
Vintage Lamps Are
an Interior Design
Cheat Code
The underrated piece your place needs now
No matter what your personal style is at home, some interior design elements remain timeless and work within any space. Vintage lamps, for example. With their distinctive charm, rich history and well-worn patina, have cemented themselves as essential decor pieces that add both character and functionality to any space.
It's no wonder that designers like Nate Berkus and interior stylist Colin King swear by them. These lamps instantly add a shot of visual interest and architecture to a room. They often have a sculptural quality that you can't find in today's lighting. And when you put in a modern LED bulb, they're just as energy efficient as a lamp you'd purchase today.
What's more, they give your home a worldly quality, as so many of the best lamps are sourced from France, Italy and Scandinavia. Not to mention, it's a more sustainable choice than buying new. So whether you gravitate toward the ornate flourishes of Art Deco pieces, the minimalist lines of Mid-Century Modern, or the rustic appeal of industrial designs, decorating your place with vintage lamps will provide a unique blend of history and aesthetics that contemporary lighting just can't seem to replicate. It's a simple designer trick that instantly upgrades your place.
Vintage Lamps
to Buy in 2025

French brass lamp,
$1,800 at Nickey Kehoe

Tramp art popsicle stick lamp,
$695 at Lone Fox

1930s French rationalist lamp,
$929.41 at MODERNAntiquaRIATO

1960s German lamp,
$150 at Chairish
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Industrial desk lamp,
$1,495 at Jayson Home

1960s Kartell desk lamp,
$661.42 at EvergreenVD

1960s Joe Colombo table lamp,
$757 at eBay

Mid-century shelf lamp,
$799 / $519 at One Kings Lane
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Vintage Underwriters
$1,250 at Nate Berkus

1940s brass Italian lamp,
$2,200 at 1stDibs

Domed Leviton lamp,
$1,650 (for a pair) at Cherish
A Better Bulb
Look for an LED bulb with a warm tone—2,000 to 3,000 kelvins. It casts the ideal light and will last you ten years or more. Our choice? Philips soft white.
Frosted soft white bulb,
$24.99 (for four) by Philips