Mushroom Lamps and Rice Paper Lamps: Why They Work and How to Choose One
Mushroom lamps and Japanese paper lamps look nothing alike, but they are popular for the same reason: both hide the bulb completely, so all you see is a soft, even glow with no hotspot. That is exactly the kind of light Scandinavian and Japandi rooms are built around. Here is what to look for and which of ours suits which spot.
What is a mushroom lamp?
A mushroom lamp has a rounded, dome-shaped shade on a slim stem, a mid-century shape that sends light downward and sideways. Because the shade wraps the light source, it gives a low pool of light on the table and a gentle glow on the shade itself.
1. Mush Mushroom Lamp
Small, with a footprint about the size of a coffee cup. It dims steplessly from reading brightness to a faint night light and switches between warm, natural and cool white. USB powered.
Best for: bedside tables, desks and shelves.
2. Amber Glass Table Lamp
A wide smoked amber glass dome on a solid stone base. The amber glass turns an ordinary bulb into a low golden pool of light. The large size suits a living room side table; the small suits a bedroom or kitchen shelf.
Best for: anyone who wants the warmest possible light.
Two rounded glass lamps that are not strictly mushrooms but give the same kind of soft, enclosed light:
3. Opal Macaron Table Lamp
Stacked sandblasted glass rounds on an iron base. One switch cycles between white, warm and natural light. At 18 by 28 cm it is a real bedside size.
Best for: bedside tables with little space.
4. Sienna Orange Glass Table Lamp
Deep orange glass over white, so the glass glows evenly with a honeyed colour. A single saturated accent in an otherwise calm room.
Best for: shelves, desks and pale interiors that need one colour.
What is a rice paper lamp?
Rice paper lamps come from the Japanese lantern tradition. The paper spreads the bulb's output across its whole surface, giving shadowless, ambient light. Handmade paper varies slightly from lamp to lamp, which is part of the appeal. Always use a low-heat LED bulb within the stated wattage.
5. Mist Rice Paper Table Lamp
White handmade rice paper around the bulb, so what you notice is warmth, not a light source. Fits minimalist, Japandi and Scandinavian rooms.
Best for: bedrooms and reading corners.
6. Frost Rice Paper Tripod Lamp
A ridged paper lantern on a slim three-legged iron stand at floor-lamp height. The legs take up almost no floor space.
Best for: awkward corners and beside a reading chair.
Mushroom or paper: which should you choose?
Choose a mushroom lamp if you want light directed down onto a table or book. Choose a paper lamp if you want to raise the general light level of a corner without any glare. Many rooms use both: a mushroom lamp by the bed, a paper lamp in the corner. Prefer no cable? See our table lamps, including cordless lamps, and where cordless lamps make sense.
Frequently asked questions
Why are mushroom lamps so popular?
Their rounded shade hides the bulb completely and spreads a soft, glare-free light, and the mid-century shape suits both modern and vintage rooms.
Are paper lamps a fire risk?
Used correctly they are safe. Use an LED bulb, which stays cool, within the lamp's stated wattage, and keep the paper away from the bulb.
Are mushroom lamps good for reading?
A dimmable mushroom lamp gives enough downward light for reading at a bedside. For long reading sessions an adjustable lamp is better.
What bulb should I use in a paper lamp?
A warm white LED bulb, around 2700 K, within the stated maximum wattage.
Every Lumenorth order ships free worldwide, with delivery in 3 to 14 business days, and you have 30 days to return anything that does not suit the room.