Desk lamps quick picks
Versatile desk lamp: BenQ WiT e-Reading Desk Lamp
Desk lamp with wireless charging: Brightech Ezra LED Task Lamp With Wireless Charger
Budget-friendly desk lamp: Ikea Fors? Work Lamp
Smart desk lamp: Dyson Solarcycle Morph Desk Light
Space-saving desk lamp: West Elm Liam Table Lamp
Desk lamps have come a long way from the traditional-style tabletop banker’s lamps (although those lights are timeless and we won’t hear a bad word about them). Nowadays, many of the best desk lamps have advanced features like adjustable brightness and color temperature settings; some even have wireless charging bases for smartphones. And they come in many different shapes, sizes and designs to suit all furniture and decor styles and budgets.
As an essential part of your office setup, the desk lamp you choose should be easy to use and nice to look at. “To us, the best desk lamp would be one that fits your style and needs,” says Jamie Hord, the founder of Horderly Professional Organizing. “Think about how much light you’ll want and what kind of light. Also keep in mind your desk space, as you might want a desk lamp that takes up little room so you can have more space to work.”
There are also more practical features to look for. “Outside of a lamp that aligns with your design aesthetic, selecting a lamp with a stable base and a head that is movable or can tilt is ideal,” says Heidi Solomon, interior decorator, professional organizer and the founder of Posh-Boston. “For the best lighting, you want to select a lamp that shines wide and even light, is flicker-free and doesn’t have glare.”
Keep reading for expert tips on how to choose the best one for your space and a look at some of the best desk lamps to make your workspace shine.
What to look for in a desk lamp
To choose the best desk lamp for your needs, there are several things you’ll have to think about.
Functionality
“The main purpose of a desk lamp is to provide task lighting for activities that require focused light, such as reading, writing, computer work and sewing,” says professional organizer Anita Fortes of A Neater Life. A good desk lamp will offer the functionality required for your tasks. This can include varying brightness levels, dimming ability and color temperature adjustment. The more perks, however, the higher the cost, so think about what is most important to you when it comes to features and budget and choose accordingly.
Construction and design
Your desk lamp should be sturdy and made from durable materials like aluminum, steel or brass. Some plastic, composite and wooden lamps are also quite hardy, but you’ll want to make sure they’re well made. As they’re available in a wide range of styles, sizes and materials, a desk lamp (just like a floor lamp) can also add a decorative element to your desk or office space.
Adjustability
Being able to adjust your desk lamp’s height and angle is important when working. A flexible or adjustable arm and/or head will help you direct the light as required. “It should be easy to adjust the height and angle and it should hold its angled position firmly,” Fortes says.
Size
Your desk lamp should not overpower your desk and room. “The size of your workspace will influence the size of the desk lamp you need to buy,” Fortes says. “For example, large desk spaces typically require more illumination, so a bigger lamp will be needed.” On the other end of the scale, if you have limited desk space, you’ll want a space-saving lamp or one that comes with a desk clamp so it’s off your workspace entirely.
Speaking of clamps, if you do go for this kind of lamp, check that the desk’s surface is the correct thickness for the clamp size. If you choose a lamp with a base, a sturdy and solid base (perhaps one that’s weighted) will keep it firmly in place, even when you’re making adjustments.
Adjustable brightness
A lamp with the correct brightness level and light coverage will provide a better working environment by improving your visibility and reducing eye strain and discomfort. A desk lamp’s brightness should be anywhere from 450 to 800 lumens, which will provide enough light for reading, writing and computer work without being too bright.
“The best lamps don’t just turn on and off; they allow for brightness adjustment as the ambient lighting levels change,” Fortes says. To adjust the light’s brightness, some models have a manual dimming function, but some of the more advanced (and pricier) options have auto-dimming technology that will adjust the brightness depending on the level of light in your room.
Color temperature
Along with brightness, some desk lamps allow for color temperature adjustment to enhance functionality. “Color temperature describes the level of warmness or coolness of light,” Fortes says. “A temperature can be selected to create the right ‘mood’ to match the activity; you might choose a warm white light for a relaxing read or a cooler temperature for a more focused task.” A bulb with a color rendering index (CRI) of 80 or higher will make colors look accurate and vibrant under the light, which is especially important for detailed tasks.
Extra features
The more affordable lamps on the market will be fairly basic in design. They’ll have an on/off switch and not much else in terms of advanced features. If you like a multitasking product, many higher-end desk lamps come with a bunch of extra features. “Some include USB charging ports so you can charge devices quickly and easily, while others are light and foldable, making them easy to transport from place to place,” Fortes says.
There are also wireless battery-operated lamps that don’t need to be plugged into an electrical outlet, giving you more freedom and flexibility in where you work, and still others have smartphone app integration and work with smart bulbs.
Switch location
We’ve all been there: rummaging around in the dark to find the lamp’s switch on the cord and getting frustrated in the process. To avoid this, Fortes suggests looking for a lamp with the on/off switch located somewhere on the actual body of the lamp and not on the power cord, which can be tricky to reach. “This is especially relevant if the power cord hangs at the back of the desk,” she says.
Best desk lamps
With their minimalist, universal design and intelligent controls, BenQ lamps are at the forefront of smart light technology. The best desk lamp, according to Fortes, is the BenQ WiT e-Reading Desk Lamp. “It’s highly adjustable and tall enough to use with a desktop,” she says. It has advanced light technology to reduce screen glare and provide a wide, even lighting range. It also features automatic brightness and color adjustment, thanks to its ambient sensor that detects its surroundings and brightens or dims as needed.
This 2-in-1 task lamp from Brightech doubles as a wireless phone charger. It has a petite, slender design that saves space (and helps keep your desk clutter-free). This reasonably priced and energy-efficient desk lamp has adjustable arms, a swiveling head and multiple brightness settings. With two minimal and equally pretty options — gold with black accents and black with gold accents —?this pick will suit many different office decor styles.
For those on a tighter budget, Fortes recommends this cute little desk lamp from Ikea. “I can vouch for this affordable retro-looking lamp, as I have one,” she says. “It has a good weight to it and a sturdy design — impressive considering the low price.” The lamp is available in three different finishes: matte Beige, shiny Nickel Plated and Turquoise (which is more of a medium-gray). It has an adjustable head and neck, and it provides excellent value for the money.
By far the most high-tech desk lamp we’ve come across, Dyson’s Solarcycle Morph can swivel and bend in every direction and angle, allowing you to illuminate exactly where and what you want (you might even be able to retire your ring light). With its built-in sensors, this genius, eye-friendly lamp can change its light color and intensity to match natural daylight based on its surroundings and your activities. It has a sleek and modern design and can be controlled via the MyDyson app. It’s expensive, but this multipurpose lamp learns your behaviors (sleep, work, etc.) and adjusts itself accordingly, providing both task and ambient lighting for every occasion.
Willing to splurge on a gorgeous desk lamp that you can keep forever? “For a traditional setting, I’d suggest the Graves Task Lamp,” Solomon says. “It’s a beautiful lamp with several adjustment areas and a weighted rectangle base.” This sophisticated and functional lamp from designer Suzanne Kasler has a pivoting head with a linen shade to focus and diffuse light. It’s available in three colors (Bronze, Polished Nickel and Hand-Rubbed Antique Brass) and can instantly elevate any desk space.
When desk space is limited, the last thing you need is a hefty lamp getting in your way. “West Elm’s Liam Table Lamp is a great example of a style that takes up very little space,” Hord says. This vertical lamp has a tiny footprint; its base will only occupy 3 inches of your desktop. It’s super stylish with an industrial-style mix of wood and metal, and the head has a wide pivoting range for an adjustable beam.
Another way to save precious desk space is by choosing a lamp with a clamp. This LED desk lamp attaches to the edge of your desk to free up your workspace. It has adjustable arms and a swivel head, and there are multiple brightness levels and color temperatures so you can use it for reading, working or relaxing. It’s practical, sleek and long-lasting, thanks to its LED lights.
For lighting you can adjust according to your exact needs, Solomon is a fan of the Artemide Tolomeo desk lamp, especially for a contemporary or modern setting. “It comes in micro, mini and standard sizes and is visually on point and classic,” she says. The lamp has a fully adjustable multi-armed body and tilted head, and a weighted base to keep it steady.
Despite its impressively low price, Honeywell’s LED desk lamp has a lot going for it. “This is a good value LED desk lamp with a host of features,” Fortes says. “It has brightness and color temperature control, doesn’t flicker and absorbs blue light to keep eyes protected.” This dimmable model’s head can pivot a full 180 degrees, transforming it into a totally vertical lamp. It even has a dual charging port so you don’t have to find a wall plug to charge your devices.
If you work on a laptop and often find yourself flitting from the desk to the couch and back again, a portable lamp might be best for you. The Philips Hue Go Smart is a rechargeable and cordless lamp that can be controlled from the Hue app on your phone or your voice assistant. If you have other Philips smart products, you can add this lamp to your Philips Hue ecosystem too. There are literally millions of colors and countless white light shades to choose from, as well as preset light scenes. It can even sync with music, movies and games for a totally fun and immersive experience.
