Lamps on the kitchen counter are trending right now, and while I think it looks sweet, I wasn’t sure it was for us. And then I tried it. Read on for my thoughts!
Would You Put a Lamp In Your Kitchen?
Scrolling through my feed, I’m always stopped when I see a soft, glowing lamp in a serene kitchen. I’m a huge proponent of proper lighting (dimmers, always!), but is having a lamp on the kitchen counter practical? I couldn’t resist finding out for myself, so I scooped up this mini lamp with a wipeable shade, plugged it in, and have been enjoying it so much. Like, it genuinely brings me happiness in the evenings!
But First, Know Thyself.
I see this working in kitchens that keep their counters generally light. Meaning, if you prefer to keep food, small appliances and all spices on the kitchen counter, adding one more thing may be more of a nuisance than a proper addition. When we renovated our kitchen last year, we worked to add hidden storage where we could, and we keep out only the items we use multiple times a week – such as our toaster, a smoothie blender (this one is The One), and cutting boards.
Ask yourself, will this be helpful task lighting? A nice night light? A mood for family dinners? If you’re shaking your head no, know thyself and skip this trend. If you’re saying yes!, give it a try and let me know how it goes! I am genuinely shocked at how much this adds to our countertop. The first time my BFF stopped by, she noted the lamp and gasped! And that is why we’re friends (haha).
Lamps Under 14″
Of course, you’ll need to be mindful of upper cabinetry! Most upper cabinets will be 18-20″ from your countertop, so ‘mini’ is the key here. We rounded up several sweet options, some of which are portable and need no outlet (looking at you, #4!). Everything you see below is less than 14″ in height, which should be just right in most cases.
1. thena ceramic table lamp, $160 | 2. teig lamp, $300 | 3. touch dimmable desk lamp, $50 | 4. cordless table lamp, $60 | 5. senza white glass table lamp, $300 | 6. ribbed glass table lamp, $200 | 7. edie prismatic table lamp, $150 | 8. small pleated lamp, $30 | 9. fisher table lamp, $380 | 10. zafferano poldina pro table lamp, $160 | 11. art deco table lamp, $165 | 12. louis table lamp, $160 | 13. mini bocksbeutal ceramic table lamp, $20
We love lighting! This is how we added lighting to our pantry, how we added solar lights to our backyard, 30 ceiling fans that look good, and 30 whimsical lighting options for kids and adults!
#11! So pretty!
Have had mine for a while and I love it. Use it mostly for nighttime ambience… I love lamps!
It changes so much!
Those are the cutest lamps, and that one looks so good in your kitchen. I loved seeing you use #4 outside too. I’m not sure I can get on board. I don’t even love my under cabinet lights that just highlight the counter clutter (maybe I should tackle that problem first 🤣). We do have a cute tiny lamp on a little bedside table in our 5yo’s bedroom, and it is perfect in that space!
Haha, know thy self!!
I’ve had a kitchen counter lamp for the last 14 years in 5 different homes. I put it on a timer so it’s on when I stumble out in the mornings and it goes on just as I’m thinking it’s getting a little dark. It’s amazing how much it helps my mood to have that little bit of extra warmth tucked into the kitchen corner.
Love it!
I’ve had a lamp in my kitchen for a few years now and love it! I have a lamp/plant/tabletop clock combo sitting in the corner where normally big appliances would go, and it’s such a great way to fill the corner without filling the corner, you know? I leave mine on all the time, it’s really nice to have a soft glow for middle of the night snacks:)