While breadboards, cookbooks, and beautiful jars have long reigned supreme in kitchen counter decor; in 2025 the most stylish homes are accessorizing (and elevating) their kitchen with the humble table lamp.
We've talked about the importance of lampscaping your home before – which is simply the idea of improving every space with soft, ambient lamp light – but should you add lamps to your kitchen? The answer is absolutely yes.
You want your kitchen to feel as thoughtfully styled and welcoming as your living room. So adding a lamp is a simple way to make the space feel less clinical and more inviting, especially during evening hours and winter months. Trust me, I've tried it.
Here are 12 small yet mighty lamps that I think will make great kitchen lighting when perched on your countertop.
12 small lamps to cast a cozy glow over your kitchen
Lamps provide a softer, more welcoming glow that the big light simply can’t achieve. I recently snapped up a teeny lamp with a pleated shade at a vintage store for $5 and (to my husband's surprise) popped it straight on my kitchen countertop. The change was instantly cozy and calming.
Of course, there are two factors to consider here. First of all, ideally, you want a lamp that is wipe clean – or at least able to be spot-cleaned as no matter how hard you try, splashes and spillages are rife in the kitchen.
Secondly, you're going to want to be sensible about placement. I keep my kitchen countertop lamp away from both the sink and cooker in a cozy corner that then helps to cast warmth throughout the space.
From vintage-inspired designs to sleek portable lamps, I’ve curated 12 of the best countertop lights to help you embrace this trend with ease.
Small yet perfectly formed, this woven rattan lamp is shaped like a little toadstool complete with pretty scalloped edging to sit pretty on the counter of a cottage kitchen.
Full of modern tech but designed to look like an antique, this hand-finished lamp offers 10 hours of light on a full charge and is dimmable. The cordless, portable design means you can move it around the kitchen as you flit about.
Simple and elegant, this deep navy lamp from McGee & Co. is sure to complement the most stylish blue kitchen owners. With no fabric to get dirty, this can be plugged in for extra light near the faucet or cooker.
If you're after a portable lamp that can also be used as a nightstand light or sit on your WFH desk, these budget-friendly lights from Amazon are a super versatile pick.
One of the first portable lamps I ever came across, the Original BTC blossom lamp has been on my wishlist for years. Yes, it comes at a premium, but all elements are hand-crafted by the best-of-Bristish manufacturers.
Completely cordless and chargeable via USB, this contemporary portable lamp is finished in a midnight blue with a pleated shade to add a modern edge to your kitchen side.
While technically not a table lamp, this rechargeable clip-on light designed by Joanna Gaines' Magnolia for Target is perfect for snapping onto your open shelving to add an extra pop of light for prepping dinner.
Thanks to the three-footed tall metal base you can get away with the pretty plaid shade in your kitchen as it should sit high enough away from any splash zones, unless you're a very vigorous chef.
Thanks to the dome shape, '70s hues, and walnut finial, this lamp feels like a beautiful mid-century modern heirloom. Perfect for sleek kitchens that love a moody retro vibe.
Created with a tapered shade to look like a petal, this whimsical vintage-inspired lamp shines through multi-colored translucent glass to bathe your kitchen in warm light.
This unique piece was designed to look like an antique table lamp found in an old-world library but with all the mod-cons (powered by a rechargeable 2W LED with a touch-activated dimmer).
Cutting a playful shape, this wavy table lamp has been designed by interior designer Athena Calderson of EyeSwoon on a tiny scale to sit perfectly on your kitchen shelves or counter.
Ready to ‘lampscape’ your kitchen? Whether you opt for a vintage-inspired piece, a sleek modern design, or something playful and portable, these 12 small countertop lights sure to dial up the coziness in your kitchen.
