Good lighting is crucial at home, but secondary lights like lamps can be more about giving off the right level of glow.
Choose wisely and your lamp can become a homewares feature all of its own, adding character to your space whether you’re in an old home or a new build.
Searches for antique lamps have grown 257 per cent according to Google, indicating that more of us are looking back for inspiration in our homes. While genuine antique lamps come with hefty price tags, there are plenty of homage-giving replicas and inspired designs at a snip of the cost.
The term ‘antique lamp’ is a bit of a catchall - there are styles distinctive to their periods, from delicate glass shades like the ones seen on a Tiffany to the clean functional lines of a classic Anglepoise. You can place them in most rooms (except the bathroom, for obvious reasons) and instantly dial up its look with extra lighting that looks as good off as it does turned on.
Whether you dream of an artichoke lamp to give your entryway a little grandeur or you’re keen on new brass-based lamps to sit on your bedside table, we’ve found the nicest antique-looking lamps to spend your money on right now.
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Dunelm Dorma Brimstage Cream Artichoke and Linen Shade Table Lamp
It’s often a lighting look you’ll see in stately homes and hotels on the Continent: the quietly elegant artichoke lamp. Originally conceived by Denmark’s Poul Henningsen back in the late 50s, versions of it remain popular to this day. They’re most commonly set beside beds, in lounges and in hallways so that the curious ornamental tribute to the veg can be admired from all angles. This version is topped with a linen lampshade, keeping it simple so that the base can shine.
Buy now £55.00, Dunelm
Auroh Tiffany Lamp
From the OG roaring Twenties comes this reproduction of a Tiffany lamp, complete with a stained glass shade for extra decoration on the sculpted base. The coloured glass casts ambient lighting around the room, making this a top choice for rooms that require low, relaxed lighting - think bedrooms and by the sofa.
Buy now £78.40, Amazon
Anglepoise + Paul Smith Type 75 Desk Lamp, Edition 1
The Anglepoise had a life before Pixar brought it to the big screen as its much-loved mascot. The industrial-look task lamp design, lauded for its power and precision lighting, has been an office and home study favourite for decades and was invented by British car engineer, George Carwardine in the 1930s.
Also available as a floor lamp, the design has remained largely unchanged for nearly a century, though the brand has stayed at the cutting edge of style by teaming up with fellow British label Paul Smith on this fun mini desk version.
Buy now £289.00, John Lewis
M&S Loretta Table Lamp
With an ornamental green glass base and rich mustard-coloured lampshade, there’s no way this dimmable lamp can go unnoticed. The curved base suggests this is a lamp with a past and unless you tell folks you bought it from M&S, they’ll know no different.
Buy now £89.00, M&S
ACMHNC Cordless LED Battery Table Lamp
Planning a romantic dinner? The last thing you want to worry about when you're ferrying courses in from the kitchen is tripping over wires. This table lamp bypasses that issue. It runs on batteries and can be dimmed, while the panelled shade and metal stand gives it a lovely vintage vibe.
Buy now £39.89, Amazon
Anthropologie Bethany Task Lamp
A descendant of the bank teller’s lamp, Anthropologie has turned to pink for the remake of this classic lamp design. It uses glass with a milky iridescent finish along with gleaming brass-coloured accents to bring the look - popular in the early 1900s - fit for 21st century living.
Buy now £178.00, Anthropologie
My Home Stories Glass Metallic Table Lamp
The geometric pattern on this lamp’s glass base conveys elegant Art Deco vibes, a look that’s only heightened by the rich palette of green and gold. It’s fairly light at just 2.3kg and comes with a 1.8m cord which should give you enough length to position it where you please.
Buy now £70.00, QVC
Dunelm Poiret Table Lamp
Fun lampshades are ten a penny, but a good lamp base can be a tough find. While we love the top-to-toe look of this lamp, swapping out the plain shade for a patterned or pleated version will increase the appeal of the piece and means you’ll never get bored of it. While the base comes in black and grey, we think red just nudges it.
Buy now £69.00, Dunelm
M&S Tilly Table Lamp
Spool furniture is making a comeback. The look, characterised with ornamental, sculpted legs, is everywhere from John Lewis and Oliver Bonas to Anthropologie. M&S Home has jumped in on the trend with this fun table lamp in neutral hues to work with all sorts of homes and interiors. Standing a total of 45.5cm high, a pleated linen lampshade completes the look.
Buy now £79.00, M&S
