colour to a neutral room. A dark bronze lamp provides a nice contrast to lighter furniture, while white ceramic is perfect for a laid-back bedroom or a coastal-inspired space. It's easy to live with natural and linen shades; they soften the light and work with almost any interior style. Look around the room and see what finishes are already present. If you have warm brass handles or frames, a lamp with warm metallic detailing will help tie everything in.
And don’t forget the lampshade!
Since it’s easy to get caught up in the base, the shade can make all the difference in the look and feel of a lamp. A large shade can help a lamp feel more impactful, where as a tall narrow shade is good if you don’t have much surface space but still want the height.
The material is important too.
Linen and fabric shades create a softer, warmer light, which is nice for bedrooms and living rooms. They are particularly good as we go into autumn when we naturally want our homes to feel a little cosier.
Layer Your Lighting for Autumn
There is a reason we start thinking about lamps again when summer is winding down. As the nights get darker our homes have to work a little differently. Instead of relying on one ceiling light to do all the work, create little pools of light throughout the room. A lamp beside the sofa, another on a sideboard and perhaps a floor lamp in the corner will make the space feel much warmer and more welcoming. The same is true for the bedroom. Use your bedside lamps and switch off the main light. It’s a simple change but one that makes autumn evenings at home feel cosier.
So Which Table Lamp For Your Room Is Best?
The best lamp for a table isn’t always the biggest, brightest or fanciest. It’s the one that works for the space you actually have.
Use statement table lamps on sideboards in the living room where you have the space to show them off. For bedsides where comfort matters the most, look for practical, table lamps with a softer glow. Compact table lamps are ideal for small spaces, reading corners and home offices.
And if your room needs a bit of a lift, try adding colour rather than re-decorating the whole room. One of the easiest things to change in a room is the lighting, but it can make a big difference to the feel of a room. Autumn is just around the corner, so there’s no better time to switch on the lamps, turn off the big light and make home feel a little cosier.
Take a look at the Mi Casa Home table lamps collection and find the perfect lighting for your living room, bedside, home office or that little dark corner you never quite knew what to do with.