Table lamps

A table lamp changes a great deal depending on where you put it. A desk needs precise light, a bedside table a light that does not dazzle, a living room an atmospheric light. Start from there: shape and material decide whether the light is direct or diffused.

Designer desk lamp: where to place it to avoid shadows

Place it on the side opposite the hand you write with: on the left if you write with your right hand, on the right if you write with your left. This way your hand and arm do not cast a shadow on the page. The light source should stay out of your line of sight, and the head should be angled so the light does not reflect on the screen. For working, choose a light between 3000 and 4000 K. Keep a light on in the room too: if the desk is the only lit spot, your eyes tire sooner.

Tolomeo table lamp: when you need to adjust the light

If you do different kinds of work, being able to adjust the lamp matters as much as its design. The Tolomeo by Artemide, by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina, 1987, has balanced arms and you take the light to the point you need. On bar or angled models you control the direction precisely. Grammoluce by Martinelli Luce, by Min Dong with Habits Design, 2025, instead uses three small weights to adjust the intensity and tone of the light.

Bedside lamps: how tall they should be

When sitting up in bed, the bottom of the shade should be at about eye level: otherwise you risk seeing the bulb and being dazzled. On a normal bedside table this usually means a lamp about 60–70 cm tall, but it depends on the height of the bed and table. For reading, a pale shade or an adjustable head works well, so the light stays on the page and does not disturb the person sleeping next to you. If the surface is small, you can leave it free with a wall lamp. If you are looking for a lamp with a shade, see the abat-jour lamps.

Table lamps in the living room

In a living room, several small lamps create a cosier atmosphere than one large one. They go on a shelf, a windowsill or a coffee table, and are easy to move. Next to the sofa, keep the bottom of the shade at eye level when seated. A portable lamp also goes where there is no socket: Bilia by FontanaArte, with its metal cone and glass sphere by Gio Ponti, 1932, also comes in a Mini Portable version.

Flos Castiglioni table lamp and reflected light

Not all table lamps are for reading. Cylindrical or spherical shades spread the light around the room and add to its general light. The Taccia by Flos, by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, 1962, has indirect light reflected from a blown glass bowl: it brings atmosphere to a sideboard or console, and for reading it is best to have a direct light nearby too.

Designer table lamps: which light to choose

On a bedside table and in the living room a warm light works well, between 2700 and 3000 K. For reading, guidance ranges from about 400 to 800 lumens. To see the colours of materials clearly, a colour rendering of Ra 90 or more is best. Many lamps have integrated LEDs, which often cannot be replaced: check the lumens, kelvin and Ra on the product page before choosing. If you want to adjust the light with a dimmer, make sure it is suitable for LEDs.

To choose by brand, start from the table lamps of Artemide, Flos, FontanaArte or Foscarini. For terraces and gardens, see the outdoor table lamps; for other lamps, go back to Indoor lamps.