The Journal
US Lighting Guides
US-focused lighting advice, buying guides, room ideas, and seasonal inspiration for American homes.
Mushroom Lamps
Are Mushroom Lamps Still in Style? An Honest Answer
The mushroom lamp is a mid-century form that has stayed in production for sixty years. Here is why the shape lasts, what actually dates a lamp, and how to choose one you will still like.
Mushroom Lamps
What Is a Mushroom Lamp? The Shape, the Light, and Why It Works
A mushroom lamp is defined by its domed shade and short stem, a shape that hides the bulb and spreads light downward and outward. Here is how that form actually behaves in a room.
lampshades
How to Choose a Lampshade: Size, Shape, Material and Color
A lampshade should be about two-thirds the height of the base and wide enough to hide the bulb completely. Here is how to size a shade, what each shape and material does to the light, and the fitting types to check before ordering.
table lamps
Table Lamp vs Floor Lamp: Which One Does Your Room Actually Need?
Table lamp or floor lamp? Choose a table lamp when you have a surface and need light where people sit; a floor lamp for corners, wide areas and height. Here is the room-by-room breakdown, plus how to layer both properly.
table lamps
How Bright Should a Table Lamp Be? Lumens, Watts and Color Temperature Explained
Most table lamps need 400 to 800 lumens, not a specific wattage. Here is how many lumens to choose for bedside, living room and desk lamps, why 2700K is the right color temperature, and the specs worth checking before you buy a bulb.
table lamps
What Size Table Lamp Do You Need? Room-by-Room Sizing Guide
The right table lamp height is roughly 26 to 32 inches total for a nightstand and 24 to 34 inches for a console. Here is how to size a table lamp for every room, plus the shade-width rule that stops a lamp looking top-heavy.
lampshades
How to Choose a Lampshade: Shape, Size, Material and Colour
Shade size formulas, which shape suits which base, how linen, metal and glass change the light, and what a black shade really does to a room.
table lamps
Table Lamp vs Floor Lamp: Which One Does Your Room Actually Need?
When to choose a table lamp, when a floor lamp works better, and the room-by-room layering scheme designers use to light a home properly after dark.
table lamps
How Bright Should a Table Lamp Be? Lumens, Watts and Bulb Colour Explained
Lumens, watts and colour temperature in plain English — plus the exact brightness to look for in a bedside, living room, desk or accent table lamp.
table lamps
What Size Table Lamp Do You Need? A Room-by-Room Sizing Guide
The simplest way to pick the right table lamp size: proven height, shade width and placement rules for nightstands, consoles, desks and side tables.
farmhouse bedroom
Farmhouse Bedroom Lighting Ideas for a Softer Look
Soft farmhouse bedroom lighting ideas with ceramic lamps, linen shades, and warm cozy styling.
housewarming gifts
Housewarming Gift Lighting Ideas Shoppers Love
Thoughtful lighting gifts that work beautifully for housewarmings, new apartments, and fresh starts.
reading corner
Best Lamps for Reading Corners in the Living Room
Find the right floor lamp or table lamp for a cozy, stylish living room reading corner.
pendant lighting
Pendant Lighting Trends for Modern US Homes
See the pendant lighting styles shaping modern US kitchens, dining spaces, and bedrooms.
dark bedroom
How to Brighten a Dark Bedroom Without Remodeling
Easy lighting updates that make dark bedrooms feel brighter without major changes.
New York apartments
Top Lighting Picks for New York Apartments
Space-smart lamp and pendant ideas for stylish New York apartments.
warm lighting
Best Warm Lighting for Cozy Bedrooms
See how warm lighting can make bedrooms feel softer, calmer, and more inviting.
dorm room lighting
Lighting Ideas for Dorm Rooms and First Apartments
Simple lighting upgrades that help dorm rooms and first apartments feel warmer, brighter, and more lived in.
pendant lights
How to Choose Pendant Lights for a Kitchen Island
A simple guide to sizing, spacing, and styling pendant lights for kitchen islands in US homes.
bedside lamps
Best Bedside Lamps for Small US Apartments
A practical guide to choosing bedside lamps that fit small US bedrooms and apartment nightstands.