Best 10 Desk Lamps

Do you want to add some aesthetically pleasing lighting fixtures to your room? Is your desk too low-lit and in need of some more powerful illumination? There are many options you can choose from including LED strip lights or lava lamps. But, are you looking for an ergonomic and space-saving alternative that has a sleek and minimalist design? Cue desk lamps!

Did you know that poor desk lighting can dampen your mood, reduce your energy and produce headaches and eyestrain? Ultimately, it can impair your ability to be productive. That's why you need to pay attention to the quality and character of light in your workspace. It's important to consider functional lighting, and we are not talking about recessed or overhead lighting. 

You need the best desk lamp designed to make your work easier. The best models provide task lighting, which is very important for reading emails, taking notes, and going over important documents. They are also aesthetically appealing, and some will even have smart features that will make customisation a breeze.

Let's get down to finding the best table lamps that will provide appropriate lighting for your specific purposes.

Why Do You Need a Desk Lamp?

There are many reasons that we recommend opting for a desk lamp instead of a floor lamp. Whether you want something more robust than a book light while reading or a healthier and less straining lighting fixture, you will find that they offer multiple benefits. Let’s have a look at the most obvious ones below.

1. They Reduce Glare & Eliminate Shadows.

Any ambient light in your office can create shadows, and especially overhead lights create contrast and undue glare when looking at a computer. They cause eye strain and discomfort because the eyes dilate and let in more light. A desk light will diffuse the ambient light, scatter, and soften otherwise harsh light. It cuts down on eye strain that increases the chance of eye diseases such as cataracts.

2. They Create Task Lighting.

A desk lamp brings everything into focus. It's especially useful for those taking on drawing, crafting, e-reading, and other focus-intensive tasks. They give you a clear, bright light from a single direction, which helps to improve visual precision. You can choose an adjustable light to support your workstation. So, if you have multiple workstations, it's best to go for a task lamp for every location.

3. They Are Dimmable.

It may seem like a by-the-way feature, but the ability to dim light is super important. With the help of dimmers, you can control the light intensity by changing the brightness level. They have features like brightness level control that make reading, drawing, or writing tasks much easier.

4. They are Energy-Efficient.

Nowadays, table lamps have made the switch to LEDs. They are designed for efficiency since they consume less energy. LED lamps require very little electricity to operate. As a result, your monthly electric bill will never rack up. What's more, LED bulbs don't require maintenance. They are the best for reading lamps since they emit light in a specific direction instead of all directions. And did you know that LEDs do not emit much heat? They reduce light and energy waste from unwanted heat.

5. They Have a Long Lifespan.

LED lights have an incredible operational lifetime. They can last 30,000 hours to 50,000 hours. When you divide that with a typical work week of 40 hours, you will provide 25 years of light from one LED lamp. That is 50 times longer than incandescent lights, 25 times longer than halogen bulbs, and 10 times longer than most CFLs.

6. They are Stylish.

Desk lamps are no longer tools of purpose only. They can be a decorative element in your home office, create the perfect ambience for a room, and match your decor perfectly. Say you are going for an industrial look; a transparent glass shade and metallic hardware can go hand-in-hand with an industrial style of your office chairs and desk. Including a desk lamp in your setup can be a stylistic and functional addition.

What To Look For When Buying a Desk Lamp

We've already mentioned that the best desk lamps will help you focus on the tasks at hand. They should also let you control light distribution for job-specific lighting and reduce the contrast between the surrounding area and the object of your focus.

Now, a table lamp is an investment, just like any other accessory for your home office. These are the things to remember before purchasing a workspace lamp.

1. Adjustability & Customisation

The range of motion is very important in a desk lamp. It's useful when you can change the height and angle of a lampshade. You want light shining on your space and not directly into your eyes. There are different points of articulation, such as swing arms, rotating heads, goosenecks, and boom arms.

Apart from height and angle, having different levels of brightness allows you to influence mood. Depending on the tasks, you can adjust the light mode from warm to cool, natural, or daylight. Some models can adjust colour temperature automatically based on natural light. So, no need to tinker with the switches.

2. High-Quality Light

There are many benefits to LED bulbs that most desk lamps offer which make them more versatile and energy-efficient. Another alternative light type is the incandescent one which offers a bright, clear light.

When it comes to light quality, you'll want to pay attention to:

• Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures - CRI measures how well a light source makes the colour appear to the human eye and how realistic the shades look in reference to daylight. You'll want the lamp to show the right kind of contrast, useful for reading and working. Look for a high CRI rating between 85 and 100 in LED lamps.
• Colour Temperature - A light's colour appearance can vary from warm, cool, natural, or daylight. Generally, a light with a colour temperature of 2700K to 4500K is considered pleasant to work beneath as light changes throughout the day.

3. Size

Desk space is precious. You don't want to deal with a lamp that takes too much real estate on your workstation. For a small desk, a clip-on lamp with a small base will preserve space. If you have a large desk, it's best to go for a lamp with extra reach to provide coverage over the entire desktop. Some models are even intuitive to have a folding mechanism that allows you to tuck them away neatly when not using the light. 

4. Brightness

This feature is easy to understand in incandescent bulbs since the brightness is measured in wattage. However, for LED light bulbs, lumens indicate brightness, ranging from 400-1600 lumens, an equivalent of 40-100 watts. For most people, 400 lumens is enough for reading, while 800-1000 lumens is recommended for delicate tasks like working with small pieces or heavy-duty drafting.

5. Smart Features

Desk lamps now come with advanced features such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. If you have a smart home, whether enabled by Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Homekit, it's now possible to find compatible desk lamps to work with the various software. Such lamps have adjustable features like preset programs (study, relax, & precision), RGB colour modes, and multiple brightness settings. With a smart light, you get hands-free control.

6. Functionality

Do you need a reading lamp or night light? It helps to identify what role the lamp is playing before deciding on a model. Reading and writing lamps are mostly height-adjustable, while you'll do better with a swing arm desk lamp if you work on your computer all day long. Determining your wants and needs before purchasing the product is important so that you’ve put down all possible options and scenarios. 

7. Style & Design

A table lamp can have a luxurious appearance as there are different styles, materials, and lamp body structures to choose from. You may opt for touch controls over switches or a Z-bar over a flexible head. If you're a minimalist, you will like using a plain lamp head, whereas someone else may choose an artistic model with a clock, music, wireless charger, and auto-dimming. Ultimately, you'll want the lamp you choose to fit in with your desires.

8. Phone Charging

Although it's not a must-have feature, the convenience of charging your phone via the lamp reduces wire clutter and keeps your phone close. Taotronics is a perfect example of a desk lamp offering models with a USB charging port or wireless charging via a Qi-enabled wireless charging pad.

How Bright Should Your Desk Lamp Be?

Determining how much you need is a tricky question. So, let's clarify a few things.

With LED lights, you'll want to keep in mind that 1500-1700 lumens are equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent bulb. To know how much light is enough, you'll want to equate the brightness to the purpose.

40 watts is considered enough for reading and writing, which is equivalent to 450 lumens. The same number is ideal for working around a computer. However, it's best to go for a model with adjustable brightness to correspond to ambient light.

How Much Should You Spend on a Desk Lamp?

Desk lamps vary widely in pricing. They are those gadgets that you can spend as much or as little as you want and still enjoy your purchase. Luckily for you, there’s an option suitable for any pocket, from budget-friendly to high-end models. 

Tight Budget

Good on a budget desk lamps start at £20. These are not eye-catching models, but they get the job done. A few nice features to expect are three brightness modes, a dimmer, and a base supporting one USB cable to use as a phone charger. However, the height is not always adjustable.

Affordable

The best desk lamps start at £50-£100. These lamps offer a wide range of motion, different wireless charging systems, and a digital display. You can easily get unique features, but still, you won't be spending much.

Premium

There's no limit to the features you can get when your budget can stretch a little. At above £100, you can look forward to features such as a lamp head on a ball joint, 360-degrees rotation, colour temperature adjustment, Wi-Fi connectivity, e-reading modes, and many other versatile features.

Closure

Whether you are looking for a chic desk lamp, a night light, or a lamp to brighten up your space, our guide provides you with models to suit your style and budget. These table lamps are guaranteed to provide the task lighting that you need.

You'll find designs that will match your office decor, while others will help improve productivity. We are optimistic that you’ve gained valuable insight into these handy gadgets so that you can make the best choice for your needs. Ready to ace that deadline? Grab one of these lamps and master your grind.