With darker days ahead, an extra layer of lighting can help alleviate the winter doldrums. These four pint-sized yet distinctive table lamps will make a welcome addition to any space. 

When Brooklyn-based industrial designer Louis Filosa was first contemplating schemes for a new desk lamp for California lighting brand Gantri he found inspiration from a rather unexpected source – soft serve cones being doled out from an ice cream truck. Harnessing the nostalgia of the summertime staple, Filosa developed Smoothy, whose fluid and shapely form brings a sense of softness and movement to any interior. 

While the lighthearted design is intended as an affable alternative to the more mechanical and angular desk lamps that are commonly found in modern offices, its playful shape and focused glow would instill warmth in a bedroom, entryway or any other space where special moments can be highlighted. Equipped with a dimmable, museum-grade LED, the lamp emits a natural-like illumination that can be adjusted throughout the day. Further strengthening the feel-good nature of Smoothy is its eco-friendly production and composition: each lamp is 3D printed by-demand to minimize waste and uses a propriety plant-based polymer; Smoothy is offered in three bold colourways – Sage, Sunrise and Carbon. 

Italian architect and designer Elisa Ossino pays homage to traditional Japanese lanterns with her Madco lamp for lighting brand Ambientec, whose headquarters are in the coastal prefecture Kanagawa just outside of Tokyo. Ossino has distilled the classic luminaire into a simple sphere, the geometric shape she favours for its “iconic purity,” with a literal twist: positioned within an ultra-thin metal stand (that doubles as a handle for the portable lamp), the round diffuser can be rotated 360 degrees to allow for a multitude of lighting configurations; a metal cap on the bottom of the glass ball cleverly conceals the technical components and transformer.  

With Madco, Ossino is also introducing colour to Ambientec’s offerings for the first time, with a curated palette of five earthy hues – Olive, Peach, Terracotta, Mustard and Cherry. Rechargeable and suitable for use outdoors, the tiny table lamp can be used almost anywhere a little extra illumination is desired. 

For years, Mud Australia founder and creative director Shelley Simpson had been toying with the idea of introducing a lighting collection to her brand’s portfolio. When she met Sydney-based industrial designer Zachary Hanna, she knew it was time to bring her idea to fruition. In 2021, the two began collaborating on a series of three porcelain lamps that merge Simpson’s material expertise with Hanna’s technical component know-how. 

The second design in the collection to be realized is the Pop lamp (available November 15). Handmade from a single piece of porcelain, the cordless and portable LED lamp boasts a simple yet compelling form – its sturdy round body is topped by a half shade that emits light both up and down, creating a subtle interplay of direct and ambient illumination. The Pop lamp is available in six of Mud Australia’s signature colours: Blossom, Duck Egg, Dust, Orange, Red and Slate. 

Originally designed for Contardi in 2015 by New York designers Jessica Corr (for Tzelan) and Tony Chi, the Ongo lamp has been given a new brilliant crimson dress for the holiday season. Maintaining its cute and compact mushroom shape, the rechargeable and portable lamp instills a sense of fairy-tale whimsy wherever it lands. 

The lively and vibrant hue joins the existing mix-and-match finish offerings for the handblown Murano glass lamp, which include Warm Nickel, Dark Orange and Satin Gold lacquers. With two dimmable intensity levels, the petite table lamp can help take the atmosphere from lively to subdued and intimate.