Kristin Perers
A good lighting scheme is as essential as well-fitting underwear: you might not notice the effort that’s gone into it, but when done well, it makes everything look better. For the best lighting in a room, you want a layered combination of light designed for different tasks such as cooking, defining the area over a dining table, reading or setting a mood in a TV snug. And for that, you’ll need some lovely lights. Heck – you might even need several.
The key to making an inexpensive lamp look high-end is to go with classic finishes and natural materials such as wrought iron, brass, wood, paper, glass, or rattan, and to stick with colours that are muted and won’t date. We’re often asked where to buy good-looking lighting that is also affordable, and while this isn’t a definitive list, it should be a good starting point.
Where to buy affordable lighting in 2025
Good old La Redoute does lots of things very well and very affordably and lighting is one of them. Some of their wall lights are excellent, such as the rattan Canopee light or the Jameson adjustable light. The whopping Elora extra large ceiling light shade is an accessible way to buy into the Atelier Vime supersized rattan look.
If there’s anyone left who doesn’t already know the wonders of Pooky then we’ll eat our hats. It would feel wrong not to include them on that basis though, as the lighting specialists have an unbeatable amount of choice at brilliantly affordable prices. Our picks at the moment are their glass lantern pendants and the timeless styling of their Larger Albert table lamps.
Founded in 2019, the British lighting start-up Houseof has already partnered with H&M and expanded into Europe. They offer contemporary lighting designs that would work really well in a bathroom or kitchen; we were also drawn to the statement size of the Brass opal disc ceiling light.
Ferm Living is a Danish brand but the good news is they have many UK stockists. Their Dou range of triangular rattan pendant light shades is particularly good and although slightly more expensive than other pieces on this list, their sculptural metal Oyster wall lamp is just as much an art piece as it is a light source.
Cox & Cox are known for their pared-back, often Scandinavian-inspired furniture and they do an excellent range of lighting too. Their wall lights and pendants are especially strong – the kind of lighting that doesn’t scream for attention but quietly sits there looking more expensive than it actually was. The Odette pendant is a perfect, delicate shape and finish.
British brand Jim Lawrence is always reliable for a well-made selection of lamps and simple empire shades in versatile colours; the brand is often an interior designer’s go-to choice for variety and timeless styling. We love their classic Nayland reading lamp and the rounded glass Fulbourn pendant lights for lighting above a breakfast bar.
Compton Marbling might not be your first port of call for a lamp (the clue isn’t in the name with this one) but take a look and you’ll find simple turned wooden lamp bases in cheerful colours and varying heights, and they’re all £100 or less. The pick of the bunch for us is the versatile Chorley style.
Zara Home sells out of some of its chicest styles in no time at all, so it’s always worth checking the current stock to see what they’ve got in the way of table lamps that usually look more expensive than they were. From their current selection, we’d pick the lamp with stone effect base.
Swedish high street staple H&M have continued to expand their homeware range in recent years, adding more substantial items like chairs and tables to their repertoire as well as their reliably stylish kitchenware and candles. Their range of lighting should not be overlooked, either, with some lovely little mushroom style table lamps and rattan pendants currently available.
Graham & Green is an enduring high street favourite whose stock isn’t as commonly seen as somewhere like Zara Home, so it’s easy to choose pieces that won’t be instantly recognised. The brand’s designs are never fad-led, so you’ll find some lovely things such as the Cyrus ceramic table lamp.
Started in a southeast London basement, independent brand Laurie Lamps offers a small but mighty selection of table lamps. The bright and textured Keith has a lot of character and would be one of our top picks.
You can’t write about sources for affordable lighting without mentioning the master of the £1 paper light shade that got us all through our student flats and actually, still looks pretty good now. Without straying too far from the original, we quite like IKEA’s Vickleby floor lamp for a super-affordable (it’s £12) way to make a corner feel cosy.
Made.com is a sneaky one that could fly under your radar as not all of their lighting styles are spot-on, but when they get it right, they’re steps ahead of the competition in terms of playful shapes and creating affordable alternatives to designer pieces.
Ledbury-based Tinsmiths are a favourite of ours for colourful lacquered trays, fabrics, sweet gift ideas and lighting too. They only have a small selection but the Bergman brass wall lights are really worth taking a look at.
Norfolk-based homeware shop Birdie Fortescue is an industry favourite as although the selection of lighting designs isn’t vast, you’re likely to find some affordable pieces that you haven’t seen in anyone else’s home.
Scumble Goosie make brilliant affordable wooden furniture with a Gustavian nod and it turns out they do a great lamp, too. Their wooden bases are under £100 and would make an ideal tester pot painting project. We also like their solid brass Woodchester wall light.
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