Table lamps are not dated. Certain styles from certain eras are, but the idea of a table lamp itself is still very relevant.
What sometimes feels old fashioned is the combination of oversized bases, heavy shades, and perfectly matching pairs placed everywhere. When every surface holds the same lamp, the room can start to feel stuck in a particular decade.
Today, table lamps are often used with more restraint. One well scaled lamp on a console. A pair on bedside tables that actually fit the size of the furniture. Cleaner silhouettes and balanced proportions tend to feel more current than overly ornate details.
They also play an important role in layered lighting. Overhead fixtures handle general brightness, but table lamps soften a room at night. They create smaller pools of light that make living rooms and bedrooms feel more relaxed. That function has not gone out of style.
Scale is where most people go wrong. A lamp that is too small can look insignificant. One that is too large can crowd the table. Ideally, the bottom of the shade sits around eye level when you are seated so the light feels natural.
Table lamps remain one of the easiest ways to make a room feel finished. When chosen with care, they look intentional rather than outdated.