Table lamps are the most versatile types of illumination
and can be easily be moved to other locations.
To choose the perfect table lamp, sit on a chair next to the table and measure it from the table surface to eye level. Your lamp should be a fixture whose base to the bottom of the shade length measurement does not exceed the table-to-eye measurement.
Shade length should be 65 to 80% of the base length. If the base length is 16 inches, the shade should measure 10 to 14 inches long. This results in a fixture about 24 inches tall; or the shade is about 1/3 of the total height, and should cover the light bulb hardware on the top of the lamp base.
Table lamps too small, or too large, can ruin the vignette of a tabletop. “Form Follows Function” is the design guideline that makes choosing the correct size table lamp almost foolproof. Get the function correct first, and the size will be correct.
Because table lamps are free standing, it’s always a good idea to select something that will be stable in its place, like the lamp above.