Why a lamp, though?
Because most presents end up in a drawer by February. A lamp gets switched on every evening, which is more than you can say for the novelty socks.
It's also one of those things people put off buying for themselves. Plenty of us have lived with the big light, or the wobbly lamp that came with the flat, for far longer than we'd like to admit. So a nice one, picked by someone else, tends to go down very well.
And it's a good one to unwrap. It's got a bit of weight to it. It looks like you made an effort, mostly because you did.
In short: a lamp makes a good gift because it gets used every day, people rarely treat themselves to one, and it suits almost anyone. If you're not sure about their place, go for a complete lamp. If you know their taste, pick a base and shade together. Throw in a candle and you're sorted.
Here's what we'd get, and for whom.
The lighting gift guide
For the friend who's just moved in
New flat, bare walls, one bulb hanging from the ceiling. They need a lamp whether they've realised it yet or not. Get them a complete one, so there's nothing to match up or faff about with.
Tansy Terra Glow Metal Table Lamp. A terracotta metal base with an ivory linen shade. Warm, but not shouty, so it'll fit in however they end up doing the place. Made in India and ready to go out of the box. Pop a warm white E27 bulb in with it and they can plug it straight in. £56
For the bookworm
The one who reads in bed until the book lands on their face. A proper bedside light, small and soft, will get a lot of use.
Sora Paper Mache Sculptural Lamp Base with the Clive Cotton Lampshade. The base is shaped by hand from paper mache, so it's slightly uneven and no two are the same. The shade is gathered cotton with a traditional booti print, and it takes the edge off the bulb nicely. £96 together
For the one who has everything
Lovely house, good taste, already owns the thing you were going to get them. The answer is something they wouldn't have come across themselves.
Arko Marble Geometric Lamp Base with the Charlotte Raffia Lampshade. Solid white marble, cut into stacked arches and polished smooth. The veining is different on every one, and it weighs nearly 6kg, so it feels as good as it looks. The woven raffia shade lets the light through in little gaps rather than one flat glow. £109 together
For someone who already has a lamp they love
Don't get them another lamp. Get them a new shade. It's the easiest way to make an old lamp look new, and hardly anyone thinks of it.
Baker Silk Striped Lampshade. Textured silk with hand-woven stripes in blue, grey and ivory. Fits a standard E27 lamp holder and gives off a soft, warm light. £45
For the friend who's always having people round
They've got enough bottles of wine. What they'd actually like is for the house to smell nice before everyone turns up.
Midnight Parlour Soy Wax Candle with the Sunday Linen Reed Diffuser. The candle's hand-poured in small batches in England. It starts with bergamot, leather and tobacco and settles into vetiver and cedar, a bit like a pub with a fire going. Around forty hours of burn time. The diffuser covers the daytime, when the candles are out. £74 together
Stocking fillers under £40
For Secret Santa, your kid's teacher, the neighbour who takes your parcels in, or anyone you'd like to spoil a bit without going overboard.
- Fleur Black Wooden Table Lamp. A slim mango wood base in a worn black finish, shaped like an old candelabra, with an ivory linen shade. £37
- Selena Rust Metal Table Lamp. A rust-coloured base with a curvy white linen shade covered in little flowers. Good on a bedside or a desk. £35
- Any of our soy wax candles. Five scents, all hand-poured in England. If in doubt, Sunday Linen. £35
How to buy a lamp for someone else
Buying something for another person's home always feels a bit risky. With lamps, it's less of a gamble than you'd think.
- Not sure of their taste? Keep the shade plain. Ivory, white or natural linen goes with pretty much anything. Let the base do the talking.
- Think about where it'll live. Bedside lamps want to be on the small side, roughly 40 to 50cm tall. For a sideboard or the living room, you can go 50cm and up.
- Complete lamp, or base and shade? A complete lamp is the safe option. A base and shade chosen together feels more personal.
- Put a bulb in the box. Our lamps don't come with one. A warm white E27 LED (2,700K) means they can switch it on as soon as it's unwrapped.
- Giving just a shade? Check the fitting. Our shades are made for E27 holders. Most lamps in the UK use a B22 bayonet, which only needs a small reducer ring.
- Add a candle. A lamp on its own is a good present. A lamp and a candle is a proper one.
Your questions, answered
Is a lamp a good gift?
Yes. A lamp gets used every day, it's something most people don't get round to buying for themselves, and a good one changes how a whole room feels. Useful and personal at the same time, which isn't easy to pull off with a present.
What is a good housewarming gift?
A table lamp is one of the most useful housewarming gifts going. New homes nearly always have too much overhead light and not enough soft light. Choose a complete lamp with a plain shade, so it works however they decorate.
What do you buy someone who has everything?
Something handmade that they couldn't easily pick up themselves. A marble or hand-shaped paper mache lamp base is a one-off, so even someone with a beautiful home won't already have it.
How do I choose a lamp for someone else?
Think about where it will go and keep the shade neutral. Smaller lamps (40 to 50cm) suit a bedside, taller ones suit a sideboard or living room. If you don't know their style well, a complete lamp is safer than a separate base and shade.
Do FableRoom lamps come with bulbs?
No. Our lamps and shades take an E27 bulb, which isn't included. We'd suggest a warm white LED at around 2,700K for the cosiest light. If you're gifting a shade on its own for a UK B22 lamp, they'll need a small reducer ring.
A present that gets switched on every night
The best presents are the ones people use without thinking about it, and still like a year later. A good lamp ticks both.
Everything here is made by hand and comes straight from the maker, without the usual retail markup added on. So you can give something really nice without it costing a fortune.
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