The Best Bedside Lamps and Table Lamps Will Light Up Your Life

Looking for some living room table lighting with a touch of coastal grandma style? Look no further than this rattan lamp from Serena and Lily. With its petite size, the light can fill up empty nooks and crannies while perfectly illuminating them. “What immediately caught my eye was how the unique, trendy raffia shade complements the sleek ceramic base beautifully,” associate visuals editor Shani Kravetz told us. “The lamp is the perfect size for a desk or kitchen counter, adding a warm, ambient glow and delightful pop of style.”

Best Midcentury Table Lamp

This design-forward white table lamp (which is inspired by a Japanese lantern) has us doing a double take thanks to its silhouette and subtle texture. According to commerce editor Audrey Lee, “There’s something about this little lamp that’s incredibly soothing.” With a glass shape that doesn’t scream “light fixture,” it’s the perfect way to add pizzazz to any nightstand or dimly lit corner, especially if you prefer contemporary or postmodern design aesthetics. “This West Elm light emits a subtle glow in such a beautiful way, and I love that the ribbed design doesn’t disappear when it’s turned on,” says Audrey. “I like to have just this on if I’m about to turn in for the night but want to watch a show or two to help lull me to sleep—it’s just perfect.”

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Rejuvenation Roland Table Lamp

$199

Rejuvenation

Inspired by Italian modernism, the mushroom shape of Rejuvenation’s Roland table lamp is made entirely of glass. The petite frame is only 10 inches tall, and the lamp casts a soft glow, diffused by the opaque shade. Despite not being dimmable, this bestseller’s light is never hard or stark white. Use this lamp for ambiance in your living room or on your bedside table.

Interiors guru Shea McGee brings her signature touch to this quirky table lamp. “Multiple friends and passersby have noted how much the base looks like a design-forward avocado,” Audrey remarks. “I think this lamp could really work in pretty much any space, from more reserved interiors to design schemes that lean more eclectic.” The sculptural base of this decorative light is topped with a neutral white linen shade for a striking contrast that keeps things feeling coastal chic in a contemporary way. For this lamp, you’ll want to keep it looking pristine with a dry cloth to wipe away dust and smudges, avoiding harsh cleaners that might damage the finish.

Best Glass Lamp

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Braque Cube Table Lamp by Jeremiah Brent

$349

Crate & Barrel

You might recall this familiar face from our inaugural Best in Show, where we named it the newcomer of the year. Designed by AD100 talent Jeremiah Brent and inspired by 1940s architecture, its glassy geometric form is a celebration of the naked look and a playful way to keep your interiors looking light. “The glow it emits is diffused, but still enough for me to work by,” says commerce market editor Kate McGregor, who keeps the mid-sized lamp stationed on her work desk. “The glass helps cast the light in a wider ray than traditional fabric shades do. It’s also made me more conscious of my chosen lightbulbs, because the transparent form allows you to see everything, even the power cord.”

Consider the Gantri Analog Task Lamp two-faced: It can set a mood and get down to work when it needs to. If there ever was a lamp that looked like it was going to sprout legs and march right off the table, this is it. There are three colors to choose from (stone, carbon, and persimmon), and the light switch has dimming capabilities. Visuals editor Lizzie Soufleris describes the piece as “a perfect desk lamp,” thanks to the dimmable light that can rotate a full 230 degrees in either direction. “Don’t let the oversized Rubik’s cube–esque look fool you–this lamp is highly functional,” she adds. “Plus, the exterior is made of GPP, Gantri’s sustainably sourced sugarcane polymer blend.”

Another of the best bedside lamps (or side table lamps, for that matter) is this fabric-covered CB2 find with a unique scrunched shade and all-over abstract print. “I was immediately enamored with the allover squiggle motif because it makes it feel more like an art piece than just a lamp to me,” says commerce producer Lauren Arzbaecher. “The black fabric slightly dampens the brightness it gives off, but the completely open top to the shade evens it out for an amount of light perfect for a nightstand.” Anyone interested in this number will also appreciate that the lamp is durably made in Lauren’s experience. “My sleepy self is not always careful when I reach out to turn on the light after waking up, so I was a little worried about the tall and fairly skinny base because I’ve had tipping issues before with lamps that have a similar shape. Thankfully, that hasn’t been an issue with this one, as the base is weighted enough to keep it stable.”

Best Dimmable Lamp

If you have an outdoor space, you know the importance of having a cordless lamp you can tote on the short journey inside to grab more drinks or snacks once the sun has gone down. Or maybe you want to guide guests to the backyard for a little midnight gossip session around the fire pit. Whatever it is, this rechargeable lamp is easy to grab and is available in a plethora of colors. With a “vaguely mushroomy” look according to Rachel, its small stature and four dimmable light levels makes it endlessly versatile. “I've seen them featured in Hypebeast homes, minimalist Barcelona bedrooms, tiny Sydney apartments, and grand Austin estates, so chances are it'll work for whatever design scheme resonates with you,” says Rachel. “The last note I'd make is that the price point is quite steep at over $300 for such a tiny piece. While there are lots of dupes on the market, I'd definitely stick with the original as it's been through the ringer with me for the last two years.”

Best Petite Lamp

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Flos Bilboquet Table Lamp

$400

Flos

$400

Design Within Reach

Flos’s Bilboquet Table Lamp, designed by Philippe Malouin, is another seen-before decor moment, as we tapped it for our 2025 gifting shoot. It’s been a mainstay at Fletcher’s work station ever since. “This sexy little lamp has a great glow and looks just as handsome when it isn't turned on,” she told us. “I keep it at my desk and it's a lovely distraction from the standard issue fluorescents here at 1WTC. I love that the bulbous chrome joint is a functional swivel point, which means it can spotlight almost 360 degrees.” An eco-friendly design as well, Flos crafted the lamp’s body from a byproduct of paper production and refrained from using any glue, so the components will be recyclable after a long life spent spotlighting your home.

Best Vintage-Style Lamp

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PH 2/2 Luna LED Table Lamp by Poul Henningsen

$1,725

Lumens

This brass table lamp sits atop Harrison’s liquor cabinet, making it look “far more dignified than the randomly acquired handle of Kahlua would relate.” The assembly was no joke—the lamp arrived with a drop cloth and white gloves for assembling the delicate glass and bronze lamp without leaving fingerprints behind. Harrison says it shed “the light of art deco” across her dining room, and it’s become the one light she leaves on overnight.You can add it to a bookshelf or place it on a bedside table, for those with a modern-leaning designscape, or something more Scandi.

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Wade Logan Carrizalez Ceramic Table Lamp

$389 $100 (74% off)

Wayfair

If your shelves are already full of ceramic vessels, sneak a little light in disguise into the scene. The linen shade and ceramic body offer a beautiful textural juxtaposition, and we love the classic jug silhouette. It’s all made a little more modern with small handles circling the top.

Bulb type: Standard A19, E26 base bulb (max 100W) recommended

Light bulb included? No

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Crate & Barrel Formosa Stone Table Lamp

$269

Crate & Barrel

Here’s a lamp that doubles as art. This stately, squat piece is made from a solid marble base and a burnished brass and stainless steel shade. It'll look handsome on a nightstand or side table.

Bulb type: G9 5W LED bulb

Light bulb included? No

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Zara Tripod Base Table Lamp

$129

Zara

“With its cast-iron frame and linen cotton shade, this lamp serves as a more romantic lighting alternative to the overhead options in my living room,” says McGregor. Diffused, dim, and warm—making it more applicable for movie nights and dinner parties than reading or working from home—the clean-looking shade offsets the more rustic tripod base to bring a contemporary feel. “The form is also sturdier than expected, having survived being knocked over weekly when my extension cord gets tangled,” adds McGregor.

Bulb type: 100W

Light bulb included? No

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Wooj Cordless Mini Wavy Lamp

$135

Wooj

Lee called this portable Wooj design a “light source disguised as an organic form.” A nod to classic lantern shapes while also giving fungi, the 3D-printed shade possesses notable textural appeal that’s only further accented when the light is switched on. “I especially appreciate that the cordless design allows me to comfortably reposition it anywhere on my desk without a wire getting tangled up in my other decor accents,” she says. The lamp features three brightness settings, the lowest which diffuses a dim glow and the brightest which emits a brighter beam, but something Lee would still classify in the “mood lighting” category.

Bulb type: Custom LED unit

Light bulb included? Yes

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Joon Loloi Morison Leather Wrapped Table Lamp

$229

Joon Loloi

Joon Loloi’s Marison table lamp is ideal for casting a wider light than a traditional task lamp or a narrower option. It’s on the taller side, at 23 inches, but it doesn’t take up much surface area. The iron body is wrapped in leather and finished in aged brass for a luxurious yet studious feel. If you’ve ever fished around behind your side table or nightstand for the on/off switch, you’ll appreciate the proximity of this light’s power cord to the rounded base—a modern upgrade to a vintage style. This table lamp would be right at home in a library or home office.

Bulb type: 100W E26 LED bulb

Light bulb included? No

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Lago Compact Table Lamp by Temporal Studio

$198

Lumens

The best part of this Gantri table lamp is its 26 different color-blocking combos.“If I could, I’d have 12 of these lamps across my house, each with a different color base,” says commerce writer Julia Harrison. While her Lago sits atop a stack of books on her desk, it’s been known to move around her house to function as a reading light, a bedside table lamp, and task lighting for late-night puzzling. The Lagos sheds a warm white light perfect for winding down and doing a bit of reading (ie: scrolling) before lights out. The red base and white shade would look particularly cute bedside, especially next to a striped bedding setup.

Bulb type: 5W T9 E26

Light bulb included? Yes

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  Photo: Rachel Fletcher

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Louis Poulsen Panthella Portable Lamp

$285

Design Within Reach

Fletcher calls this iconic design (known to pop up in many a home tour) one of the “quintessential ‘70s space age silhouettes…when Louis Poulsen released the mini, portable version in late 2024, I was all too happy to give it a spin.” The built-in LED sheds a warm white light with a dimmer you can administer with touch control. To add to the cuteness of this particular silhouette, you can curate from 13 different finishes ranging from primary color to pastels to metallics.

Bulb type: LED 7.5W/E12 recommended

Light bulb included? No

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J. Hannah x TTMM Table Lamp 04

$1,800

J. Hannah

We’re of the mindset that lighting can feel like jewelry for a space, a concept that’s epitomized in this quirky collaborative fixture by J. Hannah and TTMM design studio. A study in mixed materials, a pleated plaid shade gives major preppy vibes, while the modern chrome base grounds the silhouette in some sleekness.

Bulb type: 4W LED Bulb

Light bulb included? Yes

There are many factors we considered for each of our reviews to give you the insight you need to select the best table lamps for your home, namely the following:

Brand snobs: While thousands of companies produce lighting, it’s hard to know who won’t try to sell you dollhouse-sized decor or a fixture with faulty wiring. That’s why we’ve used our brand expertise and design discernment to bring you options from labels you can trust (because we trust them enough to buy from them ourselves!). From brands like West Elm and Wayfair who also produce a sensational sectional or bookshelf to more indie names like Gantri, who specialize in the all things lighting.

Delivery and assembly: Did our package arrive within the guaranteed 10-day delivery window? Was the delicate porcelain base carefully packed with the necessary cushioning? Did the instruction manual for assembly look like it could have been ripped out of an astrophysics textbook? We wanted to let you know exactly what to expect from your purchases and called out anything surprising. We also double-checked if a brand provided you with a complimentary bulb or if it’s something you should add to your next Amazon order.

Sizing: While we provide specs on exact measurements in all these reviews, sizing can still be a difficult factor to gauge. To help you determine whether or not that CB2 lamp will totally overwhelm your nightstand as well as help you compare the lamps of this list, we shot each close-up with a 2.4-ounce candle as a base point for size comparison.

What to keep in mind: Nobody’s perfect, and beauty can be in the eye of the beholder—which is why each lamp also has a note detailing what a potential buyer should keep in mind. For example, if assembly was particularly difficult, the lamp is extremely delicate or hard to clean, and who the design might not be suited for.