How to choose a table lamp: types, types, functions, best models

Among the huge selection of various lamps, a table lamp is a must-have attribute that you cannot do without either at home or in the office. This glorious descendant of Aladdin's lamp can have both a practical and decorative function. The choice of a table lamp depends on the purpose for which it is purchased.

Types of table lamps

In order to understand this, you need to know what types of table lamps there are. Their advantages are mobility, a variety of colors and shapes, the ability to concentrate light on the desired object, and versatility. These lamps can differ in purpose, type of mounting and type of light source, that is, the light bulb itself.

According to their purpose, lamps are divided into: office and interior.

Office lamps create a comfortable working atmosphere, illuminating the work area with soft, dim light. They complement the main light emitted by the ceiling lamp. Health and productivity depend on the right desk lamp. Therefore, special requirements are placed on office lamps. First of all, in terms of lighting intensity. On average, this value is 300-500 lux, which corresponds to a 40-watt incandescent light bulb. However, if you have a large desk or a dark surface, you will need a brighter bulb. The quality of light is affected not only by brightness, but also by the design features of the lighting device - the lampshade, the material of manufacture. So, the lampshade is best cone-shaped, and the material of manufacture is plastic or metal. The disadvantage of plastic is that it can become deformed with prolonged use. The metal can become very hot. Office lamps have a simple design and discreet colors so that nothing distracts from work.

Much more interesting are interior lamps, which are designed not only to create additional lighting, but also to decorate the interior. And here, too, it is important to understand what function it will perform: will it be just a source of local lighting or part of a design composition and act as an independent element of the interior. The sizes, shape, and material of interior lamps amaze the imagination and there is no doubt that in this variety you will certainly find one that suits you.

The purpose of the lamp is not the only criterion for their difference, although it is the main one. In addition, lamps are also divided according to the type of mounting:

• On the stand is a type of light bulb that is well known to us. It is mounted on a flat base, which often houses a switch. In the office version, the lamp leg can be flexible or articulated to adjust the direction of light. The lamp is placed on a surface, so you need to allocate space for it. This is not always convenient when it comes to a desktop.
• On a clip – they are fixed on the table surface and do not require additional space. This option is most often used for office models. But they can also take part in creating a modern interior.
• The clamp is the most reliable fastening. It is also universal, since it can be mounted not only on the table, but also on the windowsill, armrest of a chair, wherever additional light is needed at the moment. Has a movable leg.

The last two mounting options are ideal for office lamps, as they securely fix the lamp and do not take up space on the desktop.

Finally, the last criterion is the type of light bulb, and therefore the quality and intensity of the light. Table lamps use:

• Incandescent lamps, their improved version - halogen. They have common disadvantages: high energy consumption with low efficiency. They get very hot during operation; most of the energy taken is spent not on lighting, but on heating the lamp itself. It's not convenient or safe. They have a limited service life. Perhaps their only advantage is their low price.
• Fluorescent lamps are more economical, have a longer service life, and have a larger color spectrum. We can safely limit ourselves to this list of advantages, but the disadvantages are very significant: they contain mercury, they shine with a light that is unnatural for the eyes, they flicker and buzz. Not the best option for table lamps.
• LED lamps today are unrivaled in their consumer characteristics. They consume little energy with high efficiency, emit light that is comfortable for the eyes, do not heat up, which makes their scope of application practically unlimited, and the high price is paid off by a long service life.

Each lamp must, in addition to power, indicate the strength of the luminous flux, measured in lumens, it shows how much light is emitted per square meter of area, as well as the degree of protection from dust and moisture. This indicator is designated as IP and two numbers next to it, the first of which indicates the level of protection from dust (from 0 to 6), the second from moisture (from 0 to 8). The higher the number, the higher the protection. Do not neglect this parameter, the service life of the lamp depends on it. Don't forget to pay attention to the sockets and switches.

How to make your own lamp from a bottle

A table lamp made from a bottle, made by yourself, firstly, will not take much time, and secondly, it will be an ideal addition to the interior of the room. The most important advantage of such a product is its exclusivity. Below you will find a small master class of do-it-yourself lamps, for the manufacture of which you will need the following components:

• Glass bottle;
• goggles, mask and gloves for safety;
• glass cutter;
• bulb;
• wire with switch and socket;
• wire of any color you like;
• sandpaper;
• screwdriver.

A homemade lamp using a bottle looks impressive and is quick to make

Before production begins, preparatory work should be carried out. To do this, you will need to rinse and dry the bottle, and also clean its surface of stickers and dried glue. To ensure that the sticker comes off easily and does not leave traces of glue, you can use a hairdryer, after which the residue can be removed with any solvent.

Helpful advice! To make a lamp from a bottle, a container that expands significantly towards the bottom is better suited. The wider the bottom of a homemade lamp, the more stable it will be.

After the surface is cleaned, you need to place the bottle in the cutter, adjust the glass cutter to the required level and rotate the bottle to obtain an even cut. Then it is placed in a “contrast shower” for several minutes until it disintegrates along the cut made. For greater evenness and accuracy, you should go over the cut area with sandpaper. The wire is carefully pulled through the neck of the bottle, after which the base with the lamp is screwed to the cable. To keep the cable firmly in place, a suitable sized clip is inserted into the neck.

Upon completion of the work, they begin to decorate the walls of the bottle. To do this, you can use wire or thread of a suitable color. Glued glass pebbles of different colors look very original, which are easy to find in large construction stores or retail outlets specializing in the sale of decorative items.

If you have nowhere to get a glass cutter, but have a drill, you can make a lamp from a solid bottle. In this case, you will only be able to use a small LED bayonet light bulb in the form of a candle that can fit into the neck. To make it, take a bottle of any size, in the bottom of which a hole is drilled for a cable that is pulled through the neck. After installing the light bulb, they begin to make a lampshade or decorate the bottle at their own discretion.

Choosing a lamp for work and study

If our task is to buy a lamp for work, then in addition to the requirements for lighting intensity already mentioned above, an equally important characteristic is the color rendering index, that is, how comfortable the lamp light is for the eyes, and the temperature of the glow. For the workplace, it is better to choose neutral or cool shades - they invigorate and put you in a working mood, while warm light relaxes. The type of fastening for the work lamp, as already mentioned, is a clothespin or clamp. The leg is movable and flexible, allowing you to change the angle of the lamp and rotate it 360 degrees. These properties are provided by a rotating mechanism on the leg, which can be either hinged or simply flexible. It is also important to be able to adjust the height of the device.

Lamp-diffuser - metal or plastic (provided that the plastic is of high quality and does not deform from heating), cone-shaped, providing maximum illumination. Buy a lamp according to the size of your desktop. The larger the surface, the brighter the light bulb it requires. The optimal power for a table lamp is 60 W for an incandescent lamp, 15-16 W for a fluorescent lamp, 8-10 W for an LED lamp. The LED lamp is ideal in every way. It emits the right light, does not heat up and does not burn out.

The correct choice of lamp is not an exhaustive indicator for organizing a workplace. It still needs to be positioned correctly. The correct location of the light source is determined by the person’s height, the type and power of the lamp, and the size and shape of the lampshade. The brighter the light source, the higher it should be positioned above the work surface. The upper level of its installation is no higher than eye level. We install the lamp so that the light falls from the left if you write with your right hand, or from the right if you write with your left.

Heating temperature

If you have chosen a lamp with a thin plastic shade less than 2mm thick, there is a high probability that if it is used continuously for more than 3 hours, it will begin to melt.

This is also affected by the proximity of the light bulb itself to the walls of the lampshade. And if the case is metal, does the thickness of its walls play a role?

Of course yes! The heating temperature of a thin metal lamp can reach such temperatures that you can easily fry sausages or scrambled eggs on the lamp.

Now think about it, because even your child’s fingers can touch such a hot body. What will happen to them?

In fact, this is not a lighting device, but a kind of frying pan. Therefore, buy models made of thick metal or plastic.

The minimum distance between the incandescent light bulb and the walls of the lampshade should be at least 5cm.

And the thickness of its walls is more than 2 mm.

Table lamp as part of the interior

If for an office lamp the main thing is its practical functions, then for an interior lamp it is decorative. Therefore, when starting a conversation about this type of table lamps, we will pay attention to the style and character of the room that they are designed to illuminate.

Let's start with the bedroom, this kingdom of morphea, where everything, including light, first of all, should be conducive to peace and tranquility. A table lamp is usually placed on a bedside table and serves primarily for reading or as a night light. Therefore, it would be good if it had a brightness control: for reading you need brighter light, for a night light it should be dimmed. The lamp must shine with a soft light and not dazzle the eyes. Therefore, it is preferable to use either a fabric lampshade or a matte shade. Do not buy a lamp with a high stem. Firstly, it is unlikely to look good on a small bedside table, and secondly, the halo lighting for the bedroom should be minimal, sufficient only for reading.

When choosing a lamp for the living room, you need to decide on its location and how many there should be in the interior. A table lamp participates in creating an overall symphony of light, and its sound should be harmonious. Of course, it can be brighter than the bedroom model, and its appearance is determined by the style of the room. To choose a place for it, determine the height at which it will be located, as well as the distance from the sofa, armchair, or wall.

Let's see how well it matches the style and decor of the room. Ergonomics require that the lampshade of the table lamp be at eye level, so it will not dazzle. In general, special attention is paid to the lampshade, since it is he who is mainly responsible for the appearance of the lamp and its style. Keep in mind that the narrower the lampshade, the smaller the area that the lamp illuminates. Take a closer look at the details: what type of light bulbs are used, whether the lampshade can be changed. A table lamp in the living room is designed to complement the decor, create mood and light accents, provide lighting on several levels, and create a unique light composition. It can be combined with the rest of the decor, or it can contrast with it, creating a spectacular accent in the interior.

Glass shade

If the glass of a table lamp is made poorly, the body may simply crack.

Moreover, these fragments will injure you and your children while you are at your desk.

Therefore, it is not recommended to buy products with glass shades.

In addition, such models are easy to damage simply by moving them from one room to another, or by accidentally hitting them.

A children's room is also a place for active games and fun for your child.

Table lamp for children's room

A table lamp for a children's room requires special attention. Its functions are different for different ages of the child. For a very small child, it serves as a night light and helps a comfortable sleep; for an older child, it is needed when coloring, drawing, designing or sculpting. A schoolchild cannot do without a desk lamp when doing homework. It is clear that in each case a different lighting intensity is needed. The following requirements apply to a table lamp in a child’s room:

• It shouldn't be too bright.
• It should emit a uniform soft light, as close to natural as possible.
• The type of lamp fastening should prevent it from falling, so it is either a clip or a clamp.
• It is better not to use incandescent and halogen lamps: they get very hot and the child can get burned. The best choice is LED.

According to the design, it is better to use a transformable lamp with adjustable height, level of inclination and direction of light. The shades of the lamps are closed type, not flashy and bright colors. The most comfortable light for a child, according to ophthalmologists, is green. It has a positive effect on both vision and the nervous system. A table lamp glowing with a greenish light will provide a comfortable living environment for your baby.

Case color

When a schoolchild or adult works for a long time at his desk, the bright color of the desk lamp itself is an additional irritant. This causes the eyes to strain even more.

As a result, in just six months of such proximity, your vision may deteriorate significantly. If a shiny support gives a negative effect immediately, work under such lighting for a couple of minutes and then look into the distance and see for yourself.

But the bright, glossy color of the body, for example the same support leg, although it will already be plastic, will have an effect after at least a few months of use.

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Therefore, a good lamp should be of a neutral color - gray, beige, dark.

Plus, it shouldn't glare.

Let's talk about styles

Today the most relevant are:

1. Loft lamps are distinguished by their simple design and deliberate roughness of texture. It has strict forms without decorations. Materials of manufacture: metal, glass, wood. The lampshade or shade may be completely absent.
2. Provence is to some extent the opposite of the loft style. The romance of rural landscapes is contrasted with deliberate industrialism. The design may contain plant motifs, the lampshade is usually fabric, the lamp itself is made of natural materials, most often wooden.

1. Ethnic style - the design contains national motifs - Asian, European, American, African - the style is very diverse, and the lamp can be recognized by its emphasized ethnic motifs.

1. Eco-style - echoes the Provence style. He also loves natural materials and floral and plant motifs, which in this case can be more clearly indicated.

1. Hi-tech is a futuristic style that glorifies high technology. The concept is closest to minimalism, but it is minimalism aimed at the future. Everything in this lamp should be extremely functional, and at the same time it can have a completely unusual shape, awakening associations with a spaceship or an alien office.
2. Scandinavian style – it is also characterized by the asceticism of minimalism. A Scandinavian-style lamp is usually made of wood, with minimal processing, and a simple shape.

We have not touched upon the styles of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Pop Art, Baroque and many others here; we have touched upon only the most popular and in demand today.

DIY wooden lamps and floor lamps: photos of original ideas

Exclusive floor lamps and table lamps made of wood in retail outlets will cost a lot, which cannot be said about devices made independently. Those who have a lathe will be able to construct the device most easily. In this case, a homemade wooden lamp can be made using edged timber, the length of which must correspond to the selected height of the device.

Using wood you can make lamps in a variety of configurations

If there is no machine, then it is permissible to use trunks of small trees or branches of shrubs as improvised material. The main advantage of this material is that there is no need for excessive processing, because even untreated wood will look attractive, especially if it has unusual knots or bark elements.

In addition, you can use a solid piece of wood, from which the bark is removed and the surface is well sanded. A hole is drilled in the center of such a block, a cable is pulled through it, onto which the lamp is then attached. To make a lampshade, a body is used, independently made of wire, which is then covered with paper, fabric or decorated with wicker or any other available material.

Helpful advice! As a material for creating a floor lamp, you can take the base from an unusable table lamp or use an unnecessary chandelier or a broken sconce.

In the case where you have a lathe, you should first sketch out a drawing of the table lamp that you want to see as a result of the work, and select a beam of the required length. If you want to make a long lamp stem, you may have to assemble it from several parts. The stages of work are as follows:

1. The wooden beam is fixed in the machine and turned with a chisel, with the help of which it is given the desired shape. It is most reliable to install a table lamp with a cylindrical base.
2. Using a cutter, patterns of any configuration are applied that will match the surrounding interior.
3. The finished base is sanded with sandpaper until it reaches the smoothest possible state in order to prevent splinters when moving the product.
4. Using a drill, a hole is drilled inside the treated block through which a cord of the required length is pulled.
5. For greater stability, a wooden stand is additionally cut out, the diameter of which should be 40-50 cm.
6. The finished product is varnished and, if desired, decorated.

A wooden table lamp will become a stylish decoration for your room.