Lighting sets the mood faster than new cushions. One small tweak can shift your lounge from flat to freshly inviting.
Across Britain, homeowners are finding that a modest table lamp can reset a tired room in minutes. The Kunal Glass Table Lamp from Dunelm, priced at £20, has become that rare thing: a budget buy that looks thoughtfully curated rather than compromise-driven.
The £20 glass lamp people are talking about
On paper, it is simple. A clear, rounded glass base, a linen shade, and an inline switch. In practice, it feels considered. The see‑through base keeps surfaces visually light, which helps in small rooms or crowded corners. The linen shade filters light into a mellow pool rather than a harsh cone. It sits quietly, then changes the mood the second you switch it on.
£20, glass base, linen shade, and a calming glow: a small outlay that makes a visible difference.
It arrives ready to use, so there’s no fiddly assembly on a weeknight. At roughly 34 cm tall and 20 cm wide, it fits on a sideboard, a slim hallway console, or a bedside table. The two‑metre cable grants a generous reach to awkward sockets, which saves a reshuffle of furniture.
Why this design lands in real homes
Shoppers want a soft light in the evening, not a flat flood from the ceiling. This lamp does that job cleanly. It uses an E14 candle bulb, which you choose to suit your scene. Go warm white for night‑time relaxation, or pick a slightly brighter LED if you read on the sofa. It is not dimmable, but the fabric shade naturally softens output, so the effect stays gentle rather than glaring.
- Price: £20 at Dunelm
- Dimensions: approx. 34 cm (H) x 20 cm (W)
- Cord: around 2 m with inline switch
- Bulb: E14 candle (LED recommended), not included
- Finish: glass base with linen shade
- Assembly: none required
Soft light without fuss
For most lounges, a 3–5 W LED candle bulb (roughly 250–470 lumens) works well. A 2700 K colour temperature adds warmth; 3000 K feels a touch crisper for reading. Because the shade is fabric, it spreads light evenly, which helps when you want atmosphere without eye strain. The effect pairs well with TV time, a late‑night chat, or that first quiet hour after bedtime routines finally end.
Best results: a 4 W LED candle at 2700 K delivers an even, cosy pool of light with minimal energy use.
Two colours, two moods
Dunelm sells the design in Smoke and Bottle Green. Both shades have a grown‑up calm about them and sit neatly with current neutral palettes. The Smoke version feels light and airy on pale woods. Bottle Green leans richer and works with walnut, brass, and deep textiles.
| Shade | Works best with | Room feel | Style pairing ideas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke | Oak, ash, white walls, cool greys | Light, uncluttered, modern casual | Cotton throws, chrome frames, pale ceramic trays |
| Bottle Green | Walnut, brass, clay tones, deep blues | Warm, grounded, slightly luxe | Velvet cushions, ribbed glass vases, dark picture mounts |
Made using recycled glass, the base adds a quiet sustainability note without sacrificing style or clarity.
Small cost, big change to your evenings
One lamp can shift the feel of a space, but two can structure it. Place a pair on a long sideboard to frame art. Put one by the sofa and another on a bookshelf to balance shadows. If your lounge shares space with toys, craft gear, or a laptop, soft pools of light help reclaim zones after sundown.
- On a sideboard to warm a bare wall and lift framed prints.
- Next to the TV to reduce glare and soften contrast in dark scenes.
- On a console in a hallway as a welcoming evening guide.
- As a bedside pair for reading without harsh ceiling light.
- On a desk for gentle task lighting during late admin sessions.
Energy and safety notes
With a 4 W LED bulb used four hours a day, annual consumption sits around 5.8 kWh. At a typical domestic rate of 28p per kWh, that’s roughly £1.60 for the year. If you run two lamps each evening across winter, the cost still stays modest compared with older halogen or incandescent bulbs.
Fit only E14 bulbs and check the maximum wattage listed on the lamp label. Place the lamp on a stable surface and route the cord away from foot traffic. Dust the shade and base regularly; a clean shade improves diffusion and keeps the glow even.
How it compares on the high street
Glass table lamps often start near £25 and climb well past £60 when brands add metal detailing or designer shades. The Dunelm piece keeps the price at £20 by focusing on the essentials: a clear base, a linen shade, and plug‑and‑play convenience. You do not get a dimmer or USB port, yet the balance of look, function, and cost makes sense for a living room refresh on a tight budget.
Who will get the most from it
Renters who want mood without repainting will find it a smart move. Families can set a calmer tone after homework without waking the whole room with overhead light. Students can turn a plain desk or shared lounge into a cosy nook. Remote workers can pivot the lamp from day to evening and mark the end of work with a ritual switch‑on.
Extra tips to make it sing
Layer your lighting. Keep the ceiling light for chores, then use this lamp and one other to shape a triangle of illumination. That layout avoids dead corners and creates depth in photos, which matters if you like to share home updates. If your room leans cool, choose Bottle Green and add a warm textile nearby. If your room runs warm, pick Smoke and bring in a cooler metal accent to balance it.
Think about glare lines. Place the lamp so the bulb sits below your eye level when seated. Angle mirrors so they reflect the lamp’s glow, not the bulb. Trial different bulb outputs: 250 lumens for pure ambience, 470 lumens for reading, 800 lumens only if you want the lamp to double as main light in a small room.
Place two lamps at different heights to build layers: one on a sideboard, one on a stack of books beside the sofa.
A practical note on bulbs and colour
Warm white (2700 K) flatters skin tones and textiles. Very warm (2200 K) mimics candlelight and suits late nights. Cool white (4000 K) sharpens detail but can feel clinical in a lounge. If you like variety, stock two LEDs and swap them seasonally: cosy amber for winter evenings, slightly brighter white for spring cleaning and holiday hosting.
If you want a quick test before rearranging the room, simulate the effect by turning off overhead lights for an evening and using only side lamps. Note where shadows bunch and where the family naturally gravitates. Then place the £20 Dunelm lamp to lift the darkest corner or to anchor the spot where you unwind. The change will feel immediate, measured in calmer conversations and a softer end to the day rather than in square metres or design jargon.
I went Bottle Green—pairs with walnut like you said. Honestly didn’t expect a £20 lamp to outshine the expensve sofa.
Not dimmable: deal‑breaker or not? With a 4W 2700K LED, is the glow truly mellow or still too bright for TV time?