Retro Mushroom Table Lamp with a Domed Diffuser

The mushroom shape is doing something specific. A wide dome that meets the base without a gap traps all the upward light and pushes it out sideways at low level, which is why these lamps make a pool of light on a desk instead of a bright spot on the ceiling. It is a soft, low-glare result, and it is the reason the shape has kept coming back since the sixties.

White or orange and how they light

The two colors do not just look different, they behave differently. The white shade is translucent enough to glow across its whole surface, so the lamp itself becomes a soft light source and the effect is gentle and even.

Orange is denser and more saturated. Less light passes through the shade, so more of it leaves from the open base and the lamp reads as a warm amber object with a brighter pool underneath. In a room with timber and warm paint that is a striking result. Against cool grey it will dominate.

Where a low, wide lamp works best

At 11 inches across and under 8 inches tall this is wider than it is high, which suits a surface you look down at. A desk, a bedside table, a low console or a shelf are all good. It is the wrong shape for a tall side table beside a chair, where you want light thrown up and out.

Bear in mind the output. At 6 to 10 watts this is ambient light and gentle reading light rather than task light. Beside a bed it is close to ideal. On a desk where you work for hours it should sit alongside a brighter, directional lamp rather than replacing one.

Bulbs, plug type and assembly

The socket is E14, the small screw fitting, and no bulb is supplied. That is worth checking before ordering because E14 is smaller than the E26 and E27 bulbs most lamps use. A warm 2700K LED at the lower end of the 6 to 10 watt range suits the shape best. Avoid a clear filament bulb here, since the shade is translucent and a visible filament will show as a bright line through the dome rather than an even glow.

One point to confirm before you buy: the plug options are listed as USB or AU plug. AU is the Australian plug pattern, so if you need a US plug it is worth checking with us which version will ship. Assembly is simple and all parts are included, and the PVC shade should be wiped with a soft dry cloth rather than a solvent cleaner.

We accept returns for damaged or unused items within 14 days of purchase. Your satisfaction is our priority.