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19 Different Types Of Lamps Shed Light on Home Décor Options

Published on April 20, 2023

Floor lamp with three fixtures in living room.

Welcome to today’s featured gallery, a two-fold guide for anyone looking to purchase a new lamp. We will break down the various designs of both table top and floor standing lamps, giving examples of multiple style options for each category.

Our top featured lamp, pictured above, is an elegant modern floor lamp with chrome finish and a seamless glass table.

Within the two main categories, table and floor lamps, we have illustrated the varying designs with a pair of models from different stylistic categories. We hope that this guide helps illuminate the vast sea of buying options, and can narrow your search for the perfect lamp.

Related: Lamp Alternatives Lamps with USB Ports | Parts of a Lamp | Living Rooms with Table Lamps

Table Lamps

Table lamps come in a smaller variety of sizes, albeit crossing a massive range of design and stylistic shifts. Here we will examine each type of type of table lamp, with examples in varying styles.

1. Standard

Standard type lamps are the most common found anywhere. Styles will run the gamut from old fashioned to futuristic, but the basic design remains a tall body with cylinder lampshade surrounding.

Our first standard table lamp is a traditional styled model, with rounded glass base and straw colored shade.

Our first standard table lamp is a traditional styled model, with rounded glass base and straw colored shade.

Learn more here.

2. Standard (continued)

Our second standard type table lamp is a bold, bright contemporary model with a donut-shaped body.

Our second standard type table lamp is a bold, bright contemporary model with a donut-shaped body.

Learn more here.

3. Desk

Desk lamps have a shape designed for illuminating your desktop work space. They can be manipulated to focus light on a specific place, and are designed with acute function in mind.

Our first example features a sleek, modern “bar” design, with a strip of LED lights replacing a standard bulb.

Our first example features a sleek, modern "bar" design, with a strip of LED lights replacing a standard bulb.

Learn more here.

4. Desk (continued)

Our second desk lamp has a standard bulb and shade, with a metal pivoting frame.

Our second desk lamp has a standard bulb and shade, with a metal pivoting frame.

Learn more here.

5. Buffet

Typically used for decorative purposes, buffet lamps are often placed on end tables, taking up very little space and focusing light in one space.

Our first buffet lamp is a metal creation in contemporary styling.

Our first buffet lamp is a metal creation in contemporary styling.

Learn more here.

6. Buffet (continued)

Our second buffet lamp is a unique piece done in a natural, rustic style, with the central shaft crafted from a twisted piece of wood.

Our second buffet lamp is a unique piece done in a natural, rustic style, with the central shaft crafted from a twisted piece of wood.

Learn more here.

7. Torchiere

The torchiere design is one in which the lampshade and shape of the body itself direct light upwards, like a torch.

Our first torch lamp features a modern design, with metal body and angular shade.

Our first torch lamp features a modern design, with metal body and angular shade.

Learn more here.

8. Torchiere (continued)

This second torch lamp in a more traditional design features dual stained glass lampshades.

This second torch lamp in a more traditional design features dual stained glass lampshades.

Learn more here.

9. Piano

One thing piano lamps are known for is cost. They tend to be expensive. Why are piano lamps so expensive?

Also known as a banker lamp, piano lamps have wide, slender shades meant to provide a sweep of light across a desk or table.

Our first model is the classic green glass shade design, which you may recognize from countless films and possibly your own parents or grandparents’ homes.

Our first model is the classic green glass shade design, which you may recognize from countless films and possibly your own parents or grandparents' homes.

Learn more here.

10. Piano (continued)

The second piano lamp featured is a more traditional design, with bronze construction.

pianolamp2

Learn more here.

Floor Lamps

The second major category of lamps are those that stand on the floor. Larger frames allow these to provide light from a raised source, illuminating whole rooms when placed strategically.

11. Standard

Standard floor lamps, like their table based counterparts, fit a slim profile, casting light in a sphere around, and mostly below.

Our first example of a standard design floor lamp is this leather-wrapped wooden model.

Our first example of a standard design floor lamp is this leather-wrapped wooden model.

Learn more here.

12. Standard (continued)

Our second standard floor lamp stands in a striking wood tripod design.

Our second standard floor lamp stands in a striking wood tripod design.

Learn more here.

13. Arc

An arc design floor lamp is defined by its arched frame, hanging the light source overhead, while the base sits comfortably out of the way.

The first example here features metallic construction, with a curved spine over marble base, holding a spherical white petal shade.

The first example here features metallic construction, with a curved spine over marble base, holding a spherical white petal shade.

Learn more here.

14. Arc (continued)

The second arc lamp featured is a striking, modern minimalist design, fitting a brushed nickel arm reaching out of a solid pecan wood base.

The second arc lamp featured is a striking, modern minimalist design, fitting a brushed nickel arm reaching out of a solid pecan wood base.

Learn more here.

15. Torchiere

As with the table-top variant, the torchiere floor lamp is designed to direct light upward, illuminating a large space or entire room. These are especially popular in homes with high ceilings and spaces where installing ceiling mounted lighting would be impractical.

Our first example is a contemporary brushed nickel model, with a secondary downward-facing lamp for reading.

Our first example is a contemporary brushed nickel model, with a secondary downward-facing lamp for reading.

Learn more here.

16. Torchiere (continued)

Our second torchiere lamp conveys a boldly contemporary style, with an hourglass shape crafted in textured wood and metal.

Our second torchiere lamp conveys a boldly contemporary style, with an hourglass shape crafted in textured wood and metal.

Learn more here.

17. Table

Floor lamp tables combine the features of two important pieces of furniture, saving space and making for a unique presence.

This modern styled example features bright carved natural wood base holding a seamless glass circular tabletop beneath a nickel frame and standard cylinder shade.

This modern styled example features bright carved natural wood base holding a seamless glass circular tabletop beneath a nickel frame and standard cylinder shade.

Learn more here.

18. Table (continued)

Our second table design floor lamp features a combination brushed nickel and steel frame, with two-tiered table in black.

Our second table design floor lamp features a combination brushed nickel and steel frame, with two-tiered table in black.

Learn more here.

19. Unique

Sometimes a lamp, or any piece of furniture, cannot be simply categorized. We would like to share a particularly striking example.

This lamp features a minimalist black slab design, with circular cutouts for 3 light spheres in the top half.

This lamp features a minimalist black slab design, with circular cutouts for 3 light spheres in the top half.

Learn more here.

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