In short. The bottom of a table lamp’s shade should sit at eye level when you are seated, the lamp should be less than 1.5 times the height of the table it stands on, and its shade narrower than the table. At Deko District, table lamps range from 21 cm (Herey, Ener) to 60 cm (Spone). For the living room, Spone and Jude; for the desk, Narn and PL 3/2; for the bedside, Bim. The cheapest cordless models, Ener and Treye, cost €19.90.
Prices updated in October 2026.
The rules: eye level and 1.5 times the table
The interior design site Decor Snob gives four benchmarks for a table lamp: the bottom of the shade at seated eye level, so the bulb is not seen; a lamp less than 1.5 times the height of the surface it stands on; a shade narrower than the table; and a shade that covers no more than a third of the tabletop. Applied to the side tables in our side table guide, this gives the maximum lamp heights below.
| Side table (guide) | Table height | Maximum lamp height | Deko District lamps that fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basker | 40 cm | 60 cm | all eight |
| Diamond | 44 cm | 66 cm | all eight |
| Tulip | 48 cm | 72 cm | all eight |
In the living room: Spone and Jude
The Spone (€120.00) is the tallest of the selection: 60 cm high with a 40 cm drum shade, glossy outside and white inside, in white or black. Its on/off switch is on the 170 cm transparent cable. With a 40 cm shade, it needs a side table at least that wide, according to the shade-width benchmark above.
The Jude (€128.00) is 48 cm high and 24 cm in diameter: an LED glass dome on a metal stem, in smoke, cognac, transparent, coffee or mirror. According to its product page, it is designed to stay discreet on a table during a meal.
At the bedside: Bim and the cordless lamps
The Bim (€148.00) is 45 cm high on a 22 x 28 cm base, with an LED light in a smoked glass shade. Its product page suggests it as a bedside or side table lamp. On a bedside table, the eye-level rule is measured sitting up in bed with your usual pillows.
To avoid a cable on the bedside table, the Herey (€44.90) is a 21 cm cordless lamp, 9 cm in diameter, warm 3000 K light, touch switch and 1,800 mAh battery, in brown, black or white.
At the desk: Narn and PL 3/2
The Narn (€69.90) is 56 cm high with a 16 cm shade on a 21 cm base. Its asymmetric folding shade directs light onto the reading area, according to its product page. It comes in black or white.
The PL 3/2 (€163.04) is 45 cm high with a 28 cm shade on a 19 cm base. According to its product page, the design is by the Danish designer Poul Henningsen: three layers of opal glass, polished outside and sandblasted inside, give a soft, diffused light. Finishes: steel, black chrome or gold chrome.
Cordless: Ener, Treye and Herey
- Ener (€19.90): 21.3 cm high, shade 13.9 cm, black, 4 W LED, 180 lumens, three light tones from 2,800 to 6,500 K, stepless dimming, 4 to 5 hours of battery life according to its product page.
- Treye (€19.90): 34 cm high on an 8 cm base, warm 3000 K light, 3 W, touch dimmer, in gold, white, silver or black.
- Herey (€44.90): 21 cm, iron, warm 3000 K light, 1,800 mAh battery.
The 8 lamps compared
| Lamp | Height (cm) | Shade or base (cm) | Light | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ener | 21.3 | shade Ø 13.9 | LED 4 W, 180 lm, 2800 to 6500 K, dimmable | cordless, USB rechargeable | €19.90 |
| Treye | 34 | base Ø 8 | LED 3 W, warm 3000 K, dimmable | cordless, USB rechargeable | €19.90 |
| Herey | 21 | Ø 9 | LED 2.4 W, warm 3000 K | cordless, USB rechargeable | €44.90 |
| Narn | 56 | shade Ø 16, base 21 | asymmetric folding shade aimed at the reading area | mains, cable | €69.90 |
| Spone | 60 | shade Ø 40 | glossy shade, white inside | mains, cable | €120.00 |
| Jude | 48 | Ø 24 | LED, glass dome, soft light | mains, cable | €128.00 |
| Bim | 45 | base 22 x 28 | LED, smoked glass shade | mains, cable | €148.00 |
| PL 3/2 | 45 | shade Ø 28, base Ø 19 | three layers of opal glass, soft diffused light | mains, cable | €163.04 |
Dimensions come from the dimension drawings or descriptions on each product page, prices and light specifications from the product pages. To complete the lighting, see our floor lamp guide and our wall light height guide.
Delivery
Deko District delivers to 30 European countries. The estimated delivery time is shown on each product page and in the cart, and shipping costs are shown before payment (shipping policy).
Frequently asked questions
How tall should a table lamp be on a side table?
Less than 1.5 times the height of the table, with the bottom of the shade at seated eye level, according to Decor Snob. On a 40 cm side table, that means a lamp of 60 cm at most.
Which table lamp for reading at a desk?
The Narn lamp (€69.90): its asymmetric shade directs the light onto the reading area, for a height of 56 cm.
What is the cheapest cordless table lamp at Deko District?
The Ener and Treye lamps, both at €19.90, rechargeable by USB (prices updated in October 2026).
Which lamp for a bedside table?
The Bim lamp, 45 cm high, is suggested by its product page for a bedside table; for a cordless option, Herey is 21 cm high.
Sources
- Deko District product pages (links in the text and tables), checked in October 2026
- Deko District shipping policy
- Decor Snob, how tall living room lamps should be (shade at seated eye level, lamp under 1.5 times the table height)
Written by Dorian, product manager at Deko District.
