Supercharge Your Workspace: 5 Desk Lamps That Combine Quality, Function and Style

When Harrison D. McFaddin filed a patent for a lamp with a distinctive green glass lampshade under the name Emeralite in 1909, he tied his name to one of the most famed table lamp designs in history. Initially popular in libraries, banks, and law offices for its practicality and aesthetic appeal, it became known as the banker's lamp—today a symbol of professionalism and vintage charm, with its soothing green colour purported to enhance productivity. 

Over the last century, desk lamps have become essential additions to workspaces and home offices. Especially necessary for those who spend extended hours in front of screens, desk lamps provide adequate lighting to prevent eye strain and enhance productivity. With a wide variety of models and sizes produced by the top manufacturers in design today, there is a lamp for every workspace, from small nooks and temporary desk setups to corporate offices. We’ve chosen five desk lamps that combine quality, function and style in different ways, appealing to a variety of spaces and applications.

Classic functionality / 1227 Original Desk Lamp by Anglepoise

When British engineer George Carwardine developed a new kind of spring in 1935, he ultimately created a groundbreaking task lamp with an adjustable arm mechanism that combined ultimate flexibility with perfect stability. Poised at all angles, it became known as the “Anglepoise” lamp. Beloved by the likes of Roald Dahl, whose writing process for The Big Friendly Giant was aided by his trusty Anglepoise, the elegant lamp soon became a British design classic, laying the foundation for the Original 1227 Collection, a versatile range of lighting solutions designed for various settings. Its enduring popularity lies in the beauty of its functional design, offering both solid functionality and a classic industrial aesthetic to professional and domestic spaces alike.

Sleek Precision / Magneto Table Lamp by Foscarini

The Magneto Table lamp, designed by Giulio Iacchetti, stands out for its elemental simplicity. Harnessing the invisible power of magnets to unite the supporting rod with the illuminating body, it offers freedom for effortless adjustment and direction of light. Whether turned downwards to illuminate a specific area or upwards for indirect lighting, Magneto can cater to diverse lighting needs. The sleek, compact design mirrors the precisely focused beam of light it produces, creating a stylish lighting solution that seamlessly integrates form and function.

 

Compact Charm / w153 Île lamp by Wästberg

Designed by Inga Sempé, the w153 Île lamp seamlessly combines playful minimalist charm and advanced technology, placing a contemporary spin on the classic clamp lamp. The possesses not only a colourful personality, but also features a full-spectrum LED that replicates natural sunlight, ensuring superior color rendering for spaces where accurate color perception is vital. Its adjustable light and portability provide a perfect solution for temporary workspaces, easily transforming into a bedside reading companion or decorative piece once work is over. 

The Innovator / Tizio Lamp by Artemide

The "Tizio" lamp, created by Richard Sapper in 1972 for Artemide, stands as a testament to innovative lighting design. Sapper's vision was to redefine the standard desk lamp, resulting in a brilliantly adjustable and compact light source. What makes the Tizio lamp exceptional is its counterbalance system, enabling precise positioning and smooth swivelling with a delicate touch. Its form seamlessly integrates the functions that unfold within it, conducting electricity through the arms to eliminate the need for unsightly wires—an innovative feature for the time. Having earned a place in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions like the Met and MoMA in New York, Tizio has solidified its status as an iconic example of modern lighting design, one that continues to provide a high-tech solution for workspaces today.

Exceptional craftsmanship / Beat Table Lamp by Tom Dixon

The Beat Table Lamp by British designer Tom Dixon is a striking lighting fixture from the "Beat" collection, inspired by traditional Indian cooking pots. Created as “a celebration of the beauty of things created by hand” the brass lampshade is meticulously hand-raised, welded, beaten and skimmed by artisan craftsmen in Northern India, a process that takes four days to complete. The result: an elegant lamp that juxtaposes a smooth black exterior with a tactile golden interior that reflects a soft and inviting light. Dixon's design elegantly marries traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, making this lamp a visually captivating addition to any interior space, both as a functional task light and decorative piece.