Type
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For study/office. Table lamps for utilitarian purposes, designed to illuminate the desktop when working with documents and other similar activities. They have a fairly restrained design, most often without any decorative details at all, and provide bright, directional light that effectively illuminates the workplace.
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Table floor lamp. Lamps of this type have a characteristic vertical layout, with a lampshade or pendant shade at the top, and are intended primarily for general lighting. With the help of such a lamp you can provide soft, dim light, creating an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation. In principle, such a lamp can also be used to illuminate a work desk: although in practice it is more convenient to use specialized models for this (for study/office - see the corresponding paragraph), a floor lamp can be useful in situations where the table is relatively rarely used as a work table, and most of the time the lamp is needed for general lighting. Note that tabletop floor lamps can be made in different designs - from simple and restrained to quite rich; most often this design is more aesthetically pleasing than that of lamps for work and study, but not as pretentious as that of decorative models (see the corresponding paragraph).
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Candle. Lamps that imitate the appearance of traditional candles - or rather, lamps with candles. One of the most
...popular options for this design is a glass made of thick frosted glass, inside of which an LED is hidden. There are also models in the form of an oil lamp, a large open candle, etc. For additional similarity, the “native” light bulbs or LEDs in such lamps can have a characteristic yellowish tint, be shaped like tongues of flame, and even blink slightly during operation, simulating the flickering of a light . It makes no sense to use such lamps as task lighting, but they are ideal for creating an atmosphere of comfort and romance. At the same time, unlike real ones, electric “candles” are fireproof, do not burn, do not “cry” with wax/paraffin, do not smoke and do not create unpleasant odors.
— Decorative. Lamps in an unusual, often quite rich design, designed to be used not only as a light source, but also as a decorative element in a room - to the point that some of these models shine purely symbolically and are not intended for use as lamps as such. The design options for such lamps can be quite varied; some of them do not have a lampshade, with the expectation that the customer will choose it at his own discretion. Also among decorative lamps there are very specific varieties: salt (a lamp hidden inside a salt crystal), lava (a lamp in the form of a flask where colored bubbles float and sink), plasma (a lamp in the form of a ball with “tentacle” discharges moving inside) and so on.
- Children's. Lamps intended for children - mainly from preschool to middle school age. Such models are distinguished primarily by their cute design: they can look like animals, birds, fantastic creatures, be made in the style of a certain animated series or fairy tale, etc. Note that this category includes decorative lamps that serve more as a night light, as well as classic desktop ones designed for study. But their key difference is their beautiful children’s design.
— For the monitor. LED lamps for illuminating the working environment at the computer. As a rule, they are attached to the top edge of the monitor, so they do not take up extra space on the desktop. Monitor lamps have proven themselves well in the dark. The directional light from them reduces visual fatigue and helps avoid excessive strain on the eyes. Such models often include functions for adjusting the intensity of the glow, changing the color temperature of the light and adjusting the scattering angles.Body / dome material
The material from which the body and/or lampshade is made.
— Plastic. Inexpensive and at the same time quite practical, thanks to which it is a popular material. Plastic can have any colour and transparency, parts of even complex shapes are easily made from it, plus such products weigh a little. The disadvantage of this option is considered to be relatively low strength; however, in the case of table lamps, it is quite enough for normal use, and even in case of various household "troubles" such as falling from the table to the floor. Plastic as a whole poorly resists scratches — but this point is purely aesthetic, and besides, a lot depends on the specific type of plastic.
— Metal. A common name that combines several types of alloys. It is indicated when the manufacturer, for one reason or another, decided not to specify the composition of the metal used for the lamp. Anyway, such cases and shades are noticeably stronger and more reliable than plastic ones, but they are more expensive and, in most cases, weigh more.
— Steel. Steel can be used in both advanced and relatively inexpensive table lamps. In the first case, the product is often made of "stainless steel" and has a polished surface; in the second, simpler grades of steel with paint or other protective coating can be used. Anyway, this material is durable and cheaper than aluminium, but it also weighs noticeably more.
— Aluminium. This material can be attributed to the pr...emium class. Aluminium combines the strength of steel and the low weight of plastic; in addition, such cases and shades can have a rather stylish and rich appearance, they are great for high-tech lamps. The disadvantage of this material is traditional — a rather high price.
— Glass. A material used primarily in decorative lamps and candle lamps (see "Type"). Glass can be transparent or translucent, have different colours, be complemented by various relief decorations. A similar appearance can be achieved when using plastic, but the glass looks more "representative", and also retains its original appearance for a very long time — thanks to scratch resistance. Such lamps turn out to be heavy, but this can be both a disadvantage and an advantage — a massive body is more stable and creates an additional sense of solidity. But the unequivocal disadvantages of glass lamps can be called fragility and high cost.
— Wood. Another material used in decorative lamps. It is worth noting that the tree not only looks good, but is also quite practical: the strength of such a material is comparable to the characteristics of plastic (and sometimes even higher), and small scratches on it can be completely invisible. However, wooden cases are more difficult to manufacture and much more expensive — so much so that the described advantages do not justify the difference in price. And in style, they fit poorly into the equipment of a modern workplace. Therefore, wood in table lamps is used exclusively as a design material.
— Ceramics. Ceramic gives the luminaire a cozy “homely” look, making it well suited for table lamps and decorative models (see “Type”). The main disadvantage of this material is the fragility and sensitivity to shock. Indeed, many types of ceramics are capable of cracking from a fall or other strong impact, but there are also high-strength varieties; specific properties of the material, usually, are directly related to the price category of the lamp.
— Textile. Textiles are practically not used in cabinets, but are often found in plafonds and lampshades, especially among table floor lamps (see "Type"): the fabric gently scatters the light passing through it and can give it one shade or another.
