Lava lamps are the most stylish household relic of the 1960s. The psychedelic items are unmissable, thanks to their streamlined designs and mesmeric molten movement.
Created in the Swinging Sixties by Mathmos founder Edward Craven-Walker, the groovy pieces gained a cult following. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was photographed with his aqua-hued Astro model by the aforementioned lava lamp pioneers. Paul McCartney placed lava lamps on his set. David Bowie proudly displayed an Astro Baby in his recording studio. The kings of cool owned lava lamps and naturally, the gizmos became a hippie hit.
The lamps featured heavily on-screen. Their mind-bending design blended perfectly with the sets of shows such as Doctor Who, Absolutely Fabulous and That 70s Show. While they didn’t provide high-quality lighting, they were crucial for setting the mood, be it on set or in person.
Lava lamps also reflected the zeitgeist. The Sixties were dominated by political turmoil. Overarching anxiety regarding the Space Race between the USA and the Soviet Union was mirrored by aesthetic design at the time. From Paco Rabanne’s signature metallic paillette collections to the invention of the alienesque lava lamp, the arts increasingly reflected societal shifts.
Due to the lamps’ sunset tones and slow-mo dynamics, the counterculture swiftly incorporated the items into their peace ’n’ love-themed pads. Alongside tie-dyed tees, fringing and patchwork jeans, lava lamps were seen as a core pillar of the psychedelic craze, owned primarily by artists and hippies wanting to create hypnotic ambience in the home.
As with many divisive trends, lava lamps once again gained popularity in the Noughties. They adopted a trivial reputation and were marketed to tweens and teens. Yet, despite their newfound target market, the lamps remained mystical decorative items to ogle at.
Like fashion, furniture is cyclical. Sixties-style flared jeans, silk headscarves and vintage fur coats are very much in at the moment - so we say it’s time to bring back the lava lamp.
Keep reading to discover the best lava lamps to shop today and drizzle some futuristic funk across your home.
Shop now
Mathmos Lava Lamp Telstar Rocket Lava Lamp
Indulge with a luxurious Mathmos lava lamp and inject a true sense of Sixties style into your home. This unique piece is an original rocket-shaped lava lamp by Mathmos, the inventor of the lava lamp. The brand, which was founded in 1963, offers a variety of styles spanning the space-age Telstar Rocket to the iconic Astro Baby.
Buy now £88.00, Amazon
Mathmos Lava Lamp Astro Baby
An alternative Mathmos piece, this Astro Baby is the most iconic of lava lamps. Featuring a funky yellow and pink colourway that is set to entertain for hours on end, the Mathmos Astro Baby is the crème de la crème of psychedelic Sixties style.
Buy now £78.00, Amazon
Global Gizmos Pink Glitter Lava Lamp
A glitterbomb gizmo for under £20, this hot pink piece will create a mood of girlish glamour. Feast your eyes upon the tornado glitter particles inside the modern tubular shell. Turn down the lights and turn on the lava lamp to really set the mood.
Buy now £16.99, Amazon
Dunelm Lava Lamp
Sit back, relax and marvel at the rose gold tint of this affordable lava lamp. Filled with clear water and pink liquid wax which moves once the lamp is switched on, the piece is primed to fill the space with honied rose light.
Buy now £15.00, Dunelm
Dunelm Silver Lava Lamp
Reminisce the colourful Sixties with an inexpensive lava lamp in brilliant blue tones. For just £7, you can enhance your home with a dash of groove-tastic glamour for guests to gander at.
Buy now £7.00, Dunelm
Dunelm Rainbow Lava Lamp
Plug in and switch on your new rainbow lava lamp and watch as the lively tones flood the room. Ideal for maximalist spaces aiming to amp up the vibrancy or minimalist pads in need of some colour, the lamp will do the job effortlessly.
Buy now £12.00, Dunelm
Lava Lite Classic Lava Lamp - Blue and Green
Argos has plenty of lava lamps to peruse, making the hunt rather difficult. Opt for a gender-neutral blue and green pick that gently ebbs and flows with futuristic flair.
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
Lava Lite Classic Lava Lamp - Pink
Pink or purple? You don’t have to choose with Lava Lite’s offering. The piece fuses violet and fuchsia tones to create a feminine feel fit for any teen’s bedroom.
Buy now £20.00, Argos
Lava Coral Lava Lamp
Enjoy 14.5 inches of sunshine yellow molten as it moves glacially within its pale pink shell. The calming effect of the piece is aided by a honied light and user-friendly design, making it ideal for brightening up a university bedroom.
Buy now £26.00, Argos
