Table lamps are so much more than just a practical way to illuminate the various spaces in a room.  With endless sizes, shapes, styles and colours on the market, they are a design feature in their own right and can brighten up any room - in more ways than one.

The many styles of designer table lamps 

Once considered old-fashioned, table lamps are no longer the domain of your grandparents alone. For a modern or contemporary home, look for a bankers lamp or glass table lamps with clean crisp lines to contribute to the simplicity of its surroundings. A caged shade or a clean black metal framed desk lamp will complement an industrial theme perfectly, while a crystal table lamp will fit in nicely with bohemian styled décor.

The options for table lamps are literally endless, and extend to bulb choice as well, with a softer bulb creating a generally calming ambience while LED light will maximise light and create a light and airy feel in any space.

Think outside the square for bedside table lamps

Bedside table lamps can add functional elegance to your sleeping space, and there are some creative options on the market. For ease of use, you can’t go past touch lamps, which come in many shapes and sizes, and the staged brightness of some models means that you can get a dim light from a single tap to save a jolting blinding light you as you adjust, making them ideal for those midnight wake-ups. Night lamps are another great lighting solution for the bedroom, with the possibilities extending from glamorous Asian-styled designs to modern simple plug-in LED night lights.

For a classic style, pair a wooden lamp with a wooden bedside table and bedframe – a shadeless lamp with an adjustable arm will provide simple yet effective reading light. Or, a crystal bedside table lamp will add ambience, throwing exquisite shadows across the surrounding walls and ceiling. Remember, cool blue light can disrupt circadian rhythm and impact negatively on sleep quality, so consider a low watt warm white bulb for the bedroom.