A few weeks ago, a friend mentioned that she was having a hard time choosing a desk lamp. When it comes to size, how do you know what\'s right? What style should I buy? These are great questions and I\'m guessing she\'s not the only one wondering about this topic, so I thought I\'d put together a little guide to provide some guidance!

How to choose the right desk lamp? You need to find a professional table lamp manufacturer.

There are some good general rules of thumb that apply to almost all desk lamps, which are a great place to start when you\'re looking for one:

1. Height is determined by both function and countertop/surface height. You\'ll usually want to select a table or surface first and then determine the height of the lamp. My preferred range is about 24-28 inches, depending on location.

2. If you are sitting next to the lamp, the bottom of the lampshade should be at the same height as your eyes. This ensures the bulb doesn\'t shine into your eyes, but is at a perfect height for reading and providing ambient light!

3. When considering overall proportions, lights should be proportional to the surface on which they sit. Generally, a bigger surface = bigger light. There are limitations to this logic, but when in doubt, go with a bigger light. It\'s important to pay attention to the size of the shade and base - make sure they\'re not too big or hanging too far over the edge of the table, but you don\'t want it to look small, either. In general, the height of the lampshade should be approximately 33-40% of the base\'s width and two times its height.

4. Finding the right style is an art form and may require some trial and error - think carefully about the overall style of the room and go from there. Is there a statement you would like it to make?  Do you want it to be a focal point or a supporting role?

In spite of the fact that there are always exceptions to every “design rule”, you can never go wrong if you follow these guidelines - they will lead you in the right direction every single time!

Notes on lamp quality

At every price point, there is a wide variety of options. You can spend $100 (or less!) on a desk lamp or hundreds of dollars, so how do you know what you\'re getting? It\'s not always easy to tell what the quality is when you look at it online.

I think proportions are a big factor in whether a lamp looks good or is cheap. You can find quality fixtures at affordable prices if you have the right proportions, but you usually have to sift through a large number of lower-quality fixtures at lower prices. As with many things in the world of interior design, the price often correlates with better design. I don’t think you have to spend a fortune on beautiful lights!

A good shade goes a long way too. The shade is what I think makes a lot of lamps look cheap. Finding one that complements the shape of the base and is the right size is key. If you find a lamp base that you like, but the shade doesn\'t feel "right", just replace it!

No matter your lighting budget, a good fixture should look well-proportioned, match the style of your room perfectly, and provide the right amount of light.

My favorite place to find quality table lamps

When you search for table lamps, your search terms should be as specific as possible. Depending on what you\'re looking for, you can narrow your search based on color, material, or even height. There are a lot of people there, I know! If you\'re not sure, look for some inspiration on Pinterest to see what you like that matches your style. The characteristics of these lamps are then described to allow for a more targeted search.

Budget-friendly:

• American Carpet Association
• Target (but beware of small lights - always mind the size!)
• Lamps Plus

Mid-range:

• Crate & Barrel

• CB2

• One King\'s Lane

• Rejuvenation

High end:

• Selena&Lily

• Lulu&Georgia

• Perigold

• Circa Lighting

12 favorite desk lamps

First row: cream lamp, gray lamp, beige lamp, white lamp (as shown in the photo at the top of the post)

Row 2: brass + rattan lamp, green lamp, white lamp, gray lamp

Row 3: black light, white light, blue light, cream light

This table lamp review has all the characteristics of a “good” table lamp that I mentioned earlier in the post! They have good proportions and a good overall height and can be placed in many places around the house. I\'ve tried to cover a variety of styles and price points here, so I hope they\'ve given you some helpful examples of what to look for in a table lamp.

Use the widget above or the links below to shop them!