Ever bought a lamp that looked perfect online, only to find it towers over your side table or glares straight into your eyes from the sofa? You’re not alone. Table lamps are one of the easiest ways to make a room feel warm, but getting the size, shade and bulb right takes a bit of know-how.
The good news is that it comes down to a few simple measurements and choices. Grab a tape measure, and we’ll go through them one at a time.
The short version: a table lamp checklist
If you only read one section, make it this one. Before you buy, check these five things:
- Height: measure the table and where you sit. The bottom of the shade should land roughly at eye level when you’re seated.
- Width: the widest part of the shade shouldn’t be wider than the table top.
- Shade: fabric for a soft glow, glass or metal for a more directional or decorative light.
- Switch: a touch base, inline switch or dimmer. Think about where your hand naturally goes.
- Bulb: check the fitting and choose warm white for living rooms and bedrooms.
Now for the detail behind each one.
Table lamp size guide: getting the height right
Height is where most people go wrong. A lamp that’s too short leaves you reading in your own shadow; too tall and you’re staring into a bare bulb.
For living room side tables
Sit on your sofa or armchair and get someone to measure from the floor to your eye level. Then measure your side table. The table height plus the lamp height (up to the bottom of the shade) should roughly match that eye-level number. For most UK sofas and side tables, a lamp somewhere between 55cm and 75cm (about 22 to 30 inches) tall works well.
A quick visual check: if you can see the bulb from where you sit, the shade is too high.
For bedside tables
Lamps by the bed follow the same logic, but you measure from a sitting-up-in-bed position. The bottom of the shade should sit roughly at chin or shoulder height when you’re propped up on pillows. That puts the light on your book without dazzling you or your partner.
Smaller bedrooms usually suit shorter, slimmer lamps. As a rough guide, a lamp around 40cm to 60cm (16 to 24 inches) tall suits most bedside tables.
Width and proportion
Lamps look best when they’re in proportion to the furniture they sit on. A few rules of thumb:
| What to check | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|
| Shade width vs table | Shade no wider than the table top, ideally a little narrower |
| Shade height vs base | Shade roughly two-thirds the height of the base |
| Shade width vs base | Shade at least twice the width of the widest part of the base |
| Bedside lamp height | Roughly the same as the bedside table height |
| Pair of lamps | Same height either side, even if the styles differ |
None of these are hard laws. They’re just a sensible starting point if you’re unsure.
Choosing table lamp shades
Table lamp shades decide what kind of light you actually get, so they deserve as much thought as the base.
Shade material
- Linen and cotton: soft, diffused light. The classic choice for living rooms and bedrooms.
- Coloured fabric with a metallic lining: the colour shows when the lamp is off, and the lining warms and reflects the light when it’s on.
- Glass: frosted glass glows evenly; clear glass shows off the bulb, so choose a decorative one.
- Bamboo, rattan or paper: lovely patterned light and texture, but less light overall, so better for mood than reading.
- Metal: pushes light down in a focused pool, which is good for task lighting.
Shade shape
Drum shades are straight-sided and modern, and throw light up and down evenly. Tapered or empire shades are narrower at the top, so more light falls downwards onto the table. Coolie shades are very wide at the bottom and suit low, chunky bases.
Check the fitting
If you’re buying a shade on its own, check it fits your lamp. Many smaller lamps use an E14 (small screw) bulb holder, while larger ones often use E27 (standard screw) or B22 (bayonet). The VOLTICO satin gold lamp shade is designed for E14 lamps and has an adjustable fitting. Our full range of lamp shades covers lots of sizes and colours.
Warm white bulbs and why they matter
You can pick the perfect base and shade, then ruin the effect with the wrong bulb. Warm white bulbs are the safe choice for table lamps in living rooms and bedrooms.
Bulb colour is measured in kelvin (K). Around 2700K to 3000K is warm white: soft, slightly golden and relaxing. Around 4000K is neutral white, which suits desks and kitchens. Anything from about 5000K upwards is cool white and can feel clinical in the evening.
A few more bulb tips:
- Lumens tell you brightness. For a reading lamp, go brighter. For a mood lamp, a lower output is fine.
- Check it’s dimmable if your lamp has a dimmer or touch-dimming base.
- Match your bulbs. If you have two lamps in a room, use the same colour bulb in both.
Some lamps let you change the colour of the light without swapping bulbs. The OUTON rechargeable cordless table lamp offers warm, neutral and cool settings, which is handy if it does double duty as a desk light.
Bedside table lamps: what to look for
Lamps by the bed have a slightly different job. You want them easy to switch on in the dark, soft enough not to wake anyone, and ideally with somewhere to charge your phone.
Touch-control bases are great here because you don’t have to fumble for a switch. The Totofac touch bedside table lamp has three brightness levels and both USB-C and USB-A charging ports built in. If you want a matching pair, the MIAOLIAN bedside lamps set of 2 have frosted glass shades, a dimmer knob and charging ports, so both sides of the bed are covered in one go.
For a more natural look, the HUAMI bamboo bedside lamp pairs a handmade double-layer bamboo shade with a wooden base. It gives a gentle, patterned glow that’s lovely for winding down. You’ll find plenty more bedside table lamps in our bedroom range, and our bedroom lighting ideas guide shows how to layer them with other lights.
Corded or cordless?
Cordless, rechargeable lamps have become really popular, and for good reason. They let you put light where there’s no socket: the middle of a dining table, a shelf, a windowsill or a hallway console.
They’re not always the best choice for your main reading lamp, though, because you have to remember to charge them. A good approach is one corded lamp as your everyday light and a cordless one you move around as needed. The Aukimo cordless table lamp has a wooden base and stepless dimming, so it fits in nicely in a living room or bedroom.
Our picks of table lamps
Here’s a quick round-up of lamps we like, depending on what you need:
- Classic living room lamp: the MiniSun antique gold touch lamp with cream shade. A traditional shape with a touch switch.
- A pop of colour: the DEENZ ribbed glazed table lamp has a faux linen shade and a satin glazed base.
- Bedside with charging: the Totofac touch bedside lamp with USB-C and USB-A ports.
- Matching pair: the MIAOLIAN bedside lamps set of 2.
- Natural texture: the HUAMI bamboo bedside lamp.
- Go-anywhere light: the OUTON cordless table lamp.
Browse the full range of table lamps for more shapes and finishes.
Table lamp FAQs
How tall should a table lamp be?
For a living room side table, a lamp around 55cm to 75cm tall usually works, but the real test is eye level. When you’re seated, the bottom of the shade should sit roughly at eye height so you can’t see the bulb. For bedside tables, slightly shorter lamps of around 40cm to 60cm tend to suit.
Should two table lamps in the same room match?
They don’t have to. Matching pairs look calm and symmetrical, which suits either side of a sofa or bed. Mismatched lamps can look relaxed and collected, as long as they’re a similar height and share something in common, like colour or material.
What colour bulb is best for a table lamp?
Warm white, around 2700K to 3000K, is best for most table lamps in living rooms and bedrooms. It gives a soft, cosy light. If the lamp is mainly for working at a desk, a neutral white around 4000K can help you concentrate.
Are touch lamps worth it?
For bedside tables, they’re brilliant, because you can switch them on with a tap in the dark. Many touch lamps also step through brightness levels, which saves buying a separate dimmer. In a living room, a normal switch is perfectly fine.
Can I put a bigger shade on my existing lamp?
Usually, yes, as long as the shade fits the bulb holder and stays in proportion. Keep the shade roughly twice as wide as the base and make sure there’s enough gap between the bulb and the fabric. It’s an easy, cheap way to refresh a lamp you already own.
A well-chosen table lamp is one of the simplest ways to make a room feel finished. Start with the measurements, add a shade you love and a warm bulb, and you’ll get it right first time. For the bigger picture, read our guide to living room lighting ideas, or browse everything in our living room collection.
