Lighting is one of the most under-considered design elements in any home. It’s also one of the most powerful. The right lamp not only illuminates a room, but it also sets the mood, draws the eye to what matters, and ties the rest of the décor together.
With so many different styles, designs and sizes, it’s important to know the basics. How do you choose between a ceiling lamp, a floor lamp or a table lamp? How do you know how much lighting a living space needs? We have a few tips to help you choose the right lamp for your home.
Key takeaway: Most well-lit rooms use at least three light sources at different heights (ceiling, mid-level, and floor or table). One overhead fixture rarely does the whole job, no matter how nice it is.
How do you choose the right amount of light for a room?
Size, layout, natural light, and the activities that happen in the space all affect how much (and what kind of) lighting you need. Kitchens generally call for more light. Bedrooms generally call for less.
Before deciding what kind of lamp to buy, figure out two things: how much light the room needs, and what purpose that light needs to serve.
What are the different types of lighting?
Designers typically break lighting into five categories. Most well-designed rooms include at least three of them.
What is natural lighting?
Light that occurs naturally during daylight hours. This is the baseline, and it shifts the rest of your lighting decisions. A room with lots of windows needs less artificial ambient light during the day, but may still need task and accent lighting at night.
What is ambient lighting?
Ambient lighting (also called general lighting) provides uniform, overall illumination in a room. Most homes deliver this through ceiling lamps, wall sconces, table lamps, or floor lamps. It’s the background layer everything else builds on.
What is task lighting?
Task lighting is illumination specific to an activity, like reading in a study, completing paperwork in an office, or food prep on a kitchen counter. These activities all benefit from focused, brighter light directly on the work surface.
What is accent lighting?
Accent lighting (sometimes called focal lighting) creates atmosphere or draws attention to something specific, like artwork, a plant, or an architectural feature. Picture lights and adjustable spotlights are common accent fixtures.
What is decorative lighting?
Decorative lamps function more as ornaments than illumination. They reflect personal style and round out a room’s design, but don’t emit much light on their own. Think of them as sculptures that happen to glow.
Pro tip: A common designer principle is to layer at least three types of light in every room: ambient, task, and accent. This avoids the “single overhead fixture” trap, where one ceiling light tries to do the work of three.
What are the main types of lamps?
Once you’ve thought through your lighting needs, narrow down which kinds of lamps will work best for your space. In many rooms, you’ll combine multiple types.
What types of table lamps are there?
What is an accent lamp?
Accent lamps provide ambient lighting while making a personal statement. Their main purpose is to reinforce your design theme.
What is a reading lamp?
Reading lamps provide a brightly focused light that can be directed at a book, making reading easier even in a fairly well-lit room.
What is a desk lamp?
For daily work like typing on a computer, paying bills, or attending virtual meetings, desk lamps provide ample lighting while taking up minimal space.
What is a buffet lamp?
Usually used in pairs, buffet lamps sit on the ends of sideboards, consoles, or serving tables. They’re tall and thin, so they don’t get in the way while guests are serving themselves, and they add a touch of elegance to any dinner gathering.
What types of floor lamps are there?
What is a tree floor lamp?
Tree floor lamps feature a main body that branches into three or more arms. Each arm can adjust independently to direct light in different directions, making them a flexible choice for living rooms or reading corners.
What is an arc floor lamp?
Arc floor lamps have a long curving arm that arches from a heavy base. They’re a great fit for modern spaces and are often used as overhead lighting above lounge areas with multiple chairs, sofas, or sectionals.
What is a console (or shaded) floor lamp?
These tall lamps feature statuesque bodies, typically paired with drum lamp shades. They’re great for providing ambient lighting and work well next to a sofa or accent chair.
What is a torchiere floor lamp?
Torchiere floor lamps are similar to standard shaded floor lamps with one key difference: their inverted shades push light upward, diffusing it across the ceiling.
What types of ceiling lamps are there?
What is a chandelier?
Chandeliers feature multiple light sources hanging from or surrounding a central stem affixed to the ceiling. They can be hung at different lengths and work in living rooms, bedrooms, or over dining tables.
What is a pendant light?
Pendant lights use a single bulb and tend to hang lower than chandeliers. They can be hung individually or grouped (often in twos or threes over kitchen islands or dining tables).
What is track lighting?
Track or rail lighting consists of individual fixtures with pivoting arms mounted along a metal track that’s either fixed to or suspended from the ceiling. The directional arms make track lighting ideal for task lighting or accent lighting.
How do you choose a lamp style?
The style of your lamp should reflect the room’s overall theme. Lighting is often the finishing touch that highlights every other decorative element in a space. Think of a lamp as another piece of art. It needs to flow, match the surrounding design, and feel right.
That’s why both the base and the shade matter. Each plays a role in how a lamp reads in the room.
How do you choose a lamp base?
Have fun with the base. Lamps are a great way to bring personality and color into a space. If you choose a patterned base with lots of color, pair it with a more neutral shade. If your room already has plenty of patterns and color elsewhere, lean toward a more neutral lamp base.
How do you choose the right size lamp shade?
The shade should complement the base without overpowering it. The two most common rules of thumb:
- The shade should be roughly twice as wide as the lamp base. A 6-inch base pairs well with a shade at least 12 inches wide.
- The shade should be roughly one-third the total height of the lamp. If the total lamp height (base, bulb, and harp) is 24 inches, the shade should be about 8 inches tall.
Key takeaway: A lamp that looks “off” usually has a shade-to-base mismatch. The two-thirds and one-third rules are the easiest way to fix it without measuring everything from scratch.
Where should you place lamps in a room?
Lamp placement depends on the layout. A breakfast nook may only need one source of light, while a kitchen will likely need layered lighting to feel balanced.
A few placement tips:
- Position lamps to radiate light inward, toward the center of the room.
- Place floor lamps behind televisions to prevent screen glare.
- Place reading lamps to the side of a reading chair, not directly behind, so the light falls on the page.
- Give lamps enough breathing room. Avoid stacking multiple lamps too close together.
- Avoid placing table or floor lamps in heavily trafficked walkways.
Frequently asked questions
How many lumens do I need for a living room?
A general guideline is 1,500 to 3,000 total lumens for a living room, distributed across multiple light sources. Bedrooms need around 1,000 to 2,000 lumens, while kitchens generally call for 5,000 to 10,000 because of task work. The exact number depends on room size and natural light.
What’s the difference between a chandelier and a pendant light?
A chandelier has multiple light sources arranged around a central stem. A pendant uses a single bulb and hangs from one cord or rod. Pendants are often used in groups (especially over kitchen islands), while chandeliers tend to stand alone as a centerpiece.
How high should a chandelier hang above a dining table?
The bottom of the chandelier should sit about 30 to 36 inches above the surface of the dining table. For taller ceilings (above 8 feet), add about 3 inches of clearance for every additional foot of ceiling height.
What size table lamp do I need for a side table?
A common rule is that the lamp shade should sit roughly at eye level when you’re seated next to it. For most side tables, that means a lamp 24 to 30 inches tall total. The shade should also be no wider than the table itself.
Should bedroom lamps match?
They don’t have to. Matching nightstand lamps create a clean, symmetrical look, but coordinated (not identical) lamps can feel more curated and personal. As long as they’re roughly the same height and brightness, mismatched bases work fine.
Can you put LED bulbs in any lamp?
In most cases, yes. Modern LED bulbs come in shapes that fit standard sockets and work in most lamps designed for incandescent bulbs. Just check the lamp’s max wattage rating and confirm the bulb is dimmable if you’re using it with a dimmer switch.
How do you layer lighting in a room?
Combine three layers: ambient (overall room light, like a ceiling fixture), task (focused light for activities, like a reading lamp), and accent (decorative or directional, like a picture light). Each layer should be controlled independently when possible, ideally on separate switches or dimmers.
What’s the right wattage for a bedside lamp?
For reading, look for bulbs in the 60-watt incandescent equivalent range (about 800 lumens for LED). Anything brighter can feel harsh in a bedroom; anything dimmer makes reading uncomfortable.
Ready to find the right lamp?
Lighting is one of the most rewarding design decisions you’ll make for your home. The right combination of ceiling, floor, and table lamps can transform a space without changing a single piece of furniture. Browse El Dorado Furniture’s full selection of decorative lamps to find pieces that fit your style.