Types of Table Lamps | MyHomeLamps

Table lamps have long been firmly integrated into our daily lives. The need for local lighting arose in man many centuries ago. At first, before the discovery of electricity, it was due to the technical difficulty of lighting the entire living space. At that time, people used oil lamps, which, in fact, can be considered the ancestor of the modern tabletop models. Gradually, technology has evolved, the human environment was changing, and the need for individual lighting fixtures was only getting stronger. And it spurred manufacturers to develop more and more new options. As a result, today the market offers, perhaps, the maximum variety of table lamps. On the one hand it is good because it is freedom of choice, possibility to find optimal solution for any task. On the other hand, such abundance complicates this choice. Buyers can be difficult to understand what nuances to pay attention to, what are the features of lighting fixtures, which version is best for what tasks. To help you understand the varieties of table lamps is called to our new article.

Classification by Purpose

The main task of all such lamps is the same – to create a comfortable local lighting, in which it will be convenient to perform certain activities. However, if we understand the purpose of using floor lamps, we can divide them into 2 main groups:

decorative – these are models in which the key importance is not the characteristics of the created lighting, but the design execution. They are used to complement and decorate the interior, placed on tables in recreation areas, in living rooms, etc. Such lamps, as a rule, have a spectacular design and can be made of expensive materials. When choosing a decorative lamp, you should pay attention to the fact that it is in harmony with the surrounding space with its color, shape, decorative elements and other nuances;
practical. Such table lamps are used precisely for effective local lighting of the desktop, study corner, etc. In these models, the key is their functionality and luminescence parameters. As a rule, they allow you to adjust the direction of the light flux, ergonomic and relatively compact, so they take up minimal space on the desk. Moreover, the lamp can be placed practically outside the table top – these are the lamps on the clamp.

So, when choosing a desk lamp, you should first of all decide for what purpose you plan to buy it. It is also necessary to consider that some options can combine a high practicality and noble appearance. For example, flexible office lamps can have a respectable bronze color with patina.

Types of Table Lamp Mounts

According to the method of placement, these devices are divided into the following types:

Traditional. Such lamps are simply installed on the tabletop on a built-in stand and do not require any additional mounting. This allows you to freely choose a place for them on the table, as well as to put them on nightstands, in niches, etc. In addition, all the electrical stuffing is placed in the base, which provides a low center of gravity and, accordingly, high stability. In this form can be made lights in a variety of styles – both strict classical and conceptual solutions;
on the clamp. This is one of the most popular ways of mounting office lamps. Mounting is made of plastic or metal and fixed with a special screw that firmly presses the clamp to the table top. And the lamp is placed on the edge of the table top, thanks to which it almost does not take up any useful space. Flexible or swivel base lets you get the most comfortable lighting – you can fix the lamp in the most comfortable position such as directly above a keyboard or a book;
on a clothespin. A simplified version of a clothespin. The surface of the clothespin is pressed to the edge of the tabletop by the resistance of a metal spring. This method of fastening is less strong, so it is usually used for compact and relatively light lamps. At the same time, the possibilities of using clothespin lamps are wider than those of the clip-on lamps. They can be fixed not only on the tabletop, but also, for example, on a book, on a shelf above the desk, etc.;
on a suction cup. This option of attachment is suitable for the most compact fixtures with a minimum of details. Often they take the form of a round suction cup mount, a flexible thin base and an LED plafond. The advantages of this type of fixture is that it can be placed on the wall, the surface of a cabinet or shelving unit. This is especially convenient if the desk area is too small.

Some models combine several mounting options. For example, lamps equipped with a clothespin can have a special attachment with a flat base and a slot to connect it to the main mount. If you click the clothespin on it, the lamp turns into a classic version on a stand.

Variants of Light Sources Used

An important characteristic of table lamps is the type of bulbs installed in them:

Incandescent bulbs – the classic version, used for decades. They create a warm, comfortable light, but they consume quite a lot of energy and get very hot;
LED bulbs – a more modern alternative to the previous type. They have similar bases, but with the same power of luminescence consume significantly less energy and last several times longer;
Halogen lamps provide a smooth and yet a powerful light flux, do not flicker and therefore do not tire the eyes;
fluorescent tube lamps. Their glow is comfortable for the eye, when they work almost does not heat up and consumes little power. Such bulbs are installed, as a rule, in office fixtures on a string with elongated plafonds;
Built-in LEDs – miniature light sources, which, in spite of their size, create a powerful glow. Widely used in decorative table lamps. Another advantage of LED lamps – a wide gradation of glow temperature by RGB-palette. And some models allow you to change the color of light, both manually and automatically.

A popular option – LED lamps. They have an optimal balance of economy, durability and light output, but their cost is significantly higher than classical variants. The most technological option is LED-lights with built-in diodes, which can be made in many different shapes and sizes. However, such light sources are often not replaceable, which is partly compensated for by their long service life.

Corded and Battery-Powered Lamps

If you do not plan to move the lamp from one place to another, it is worth giving preference to the classic version, powered from the mains. Its main advantage is a simpler design and an attractive price. However, the required supply voltage differs depending on the type of lamp used:

incandescent and fluorescent lamps require the standard household mains voltage of 220 V;
LED models require 24 V, so in most cases they require a special power supply that converts the standard voltage to the required level.

A more practical option might be a desk lamp equipped with a rechargeable battery. It can be absolutely freely placed on the table, since it is not tied to an electrical outlet. In addition, such a lamp can simply be taken and moved to another room, used to illuminate the recreation area on the balcony or loggia, to take out into the gazebo in the countryside, etc. In addition, the self-contained lamp can be used as an emergency source of light at an unexpected power outage in the house. Necessary for a sufficiently long run, the energy charge is accumulated in the built-in battery. The disadvantages of such lights can include a significantly higher cost and a limited battery life, designed for a certain number of charge-discharge cycles.

Table Lamps With Additional Functions

A separate category of lamps are models that combine several possibilities of practical use. Here are just some of the options for such a functional synthesis:

Lamps with an integrated information panel. It displays various information such as date and time, room temperature, humidity, etc. There are sensors in the luminaire design to monitor the microclimate parameters;
models with a ring plafond and magnifying glass. They are popular among fans of modeling, radio amateurs, people working with various complex electronics. The plafond of such lamps is made in the form of a ring, the interior of which is closed by a magnifying glass, and is placed on a flexible leg. This allows you to direct the light flux directly into the work area and at the same time to get more control over the work performed;
mirror lamps. Such devices are very popular among the fair sex, because they greatly simplify the process of applying makeup. The main surface area of the flat lamp is occupied by the mirror. Additionally there may be areas-lenses, which multiply the reflection. The lighting is placed around the perimeter of the mirror and provides a bright and even illumination of the face;
lamps-organizers. This option is suitable for a desk of a schoolboy or student, as well as for a workplace in the office. In the base of such lamps is a receptacle for office supplies;
desk lamps with a surface for notes. You can buy this model as an alternative to the traditional sticker-reminder block. Lamp holder is covered by a flat white plastic on which you can write with special erasable felt-tip pens. Thanks to the internal illumination, the reminder will be contrasting after the lamp is turned on.

It should be noted here that each additional feature increases the cost of the lamp. And if adding a panel for notes affects the cost insignificantly, then additional electronic functions, such as clock or thermometer, significantly raise the price of the device.

Types of Switches

This is also quite an important feature of table lamps, on which depends the convenience of using them. The market offers the following variants of switches:

A corded switch. A classic version, which can be inconvenient if the wire is lowered behind the table, behind the headboard, etc. At the same time, this design allows you to make the base of the light as simple and light as possible;
The switch-button on the lamp body. It is convenient to use this variant when the lamp is on a table near you or at arm’s length. But in this case the lamp base becomes more massive because the electronic control device is located in it;
dimmer. With this device, the operation of the lamp is not regulated by 2 polar states “off” and “on”, but with the ability to smoothly change the voltage and, therefore, the intensity of the light. This allows you to get both a bright, saturated light of the working lamp and a dimmed glow of the nightlight;
touch panel. The most technologically advanced switch that responds to touch. The use of sensors is relevant for stylish lamps, the design concept of which does not suit the traditional options. In addition, this mechanism eliminates the possibility of a short circuit and is characterized by increased durability due to the absence of moving elements. However, the cost of touch panels is also significantly higher.

What Else are the Differences Between Table Lamps

Such lamps can also be divided into types by many other criteria:

by style of execution – it should be chosen so as not to disturb the harmony of the interior design;
by the way the design of the lamp socket. It can be closed by a lampshade or plafond, there are also variants without any decoration of the lamp holder;
the characteristics of the lampshade, which can have different shapes and sizes, made of different materials, with or without lining.

The main thing you should pay attention to when choosing a table lamp – is its compliance with the purpose for which you buy it. With this in mind, all the additional parameters are chosen.