How to Use a Desk Lamp When Decorating for a Teen

Explore Options

• The amount of space available in the teen's room will influence the choice of lamp style. For a room with a small desk, a space-saving style such as a banker's lamp or clip-on lamp leaves room for papers, electronics and supplies. Swing-arm lamps work well for large desks or spaces for multiple activities, such as a homework area that doubles as a craft center or dressing table. A desk lamp with a desk organizer for its base keeps small supplies handy in a study area that doesn't have drawers.

Task Lighting

• The main use for a desk lamp for a teen is task lighting. Unlike light fixtures for general illumination in the room, a desk lamp lights the work area to make it bright enough for reading or other tasks. A lamp that has a dimmer switch, or more than one setting for brightness, can be adjusted to use as a reading lamp for paper and to reduce glare on devices such as laptops and eBook readers. Lamps with a movable arm, bendable neck or a head that swivels also work well for directing task lighting.

Coordinate

• Choosing a lamp in a metal finish or in a neutral color such as black or taupe simplifies coordinating a desk lamp for a teen's room. For example, match a chrome goose-neck lamp with a silver-mesh wastebasket and chrome-trimmed desk accessories. Another possibility is to match a lamp to the room's colors or the color scheme your teen wants. Many desk lamps, such as architect's lamps that have a swiveling head on an adjustable arm, come in many colors.

Considerations

• Getting your teen's input increases your chances of choosing a lamp you'll both be happy with. Your teen's tastes might lead to a different style than you'd pick on your own. Vintage ceramic table lamps can serve as desk lamps. They offer many options for color and texture to the room. A retro lamp base with a new shade becomes a one-of-a-kind design element. An oval shade fits well for a table lamp next to a wall.