The Franklin Iron Works Bronze Turnbuckle LED Desk Lamp was also a previous pick, but it kept going out of stock. Learn more. *At the time of publishing, the price was $130. bedside rozette rago thewirecutter Yet we couldnt deny the appeal of the lamps buttery-smooth movement and its three-in-one adaptability as a task, spot, and ambient light source. If you dont work on closeup tasks at your desk, if you dont feel eye fatigue with your current lighting scheme, and if you dont typically work in the evenings or in the dark (when an adjustable light can help reduce eyestrain), you might not need a desk lamp. We moved some of our previous picksthe Possini Euro Magnum, TaoTronics LED Lamp, and Franklin Iron Works Bronze Turnbuckle LED Lampto our Competition section. We didnt include it as a pick because it toppled often during testing, and several panelists disliked the design. The Nova also has a touch-bar control running along its top arm. But its as basic as they come, sans any dimming or color-temperature options. Melanie Pinola previously covered all things home office as a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. His work can be found at Design Milk, Dwell, Domino, Apartment Therapy, and Airbnb.
A slim, wooden lamp thats portable: With an octagonal base, the Octagon Portable Desk Light has the most unusual design of the lamps we considered, especially if you get it in the natural walnut wood finish. Whether youre reading, dozing, or simply relaxing in bed, the right lighting goes a long way toward creating a soothing atmosphere. And the lamp head obstructed the monitor by about a half-inch, so we had to adapt to the lamp, rather than the other way around. We wanted lamps that would look good on any desk, complement different decor styles, and last a lifetime. At 25 inches high and 15 inches in diameter, this is a pretty big lamp; it looks best on a larger bedside table or dresser top, where its dimensions complement the space. We started our research as most people would: looking at online roundups of lamps (though there arent many that are worthwhile) and combing through the best-seller lists and owner reviews at retailer sites such as Amazon, Wayfair, Target, IKEA, Rejuvenation, and Lamps Plus. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Not everyone liked the look of the lamp in a real-world setting. The Possini Euro Magnum French Bronze LED Desk Lamp was a previous pick in this guide, but it kept going in and out of stock. In 2022, we again sifted through major retailers, but we also increased our budget cap and explored some more-design-oriented options to fit more decor styles. A desk lamp can illuminate the area behind or around your computer display, creating a more comfortable environment for your eyes. We wished the lamp head could also rotate to each side, but the two lamp arms make up for this drawback with gymnast-like flexibility: The first joint of articulation bends 110 degrees, and the second articulation point offers an even more limber 210 degreesallowing for seemingly endless angles for the lamp to shine its light. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Because the clamp needs a 2-inch lip to attach to (adjustable up to 2-inch thickness), not all desks may be able to accommodate the desk attachment without having to be pulled away from a wall. Its more top-heavy than other lamps, which made it less likely to hold its position at certain angles in our tests. Why its great: When looking at the HAY Matin Lamp, I saw a minimalist design evocative of Paris and chinoiserie. The Uplift E7s two-piece power cord is a bit of an eyesore on an otherwise thoughtfully designed lamp. Fashioned after the iconic British spring-armed lamp that has inspired innumerable knockoffs since its introduction, in the 1930s, this half-size update retains all the best features of the original design. Why its great: The Anglepoise 90 Mini Mini Desk Lamp is the most adjustable lamp we tested, and its our top pick for anyone who has to make every bit of available surface space count. One tester said it looked clunky. The light it casts is more of a suggestion than a declaration of illumination. The touch switch makes switching from time to read to time to get into something more comfortable as easy as tapping a smartphone. The newer, nickel-plated version we tested in 2022 is a nicer finish, but its also a fingerprint magnet. The Matins pleated shade illuminates the room with color, even when the lamp is off. Get this if: You want a soft, glare-free, uniform light source that wont tire the eyes and can double as serviceable video-conference lighting. It comes with IKEAs E12 bulb. No room for a full-size desk? Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Mi LED Desk Lamps pared-down, modern design presents more of a desk-lamp feel than that of a traditional bedroom lamp, but the spare dimensions should help it blend into most bedrooms. joybird astra Why its great: Many table lamps tip over easily, but thats not a problem with the Alina Table Lamp. The included mounting hardware wasnt the best quality; wed recommend replacing that with a higher-grade substitute before mounting the lamp. For a relaxing hue, we recommend a soft white bulb rated within the range of 2,700 to 3,000 K (this number is usually written on the package); most of our picks would work nicely with a Cree 60 W Equivalent Soft White bulb, our favorite LED bulb. A benefit of job-specific lighting: Having an adjustable lamp in your workspace reduces the contrast between the object you are focused on and the surrounding area. Lighting designer Linnaea Tillett explained, When you reduce contrast, its relaxing for your eye and keeps you from changing your focal perspective. Think of how harsh the bright light of a computer display is in the middle of the night; the strong contrast can make your eyes more fatigued.
We considered dozens of options, ranging in price from $35 to $200, and we found seven that we recommend for a variety of bedroom styles and sizes. Best for: Average-size bedrooms with one or more bedside tables. The lamps slide gesture control is intuitive and responsive, and it can stop precisely at the brightness point desired. That said, it could be a great bedside or end table lamp, thanks to its added ports. The all-metal wall bracket is easy to install; you secure it in place with just a screwdriver or drill. But it didnt get as bright as the other lamps we tested. It adds an efficient LED, and it can be plugged into an electrical outlet, USB port, or run off of its rechargeable battery pack for cordless operation. The Anglepoise USB 90 Mini Mini Desk Lamp is a beautiful rendition of the archetypal desk lamp, but we dont think its best for most peoples bedrooms, since it runs on a USB port. A small desk lamp that can double as a bedside lamp: Another option for laptop users trying to make the most of a small desk is the Louis Poulsen NJP Mini. Unless youre in dire need of additional ports/power, skip this option. And when the Matin is on, its glow invites the transition between reading and sleep. Conversely, for lamps with built-in LEDs, even though the lifespan can be well over two decades, you may be left with an unusable lamp after that time if you cant change the bulb. Keeping in theme with its diminutive size, the Anglepoise 90 Mini Mini connects via Micro-USB, but we wish it used a more-robust USB-A or USB-C connection. We focused on shades and on lamps specific tasks, as well as on space-saving designs for setting a lamp on or near a nightstand. A modernist lamp you can operate with one hand: The FLOS Kelvin is an elegantly designed architects lamp that weve owned for nearly a decade and that weve come to appreciate for its simple-to-operate tap-touch controls, smooth adjustability, and high-quality build (it wont be moved without intent). But if you want a cordless LED lamp that you can take anywherewe moved it from room to room a couple of timesits an interesting lamp. If you regularly read before bed, you may prefer a lamp that allows you to adjust the brightness to illuminate the page or screen without excessive glare. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Positioning a lamp near the corner can make a room look brighter by bouncing light off the walls and ceiling to reduce eyestrain. Also, it has a propensity to kick backward like a catapult when positioned too far back and upward. So dimming from 100% down to 14% brightness requires only an intuitive sliding motion, which we easily became accustomed to using without even a glance. For the most soothing lighting, we recommend pairing nearly all of our picks with a soft white bulb, such as our favorite LED bulb, the Cree 60 W Equivalent Soft White. Flaws but not dealbreakers: Installing the PVC-laminated shade looks easy in the how-to video, but in person it took a few attempts to align and secure the Matin in place. Some people rotate art on their walls, but hes known to switch out lighting throughout the year. So shes particularly interested in task lighting that could reduce that fatigue. It has a near-seamless finish and a red flat cord that ribbons outward, connecting the lamps three main components with a dash of style. Best for: A bedroom with other sources of light, inviting the Matin to warmly fill in a bedside corner. But when we needed to focus light on an exacting tasklike installing new keyboard switches or removing a bee stinger with tweezerswe could pull the arms downward just above the desk to cast a shadow-free, even light. We were also impressed with the Novas easy assembly. 
A modern makeover of the traditional bankers lampin black, silver, or brass, with a dark gray marbled basethe lamp practically disappears when lights are out. Its slim (only 3.4 inches wide), and it has four touch-controlled brightness levels. The IKEA Forss on/off switch control is simple to operate. The integrated LED bulb means its not replaceable, but this type of bulb is rated for 25,000 hours (which is around 8 years, if its kept on for eight hours a day). We broke three of the four mounting-screw tops while using a screwdriver. Why its great: The minimalist Humanscale Nova LED lamp provides a soft and uniform light without any distracting glare, flickering, or harsh shadowsmaking it our favorite lamp for working in front of a computer. We havent noticed this being a widespread problem, but were keeping an eye out for this issue and will update the guide if needed. Best for: Bedrooms where you want to add ambient light rather than focused reading light. When turned on, the Oxford puts out an even and warm light (which never tired our eyes). The brass finish of the Mistana Forrest Swing Arm Lamp arrived with visible scratches and marks across its arm, almost looking as if it had been used and repackaged. A rotating center tube and 180-degree V-shaped shade make the illumination easy and quick to adjust. Before that, I designed childrens toys and furniture as an industrial designer, learning the ins and outs of mass-market product design from conception to manufacturing. We also appreciated the memory setting, which turns the Nova to its last-used brightness level, as well as a built-in energy-saving occupancy sensor, which turns the lamp off automatically when its left alone. Lamps with shades or a tripod-style base require more space, and they look best on bedside tables with enough surface area to keep them from inching toward the edge (a half-foot of space on each side should be sufficient for avoiding accidental knock-overs). Theres nothing fancy about the Alina, but we like that it looks substantial and modern without drawing too much attention to itself. Just drop the preassembled arm and light head into the weighted desktop base, plug in the Nova, and its ready to use. Note that its also a tall lamp (27 inches at its tallest), with a large, 7-inch base. The LEDs are tucked almost halfway back into the lamp shade, so the design eliminates distracting glare. 
