Table Lamp Materials & Styles

Matching your lighting with your decor

Lighting is frequently the most overlooked aspect of successful home décor. Having every perfect furniture piece in the right place is of little benefit if your guests perceive your home through lighting that is inadequate or poorly placed.

Taking the time to shop for different table lamp materials & styles can help you acquire lighting that is both functional and appropriately decorative.

Ceramic table lamps

Ceramic materials are some of the oldest in the history of home furnishings. The word ceramic comes from the Greek keramikos, or "having to do with pottery."

Greek ceramics 3,000 years ago were highly decorative and often painted, and the same is true of modern ceramic table lamps. The natural materials used in ceramic table lamps are typically accentuated by geometric shapes or depictions of nature, such as birds, flowers, or trees. Asian or Japanese influences can also be seen in the decoration of ceramic table lamps.

Ceramic table lamps are a great choice for those who believe that lighting sources should be more than just functional.

Contemporary table lamps

The phrase contemporary table lamps refers more to style than materials. Contemporary table lamps are often seen in art deco style home decors, and vary widely in form and color, though white, chrome, silver, and black are commonly used.

Exposed bulbs, sleek, slim, and angular lines, eye-catching and sometimes distorted shapes, and an emphasis on appearance over function are typical qualities of contemporary table lamps.

Contemporary table lamps are for designers who want boldness with their beauty.

Crystal table lamps

Crystal table lamps tend to be more ornate in appearance and classic in design than other table lamps. Colors vary widely, from white to blue, red, green, lavender, and orange.

Crystal table lamps will often feature scrollwork, bell shaped shades, and hanging crystal pendants. Some shades may incorporate floral patterns or a feathered eyelash trim. Crystal table lamps can also be found in antiquarian candelabra styles.

Also, crystal table lamps are appropriate for richly ornamented rooms or decors that emphasize antiques and traditional forms.

Neon table lamps

Neon table lamps are commonly referred to as neon sculptures because unlike normal table lamps it is the neon itself that provides the light rather than a shaded bulb. Neon table lamps thus tend to be more decorative than functional.

A popular use of neon table lamps is to provide ambience around a pool table, home bar, or recreation room. Bedrooms and college dorms are also likely locations for neon table lamps. Most neon table lamps are formed into representative or abstract shapes, or spell out single words such as bar or open.

Tiffany table lamps

Tiffany table lamps are similar to crystal table lamps in that they are typically ornate and highly decorative in appearance, but the unique appeal of Tiffany table lamps is their shades made of colorful stained glass.

The shades on Tiffany table lamps are made of hundreds of handcut glass pieces set within copper foil, and are usually arranged in bright and natural shapes such as dragonflies or flowers.

Because they are so colorful, Tiffany table lamps will attract more attention than standard table lamps. Tiffany table lamps are likely best used as decorative conversation pieces than as primary lighting sources.

More information on table lamps