For most console tables, a lamp that measures between 60 and 80cm tall in total works well, with a base no wider than about a third of the table depth and a shade that does not overhang the front edge. A useful check is that the lamp and table together should reach roughly 140 to 160cm from the floor, which places the bottom of the shade near eye level for an adult standing in front of it. If the table is long, the lamp can be taller; if it is very slim or sits beneath a low window, go shorter and lighter.<\/p>\n
Those numbers are a starting point rather than a rule. The right answer depends on the depth of the table, what hangs above it and whether you want one lamp or a pair. Our range of modern table lamps UK<\/a> shoppers can explore at Furniture in Fashion covers a wide range of heights and shade sizes, so the measurements below will help you narrow down what suits your space.<\/p>\n Console tables are designed to be narrow. That is their purpose: to provide a useful surface in a hallway, behind a sofa or along a landing without taking up much floor space. The downside is that a lamp has very little room to sit. A base that would look fine on a bedside cabinet or side table can look cramped on a console that is only 30cm deep.<\/p>\n At the same time, consoles are often long and placed against a large expanse of wall, so a lamp that is too small looks lost. The challenge is to find something that has enough height and presence for the wall while still fitting comfortably on the narrow top.<\/p>\n Take four measurements before choosing a lamp.<\/p>\n Table height.<\/strong> Most consoles stand between 75 and 85cm tall. This determines how tall the lamp itself needs to be to reach a comfortable overall height.<\/p>\n Table depth.<\/strong> This is the most important figure. Consoles typically range from about 25 to 45cm deep. It limits the size of the lamp base and the diameter of the shade.<\/p>\n Table length.<\/strong> A long console can carry a taller lamp or a pair. A short one usually suits a single lamp.<\/p>\n Clearance above.<\/strong> Note the height of any mirror, artwork, window sill or shelf above the table. The top of the shade should either sit comfortably below these or overlap them deliberately.<\/p>\n The combined height of table and lamp is what the eye reads. Aim for the bottom edge of the shade to sit somewhere around eye level when you are standing. This hides the bulb from view and puts the light where it is useful.<\/p>\n On a standard 80cm console, a lamp of 65 to 75cm usually looks right. On a lower console of around 70cm, you might go up to 80cm. If the console sits behind a sofa, consider the height of the sofa back: the shade should clear it comfortably so the light falls over the shoulder of anyone sitting there.<\/p>\n Tall, slim lamps have become a familiar look on consoles because they add height without eating into depth. A narrow column or candlestick base with a tapered shade can stand 80cm or more and still sit happily on a shallow table.<\/p>\n The base should leave space around it. As a guide, keep the widest part of the base to no more than a third of the table depth, so on a 30cm deep console look for a base around 10 to 12cm across.<\/p>\n The shade is trickier because it is wider. Ideally the shade diameter should be no greater than the table depth, so it does not hang over the front edge where it can be knocked. Shades that are slightly narrower at the top than the bottom help, as do oval or rectangular shades that are designed specifically for narrow surfaces.<\/p>\n If you love a lamp with a generous shade, place it at the very end of the console and push it towards the wall. A small overhang at the back is less of a problem than one at the front.<\/p>\n A pair of matching lamps at each end of a console creates a formal, symmetrical look that suits traditional rooms and long tables of 120cm or more. The pair frames a mirror or artwork between them and spreads light evenly along the wall.<\/p>\n A single lamp suits shorter consoles and more relaxed schemes. Balance it with something of similar visual weight at the other end: a tall vase with branches, a stack of books topped with a small sculpture, or a large bowl. This asymmetry often looks more natural in a hall or behind a sofa.<\/p>\n Our wider modern lighting UK sale<\/a> collection is useful if you prefer to split the job, perhaps with a lamp on the console and wall lights either side of a mirror above it.<\/p>\n Scale is not the only consideration. The materials and silhouette of the lamp should relate to the table.<\/p>\n A glass or acrylic console looks light, so a lamp with a slender metal or clear glass base keeps the effect airy. A chunky wooden console can take a heavier ceramic or stone lamp. Marble and metal consoles pair well with brass or matt black lamps. If you are still choosing the table, our range of console tables UK sale<\/a> shoppers browse includes glass, wood, gloss, marble and metal designs in a range of depths, which makes it easier to plan the lamp at the same time.<\/p>\n Many consoles have a mirror hung above them, especially in halls. The lamp and mirror should feel like a composition. A common approach is to let the shade overlap the lower edge of the mirror slightly, which ties the two together. Alternatively, hang the mirror so its bottom edge sits a little above the top of the shade.<\/p>\n A lamp placed beside a mirror reflects its light back into the room, which makes a narrow hall feel brighter and wider. Choosing from our modern wall mirrors UK<\/a> range, a round or arched shape tends to soften the straight lines of a console and lamp.<\/p>\n Hall consoles need to be shallow and stable. Pick a lamp with a weighted base and keep it towards the back of the table, away from bags and coats. Check that the table and lamp leave enough space to pass; our guide to hallway furniture depth guidance for UK corridors<\/a> explains how much room to allow.<\/p>\nWhy Console Tables Are Tricky to Light<\/h3>\n
Measuring Before You Buy<\/h3>\n
Height: Finding the Balance<\/h3>\n
Width: Base and Shade Proportions<\/h3>\n
One Lamp or Two?<\/h3>\n
Matching Lamp to Console Style<\/h3>\n
Working With a Mirror or Artwork Above<\/h3>\n
Console Tables in Different Rooms<\/h3>\n
Hallways<\/h3>\n
Behind a sofa<\/h3>\n