10 Editor-Approved Lamps That Will Light Up Your Home
At its core, a lamp is simply an additional source of light where you need it. But, with thousands of stylish options at all price points, why go with something basic? To help you find the light of your dreams, we asked the Hunker team to share their favorite lamps — that they either already own or are currently lusting over. Here, 10 lamps that are editor-approved.
Finnish Design Shop
"While you have to buy the lamp separately, this rice paper shade from Danish design brand HAY is worth the extra legwork. The glowing orb definitely makes an impact in my living room, but thanks to its minimal design, it's far from distracting. If you're looking for an inexpensive pendant light with Scandi-chic flair, I highly recommend this pick. And bonus: You can get a simple plug-in lamp to go with your shade from a wide variety of retailers, including IKEA, just make sure you measure the distance from the outlet, up the wall, and across the ceiling, so you know that the cord will be long enough." — Ariane Moore, Design Editor
Crate & Kids Cosmos Floor Lamp, $249
Crate & Kids
"I fully stalk the Crate & Kids section for stuff for my grown-person space. Why? Because there isn't a baby in the world that could appreciate this stylish floor lamp more than I do. The shape recalls a '70s design I saw once and have obsessed over ever since. And the tiered, warm light it gives off is perfect for the spot where it's going in my bedroom, where it will illuminate decor and plants placed at varying heights around it." — Eve Epstein, VP, Content
Stephen Paul for Hunker
"When my husband and I renovated our kitchen a couple of years ago, we chose these lovely pendants to light up our kitchen island. Crafted by The California Workshop, they look like pieces of linen origami hanging from our ceiling and give off a soothing glow." — Laurie Grossman, Editorial Director
MacKenzie Childs Courtly Check Barn Pendant Light, $298
Mackenzie-Childs
"I have been on an everything-checkered kick lately, so of course, this lamp is my current fave. I love that it has a nostalgic vibe without feeling dated. Plus, the subtle brass accents give it a little luxe edge. I think it would look great as a statement hallway fixture or even in a bright kitchen." — Lowe Saddler, SEO Editor
Warehouse of Tiffany Aleks Bronze 10-Light Chandelier, $292
Overstock
"For years, I've been eyeing sputnik-style chandeliers and I'm finally getting one for my new dining room! I love that it makes a statement without being very formal. We're trying to keep costs down while fixing up our new place, and this option from Overstock fits both our budget and aesthetic." — Gina Goff, Director of Audience Development
IKEA Ranarp Work Lamp with LED Bulb, $32.99
IKEA
"This industrial-style lamp isn't too large for my small-ish desk, and is able to illuminate even the darkest corners of my house (AKA my basement office)." — Jamie Birdwell-Branson, Senior Utility Editor
HAY
"The aesthetics on this lamp are so fun — combining a traditional lampshade with a streamlined base. The color options are awesome (I own the green and dark red ones). The functionality is also great — it has three light settings and when not in use, the control lightly glows, acting as a subtle night light." — Leonora Epstein, Senior Content Director
IKEA Symfonisk Table Lamp with WIFI Speaker, $189
IKEA
"We got to try out this lamp back in 2019 and it's proven essential for my WFH routine. It's super easy to use with your phone or computer to play music while you work. As far as the lamp portion goes, it's pretty illuminating for its size. It's helpful to ease into the day before I turn on the main lights in my workspace (aka my bedroom). And there are volume controls and a play/pause button so I can also just use those to adjust the music. Highly recommend if you love having an easy way to play some tunes in your small space AND integrate another light source into it." — Eva Recinos, Associate Editor
Louis Poulsen Panthella MINI, $495
Louis Poulsen
"Mushroom lamps are definitely having a moment and I'm really loving mine as a functional statement piece in my room. I use it as a bedside lamp and it makes me so happy when I see it at any time of the day. I bought this in opal (acrylic version) specifically because of the way it's softly diffused through the shade, as opposed to the other finishes (metal) where the light is facing downwards. What's also great is that you can adjust the brightness, and it fits in with almost any decor style — you can go not only retro, but also modern, contemporary, and even boho with this." — Mory Men, Design Manager
Crate and Barrel Arenson Yellow Ceramic Table Lamp, $99.95
Crate and Barrel
"While there's nothing super trendy or attention-grabbing about this lamp, it was one of my early purchases when I moved into my first apartment and I've lovingly lugged it to three different apartments since. It's a perfect pop of color that also somehow acts as a neutral no matter how I style the rest of the room." — Katie Maguire, Commerce Editor