As I write this blog post, it’s dark and grey outside with leaden skies pouring down big splatters of rain. All the lamps are on and I’ve even lit a candle, and it’s not yet evening. It’s got me thinking just how important decent task lighting is with all this working from home. A good quality minimalist desk lamp will set the scene for work, helping you focus and concentrate. And a bright, targeted light can help keep you alert, even when the 3 o’clock slump threatens to descend.
I’ve previously shared the best minimalist desks for the simple home office and the most stylish office chairs, but today it’s the turn of lighting. I’ve rounded up 12 of the best minimalist desk lamps to help bring an element of simple functionality to your home office, whether it’s at the dining table or the desk in the spare bedroom.
The 12 following minimalist desk lamps are all defined by their elegant simplicity, each reduced down to the bare minimum, without the need for any superfluous details. They range from affordable finds at just £20 to much-loved design classics over the £500 mark. And good news – plenty are discounted at the moment in the January sales!
1. Anglepoise Type 75 desk lamp, £148, was £175, Heal’s – a contemporary classic conceived by British Designer Sir Kenneth Grange utilising the brand’s trademark constant-spring technology
2. HAY Marselis table lamp, £131.75, was £155, Insidestore – designed by kaschkasch and inspired by the bent tubing around street signs
3. Muuto Leaf table lamp, £225, Someday Designs – taking inspiration from nature, the shade of this lamp reflects the form and movement of a leaf, with a built-in energy efficient LED bulb and dim function
4. Louis Poulsen AJ table lamp, £634, was £705, Skandium – a design classic originally designed in 1960 by Danish architect Arne Jacobsen for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen
5. Northern Buddy table lamp, £176, was £208, Heal’s – winner of the Northern Lighting Student Design Award in 2015, with a handy pen holder for organising office clutter
6. Muuto Tip table lamp, £208.25, was £245, twentytwentyone – a simple lamp designed by Jens Fager, the lamp’s head rotates to provide direct as well as ambient light
7. Artemide Tolomeo mini table lamp, £296.31, Finnish Design Shop – a renowned classic of Italian design, the characteristic spring system allows the light to be adjusted to any direction
8. Ypperlig table lamp, £35, IKEA – a neat LED light that you can turn on, off and dim it by using the button under the lamp head
9. Bobby black and metal desk lamp, £20, was £25, Habitat [affiliate link] – A Habitat classic, with a single jointed slim stem and adjustable head to allow light to be directed where required
10. Saber LED desk lamp, £103, was £129, Heal’s – a slim light source with integrated LED technology that provides light exactly where you need it
11. Skurup black wall lamp, £25, IKEA – a multi-functional lamp that can be clipped onto a desk or shelf, or assembled on the wall as a wall lamp
12. Flos Tab table lamp, £216.75, was £255, Nest – designed by BarberOsgerby, this minimalist desk lamp provides direct lighting with an easily adjustable diffuser
Do you have a good source of light in your home office? Which of these minimalist desk lamps catches your eye the most?
I’ve had the Anglepoise Type 75 lamp for nearly 10 years, it was one of the first birthday presents that my husband gave me when we were first going out. I loved that he hadn’t given me jewellery or chocolates, but a design classic that I could use and enjoy for years to come. And it’s a design classic for a reason, the spring technology allows it to be moved in any direction, while the cloche-shaped lamp casts light across the desk surface. It has character too – it’s a trusted friend in my home office, guiding me through the working day.
