A table lamp is a small light that sits on top of a table, desk, or nightstand. Most have a base, a stem, and a shade that covers the bulb and softens the light.

Unlike flush mount fixtures or wall lights, table lamps don’t need to be installed. You plug them into a nearby outlet and place them where you need light. Because of that, they’re easy to move if the room layout changes or if you want light in a different spot.

Table lamps are usually used to add light at a lower level in a room. Ceiling lights tend to brighten the whole space, while table lamps create a more local pool of light near where people sit. That makes them useful for things like reading, relaxing, or just adding a little extra light in the evening.

You’ll often see them on bedside tables, next to sofas on side tables, or on consoles in entryways and living rooms. In those spots they help balance the lighting in the room while also filling in areas that overhead lights might miss.

The shade plays a role too. It spreads the light more gently and helps keep the bulb from shining directly into the room.

At the end of the day, a table lamp is a simple thing. A movable light that sits on furniture and adds comfortable light right where you need it.