Desk Lamps

So you want a desk lamp, do you?  I suppose your office just isn't bright enough without it.  Well, you're going to have to learn a bit before purchasing because there are a lot of options in front of you.   Try our article on Light Bulbs to learn more about those options, before you get into the designs of the lamps themselves.

There are a few variations in the theme of Desk Lamp.

• The Energy Statistics
• Type of Bulb
• Shape/Size/Footprint

A Little Tutorial On The Technicals

Your bulb is legally required to list a few pieces of information.

• Wattage - How much electrical power it uses
• Voltage - The designed amount of electrical potential
• Most bulbs are 120 volts. Using a bulb designed for more than 120 volts in a 120 volt socket will decrease its efficiency.
• Brightness - Measured in lumens.
• A 100-watt incandescent bulb produces 1750. A 60-watt incandescent bulb produces 855 lumens. A cool white 40-watt fluorescent produces 3150 lumens.
• Average Life - How many hours the bulb will last, under normal usage.

Bulb Options

Incandescent Bulbs  are the light bulbs from days of yore.  Electrons are excited by heat, prompting them to fly around and give off light, 10% of which is visible. Simple, safe, familiar, reliable, cheap Do not maximize electricity usage Lasts 750-1,000 hours (not as long as other bulbs)	Fluorescent Lights  are popular in commercial buildings but also come in small bulb sizes.  Light is produced by exciting mercury atoms which excite phosphor atoms. Stay cool to the touch 4-6 times more energy efficient than incandescent Small bulbs last 10,000 hours *Emit a harsher, yellower light Sometimes hum and flicker	Halogen Lamps  are even more efficient and come as tiny little quartz envelops instead of glass bulbs (incandescent) or tubes (fluorescent). Give much more light for the energy Get very very hot Last 2,000-3,000 hours Outlawed in many college dorms	LEDs  are the newest technology.  These Light Emitting Diodes are tiny and run without a short-lived filiment Longest lasting Don't get hot Most efficient More expensive initially

What Should Your Lamp Look Like?

Once you have an inkling as to what kind of bulb you'd like, take a gander at the varieties of lamp designs.  Someone went to a lot of art school to get that look just perfect.

Lamp Designs
Upright necked lamps  look a little more old fashioned and dignified. May be a sleek Art Deco style with a halogen bulb May be the retro Banker's Lamp for burning the midnight oil, incandescent-style. Look for multiple brightness settings. Inflexible size. Make sure your desk has foot and vertical space for it.	Jointed lamps  offer some options as to where you'd like to direct your light. Can pull it in different directions Have a space-age feel May keel over in improper positions Might bring back dentist nightmare	Goosenecked lamps  let you express your light desires visually. Most flexible Can point light up or down (even sideways!) Also comes in little clip-on varieties for bedposts, desks, or dogs	Fancy lamps can be decked out in stained glass  to make your desk look old-world professional. Beautiful and classic Breakable and heavy Could be expensive heirloom pieces or discount Tiffany knockoffs	Keyboard Lights  are the antithesis of the Tiffany Lamp, clipping or perching next to your keyboard for that much-needed typing light. Small and portable Good for people with roommates Hard for eyes Not to be used with quill pens

Also Look For...

Multi-Necked Lamps  Can illuminate many spots at once. Good for shared spaces. Some have many settings for dramatic shading (or light-infused compromise).	Multi-Setting Lamps  Vary your brightness throughout the day. It's like you before and after your coffee, but brighter. May have multiple bulbs or may require a multi-setting bulb.	Floor/Desk Lamp Combination  Deals What's better than a great desk lamp? A great desk lamp that comes with a matching floor lamp! Coordination and savings. Nothing's better than that.

External Links

• How Stuff Works - Learn all about how different lightbulbs work (as well as lots of other science).