LED Table Lamps

What integrated LED means for a table lamp

Every lamp in this range has its LED built in. Instead of a bulb pushed or screwed into a holder, the LED is a module fitted inside the lamp, so there is no bulb to buy for it and none to change. Because the LED needs no bulb holder, the light can sit in a slim metal frame or glow from behind glass or alabaster.

That changes how you choose. The light comes with the lamp, so check its colour temperature and whether it dims before you buy, because you cannot change the LED for a warmer or dimmable one later. A few of our lamps also take a small screw-in bulb.

Rechargeable and cordless LED table lamps

Many of our LED table lamps are rechargeable, with the battery built into the lamp. Once charged, they run without a cable, so you can light the middle of a dining table, a shelf or a bedside table with no socket nearby, then carry the lamp to another room. Some come with a charging base, so you simply set the lamp down to charge it.

Before you choose, look at how a lamp charges and how long it runs between charges, and think about how often you are happy to charge it. Some are rated for outdoor use, so check a lamp's rating if you would like it to light a garden table as well.

LED bedside lamps and living-room lamps

Most of our lamps suit a bedroom, and most suit a living room too. By the bed, choose a lamp whose shade sits at about chin height when you are sitting up, so the light falls on your book rather than into your eyes. A warm white you can dim is gentler for late reading, and a matching lamp either side keeps a double bed balanced.

In a living room, a table lamp on a side table or sideboard adds a low pool of light that makes the room feel softer than a ceiling light alone. Many also suit a dining room or a study. Some are adjustable, which lets you aim the light at a page or a keyboard.

Dimming and touch controls on LED table lamps

Many of our lamps are dimmable and many are not, so if dimming matters, look for it in a lamp's specification before you buy. Some dim at a touch of the lamp itself, which is handy in the dark. A few have a dimmer on the cable, so the control can rest on the bedside table within reach. A touch dimmer may step through set brightness levels rather than dimming smoothly, which matters if you like to fine-tune the light.

A lamp that is not dimmable should not go on a plug-in dimmer, and a lamp with its own dimmer is best dimmed with that.

Warm or cool white from an LED table lamp

Colour temperature, measured in kelvin, tells you how warm or cool a light looks. The lower the number, the warmer the light. Most of our LED table lamps give a warm white, many of them at 3000K, which suits bedrooms and living rooms. A lower figure such as 2700K looks warmer still, closer to the colour of a traditional filament bulb. Some give a cooler white at 4000K, which helps with reading, homework and close work at a desk.

Some let you change the colour temperature, so the same lamp can be warm in the evening and crisper while you work. When in doubt, warm white is the safer choice for a bedside or living-room lamp.

Finishes and materials for LED table lamps

Most of our lamps are modern in style, and we also stock Scandinavian, traditional and industrial designs. We stock lamps in black, white, brass, chrome, gold and silver, with matt, satin, brushed, polished and antique finishes, so you can match a lamp to your door handles, picture frames or other lights.

Most use metal, and we stock lamps in glass, acrylic, fabric and alabaster too. The material decides the kind of light you get: alabaster and fabric glow softly, a metal shade sends light up and down, and clear glass shows off the light inside. Some use marble, which adds weight and natural veining.

Choosing the right LED table lamp

Start with where the lamp will go and what it needs to do. A lamp you read by should send its light down onto the page, while a lamp that sets the mood can glow outwards through its shade. Then think about power: a lamp that plugs in suits a fixed spot by a socket, while a rechargeable one is better if you want to move it.

Check the size, too: the lamp should look in proportion to its table and leave room for a book and a glass of water. Brass and gold sit well with warm woods and traditional pieces, while black, white and chrome suit a modern scheme. If you are unsure, get in touch and we will help you choose.