If you are in the market for a new lamp, you might wonder what style you should choose. With so many lamp styles available, it can be hard to pick the right one. Every style will have a slightly different look and may serve multiple functions, but it is also important to keep the lighting in tone with your home decor.
To help you determine which type of lamp is the best, here is a list of nine popular styles you will come across while shopping. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of lamp, and the best style for each of the areas of your home.
1. Buffet
This lamp is typically slender, tall, and more than 32 inches in height. They are often referred to as the taller version of the table lamp, and are designed to be featured on a buffet table to direct light downwards onto the table setting to illuminate the food, but they are also great for lighting up your entire house.
One of the advantages of buffet lamps is its slender shape, so it takes up very little space. Its height also means that the shade is elevated high enough to be out of the way of your arms and food containers while eating, if you choose to use this kind of lamp on your dining table. You can also use this lamp in your home office, where it won’t take up too much space on your already overcrowded office desk.
One of its disadvantages is that it only illuminates a small spot in the room, so it might not project enough light to illuminate other areas of the home. So while it may be perfect to light up a buffet table or a few documents on your office desk, it probably isn’t the best option as the main light source of your living room.
2. Arc
Arc lamps have a slender body and an arc-shaped, long arm with a shade that extends outwards from the body. These are best suited for corners where the light can arch over a table or sofa.
One of the benefits of this option is that it takes up very little space, and due to the arch, it provides functional task lighting, while also remaining a staple piece for the area. You can find this style of light in all sorts of traditional and contemporary designs.
Although its decorative and unique shape serves as an accent, one of the lamp’s drawbacks is that it can be knocked over more easily than standard piece. Due to the weight placement and shape, this type of lamp is not as sturdy as other comparable lamps. It is recommend to place this piece in a corner or empty space where it is less likely to be tipped over.
3. Tripod
Tripod lamps are well known for their three-legged base. The impressive, polished hardware offers a unique and stylish look. Its unique shape can add an architectural element to the room, while also providing adequate lighting. This type of lamp is great for a living room or a bedroom where some extra lighting is needed.
The primary benefit of a tripod lamp is that the base creates a very sturdy and stable illumination as well as a unique design element in your home. These lamps are designed to cast light over an entire room.
One of the drawbacks of tripod lamps is that the three legs create a larger base area, so these lamps take up a significant amount of space. This can make tripod lamps challenging to place in an already cluttered home or in a smaller apartment.
4. Swing Arm
Swing arm lamps can come in several sizes and shapes, and can be for the desk, floor or table. The only difference is that swing arm lamps can come equipped with an adjustable, functional arm. This arm can be configured and moved to meet your specific needs. If you require more close up lighting to complete a project, you can maneuver the arm so it illuminates just the right spot.
The main advantage of this style is that it can be very versatile, unlike other styles that are not adjustable. It allows you to target your lighting more than you would be able to with other types of lamps.
Because this light is concentrated, most will only illuminate a small area, not an entire room. This can be perfect if you are just looking for a small table or desk lamp, but a swing arm floor lamp might be too dull to be of any significant benefit to your home.
5. Torchiere
Torchiere styles are floor lamps with a tall body and a shade that faces upwards to provide ambient or accent luminescence. This option is one of the most classic and popular designs. You can find stained-glass, Tiffany-style torchiere designs that will complement your elegant style, or more contemporary frosted-glass styles for your modern home.
The main advantage of torchiere lamps is that they are capable of providing more lighting than a regular floor lantern due to its upwards shade that bounces light off the ceiling and walls. These lamps can often be used as the sole source of lighting in a room due to their illumination range. Special features can also be added, including dimmers to contribute to its versatility, and the variety of torchiere shades available will make it easy to perfectly match this lamp with your desired design aesthetic.
One of the drawbacks of torchiere lamps is that–much like arc lamps–they can be knocked over rather easily. This can be disastrous if you have splurged on a Tiffany-style torchiere, and the broken glass can be a safety hazard. It is recommended to find an option with a thicker or more weighted down base. Try to place your torchiere in an area that it can’t be easily knocked into, and do not allow rowdy kids or pets near the lamp.
6. Piano
A piano lamp is typically used to light up piano or organ keys and sheet music. It is usually tall, slender, and has a horizontal bulb. Often, they have swing arms and are hooded so that they offer a simple style and a light that is less harsh. These can come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs to fit the pianists specific needs.
While originally made for musicians, this style of lamp can also make quite a useful desk or reading lamp. Because the light from this lamp is small and direct, you only light up the area that you are working in and not the entire room. This is advantageous if you are using it for this purpose, but you probably want to use a larger lamp, such as a tripod or torchiere, if you are looking to illuminate an entire room.
7. Boom Arm
Similar to the microphone stands that you would see in recording studios, the boom arm lamp is a straight, tall, has an adjustable swinging arm, and typically a dome-shaped head. It has functional features and modern, smooth lines. This popular style has a contemporary yet retro look.
One of the primary benefits of boom arm lamps are their versatility. The swinging arm can be maneuvered and the light can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally. One of the main disadvantages of boom arm lamps are that they can be unstable and a bit wobbly, much like a couple of the other styles mentioned above. It is recommended that you find a lamp style with a heavier or larger base for more stability, especially if you have pets or young children.
8. Gooseneck
Gooseneck lanterns can come in two different types: a flexible neck that can be adjusted to different positions and a fixed metal neck with a traditional curve. You can find both table and floor lamps in the gooseneck style, making them very available and versatile.
The primary benefit of this style is that the curve, or flexibility of the neck, offers a unique style and targeted illumination. A possible disadvantage is that its luminescence is concentrated to one specific area, so users are recommended to have filler lighting for other areas of the room. This style of lamp makes for a great desk or reading lamp.
9. Tree
Tree lamps are extremely common lamps that come in a huge range of designs. The tree light is a definite accent piece to a room and offers an array of branches that can be targeted in more than one direction.
Typically, this style features a central stand with lights branching off the stand in multiple directions, similar to a tree. This piece is great for directional or ambient lighting, and the branches generally are goosenecks or adjustable so that they can each be moved. These features make this lamp useful for any room, as you can use it to illuminate a large space or just as a reading light, depending on how you position and utilize it. One of its possible disadvantages is that this lamp might be bulky or take up more space, and they do not often come in table lamp sizes.
Create the Perfect Look with the Right Lighting
Lighting is an essential component to any home, and the right illumination is key to completing tasks. With so many lamp styles to choose from, there is not a shortage of options. From decorative to functional to everything in between, it is important to decide which style is best suited for your home to create the perfect look.
Best Types of Lamps for Each Part of Your Home
Even though you now know about nine of the most common lamps on the market, you may still feel left in the dark when it comes to choosing the best lamp for your home. If so, you are not alone. Many people do not know the first thing about choosing the right lighting for each room, or what each option can offer. There are several different lamp types to choose from, but each kind can provide different benefits and drawbacks depending on where in the home it is placed and what functions it is needed to serve.
Each room in your home may need a specific type of lighting. While some rooms only need a glimmer, others–such as your dining area or kitchen–require a brighter option. Likewise, a bedroom, home office and living space may require and benefit from filler lighting in addition to the main source of luminescence.
Here is a list of three different types of lamps and the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
1. For the Table
Table lamps are typically used as a reading light for many, but for others, they are considered more of a decoration. While they are not the most illuminating of options, they can tie together the personality of the room and act as a filler light source in coordination with the main source of light. Table lights are best used on a table next to the couch, on a counter, side table, desktop or nightstand. They are also great in a child’s bedroom, as they can serve as a night light throughout the evening.
One of the main benefits of table lamps is that they are typically less than 32 inches in height, meaning they are compact and small. This means that table lamps can be placed almost anywhere you desire and will take up very little space. There are also many different varieties to choose from, including different colors, shapes and sizes, as well as many of the styles listed above. You can take advantage of this by coordinating the lamp’s color and style with your home’s decorations to make them match.
The main disadvantage of this option is that the lighting is not strong enough to illuminate an entire space. Therefore, table lamps are typically only beneficial as an accent or reading light. Additional light sources may be required depending on the room and the activities that will be completed in that area.
2. Floor Lamp Options
Floor lights can be functional and decorative, and typically serve as additional lighting in a seating area of your home or as an accent to a bedroom. While they may look best next to large pieces of furniture, they can serve many purposes. Floor lamps can be used as filler furniture for empty spaces, a focal point for that area or as an additional piece of decoration. Many people place floor lamps in corners of the room or between sofas or chairs. They can also provide several special features, including:
- Tray tables
- Automatic or touch on and off switch
- Swing arms
- Reading lights
Of the different lamp types, this option is typically the bulkiest, especially if you go with a tripod lamp. One of the disadvantages of floor lamps is that it can hinder your view of something or someone in the room if poorly placed. This is one reason why this light should be placed next to the couch, table or wall, or in a corner. Since the seating area of your home is usually the conversation room when friends and family visit, it is important to make sure your decorative lamps are not blocking someone’s view. A poorly placed floor lamp can also obstruct walking paths around your house, causing them to be more vulnerable to being knocked over and breaking. Knowing exactly where you plan on placing your lamp and the dimensions of the lamp is just as important as the style and design of the lamp.
3. For the Desk
Desk lamps are similar to table lights, except these offer a more direct and concentrated light for when you are working. These are primarily used on a desktop or similar workspace. They often have adjustable or gooseneck arms, which can allow you to move the lamp closer or father away to complete a task. These lamps are great to use for working on projects, including:
- Typing
- Drawing
- Sewing
- Writing
- Reading
- Playing Piano
- Other arts and crafts
While these lights offer a functional light source for a specific task, they are not great for illuminating an entire room since the light is more concentrated to one area. Another disadvantage is that it is easy to let this piece overwhelm your desk or workspace if you don’t pick a lamp small enough. It is important to ensure the lamp will fit on the desk, but isn’t so small that the light does not do its job to illuminate your work area.
While table lamps are great for decoration, desk lamps should be reserved for creating an effective and efficient workspace. A typical guide for choosing the right lamp for your desk is to choose something simple that will blend in with the decor of your office and not add to the clutter. It can be easy to let these pieces distract or disturb your work environment. Keep your desk uncluttered and choose a simpler lamp to allow for a productive and functional space to work.
Create a Decorative and Functional Environment
Choosing the best lighting for your home can be more difficult than you would think. When contemplating the different lamp types, it’s important to note what you are looking for in each living area, and to keep in mind how to use lighting for energy savings.
Also be aware of the dimensions of the space you are looking to fill. For a kitchen, bright overhead lights are typically needed to create an efficient cooking space, but so are smaller, targeted lights for meal prep. For a living area or bedroom, floor and table lamps are a great fit. Bedside lights should be smaller in size than the ones used in the living or sitting areas.
No matter what room you are looking to stock with lamps, you should consider what activities will be done in that area and what options will be best for your specific needs. With this guide to the different types to choose from, you can create a decorative, functional, and perfectly lit environment.
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