Everything is Illuminated

Capable of casting a warm glow or shining as bright as high noon, a lamp can define a space and give it character. Looking to set the mood for a night in? Need a direct beam for your nighttime reading? We plugged in, turned on, and tested out an array of lamps, from a futuristic LED to a retro walnut model, to see how they shine.

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  Table Light

  • Designed by: Iacoli & McAllister
  • Price: $198.00

  Pros: It’s short and squat, but this lamp's stubby looks—matte black shade, oiled oak legs, and aqua cord—grew on us. Changing bulbs is a breeze—just reach in from the top. The design also accommodates LEDs, which are often awkwardly sized. Just keep ’em at 75 watts or under.
  
  Cons: This was our favorite lamp of the group. Too bad it takes four weeks to get. Each one is made by hand in Iacoli & McAllister’s two-person Seattle studio

• 

  Rook Lamp

  • Designed by: Blu Dot
  • Price: $199.00

  Pros: The linen shade and the chunky walnut base channel a mid-century vibe while bringing it up to date. You can also tilt the base to balance on one leg. Two lamps in one!
  
  The cord reaches a length of 80 inches—handy if your outlets are few or far between.
  
  Cons: When poised on a single leg, the Rook is a bit unstable.
  
  Rook takes up a lot of space, both in height and width, and would domineer small bedside tables or desks. Reserve for roomier perches.

• 

  Lean Table Lamp

  • Designed by: Tom Dixon
  • Price: $380.00-445.00

  Pros: Minimal and restrained, this sand–cast iron design comes in pitch-black or glossy, fire-engine red.
  
  A small divot at the base accommodates the cord, ensuring that the lamp sits flat and doesn’t wobble.
  
  Cons: The Lean only accommodates small bulbs up to 40 watts, which left us craving more light. Good for bedside reading or burning the midnight oil, but not for brightening bigger spaces.

• 

  Panthella Lamp

  • Designed by: Verner Panton
  • Made by: Louis Poulsen
  • Price: $628.00

  Pros: Danish designer Verner Panton conceived Panthella in 1971 and it’s still chic as ever:
  a little mod and a little Saarinen.
  
  A soft, luminous glow emanates from the hemispherical shade, which appears to hover over a slim tapered stem.
  
  Cons: $628 feels like a lot to spend on a lamp that’s entirely plastic (even if it is made of extra-strong ABS).
  
  Considering the price, we’d like to see more features, like a dimmer or three-way switch.

• 

  Tube Top Colors

  • Designed by: Peter Stathis
  • Made by: Pablo Designs
  • Price: $110.00

  Pros: It’s affordable, dimmable, and available in six jewel-toned hues: yellow, red, hot pink, navy blue, sky blue, and bright green.
  
  Cons: The top-heavy design is unstable and tips over easily.
  
  Though the acrylic base is virtually shatterproof, the white mesh shade is a magnet for smudges and dings.

• 

  F/K/A Lamp

  • Designed by: Atelier Takagi
  • Made by: Mattermade
  • Price: $1,800.00

  Pros: An attractive energy-efficient lamp on the market! An LED bulb illuminates
  the F/K/A.
  
  The design is pleasantly eccentric: The pull is reminiscent of a vintage library light, and a colorful cord snakes through one of the legs.
  
  Cons: The brass plating is a beacon for fingerprints and scratches. Opt for the powder-coated version instead.
  
  The opaque steel shade channels light directly downward—fine for a desk or as an accent, but don’t expect beams to reach every dark corner.

• 

  Bright 1

  • Made by: Artek
  • Price: $735.00

  Pros: If you desire maximum luminosity from a minimalist design, this one’s for you.
  
  Who says design can’t do a body good? Bright 1 is certified for bright-light therapy—a treatment for insomnia, depression, and seasonal affective disorder—and will look much better in your living room than most therapeutic lamps on the market.
  
  Cons: This. Lamp. Will. Get. Bright. It’s blinding at its highest setting. Use the dimmer switch to dial it down a notch.

• 

  Snoopy Lamp

  • Designed by: Achille Castiglioni
  • Price: $924.00

  Pros: Is it a Goomba from Super Mario Bros.? A strange breed of mushroom? Castiglioni’s striking 1967 marble, glass, and metal design is a surefire conversation starter.
  
  It’s versatile: Focused light emanates below, while the holes in its top disperse a gentle glow.
  
  Cons: The Snoopy's finicky touch-sensitive three-way dimmer is difficult to master. When we tried to dim the light, a gentle tap often sent us into the dark. Our frustrations were enough to warrant a Clapper.