Direct answer (40–55 words): Choose a table lamp by three numbers: shade height (lower edge near eye level when seated), shade width (wide for glow, narrow for tasks) and bulb fitting (E27 so you can pick the warmth). The base is mostly weight and taste; the shade is what decides the light.
Start with the job, not the look
A table lamp is one of three things, and it does only one of them well:
- A task lamp puts light on a page or keyboard. It needs a narrow, aimable head and enough reach — the articulated desk lamp is built exactly for this.
- An ambient lamp glows to light a wall and a corner. It needs a wide shade and a bulb you never see — the ceramic table lamp is the type.
- A bedside lamp splits the difference: soft enough not to wake anyone, bright enough to read. Height matters most here.
Decide which one you are buying before you browse, because every design choice flows from it. Most disappointing lamps are ambient lamps bought for tasks, or task lamps bought to make a room cosy.
The shade decides the light
Three shade properties do all the work:
Width. A 25–30 cm drum throws light broadly — good for atmosphere, weak for reading. A narrow 15–18 cm shade concentrates light downward. Wider shade, softer room; narrower shade, brighter page.
Height and position. The shade's lower edge should sit near the user's eye level when seated, so you read your book, not the bulb. On a desk that means the shade low over the work; beside a bed, about 45–60 cm above the nightstand.
Material and colour. Linen and cotton diffuse softly and warm the light slightly. Metal shades direct it and can glare. Dark shades swallow light — a black shade needs a brighter bulb for the same effect, which surprises people. Paper and woven shades scatter light beautifully but belong in dry rooms only.
The base is weight and taste
The base does two jobs: keep the lamp upright and suit the room. For a lamp on a desk or a nightstand that gets bumped, weight matters — a heavier base is why the brass bedside lamp stays put on a crowded nightstand. Materials age differently: brass develops patina, ceramic stays glossy, wood dries in winter. None of this changes the light, so buy the base you will still like in five years, and check one practical detail: the switch. A cord switch you can reach beats a base switch you have to fumble for in the dark.
The bulb decides the mood
This is where most people leave the last 30% of the purchase on the table. The fitting is E27 on every lamp in our collection, so you choose freely:
- 2700K warm white — the default for bedrooms and living rooms. Golden, relaxing, familiar.
- 3000–3500K — a good middle for desks and reading corners; warm enough for evening, clean enough for focus.
- 4000K cool white — for garages and workshops, not bedside tables, unless you enjoy waking up fully alert at 2 am.
Match brightness to the job, not the room: about 400–600 lumens for a bedside or ambient lamp, 800+ for desk work. And if the lamp is dimmable, fit a dimmable bulb — a lamp you can dim at night is a different product from one you cannot.
Sizes that fit real surfaces
- Desk: shade 15–20 cm, total height 40–50 cm, aimable head preferred.
- Nightstand: shade 20–25 cm, total height 40–50 cm, switch within arm's reach of the bed.
- Console or side table: shade 25–35 cm, total height 50–65 cm; the lamp should read as an object, not a tool.
- Shelf: shade up to 20 cm; check the shade clears the shelf above by at least 10 cm for heat.
Five checks before you buy
- Fitting: E27 means freedom; proprietary fittings mean buying that brand's bulbs forever.
- Cord length and switch: 1.5–1.8 m covers most walls; check the switch position.
- Base diameter: it must fit the surface — a 20 cm base does not belong on a 25 cm shelf.
- Weight: felted bases protect wood; heavy bases survive bumps.
- Bulb included? Ours never are — that is deliberate, so you pick the warmth.
Prototype note: our catalogue is a prototype with transactions disabled; prices are illustrative. Every lamp page lists its height, shade size, bulb fitting and switch position.