A globe lamp is a light whose shade is a sphere, or close to one: a ball of glass, silk, acrylic or opal glass that glows all over when it is switched on. Because the whole surface lights up, a globe gives a soft, even light in every direction rather than a narrow beam, and it looks the same from any angle, which is why globes are used over tables, beside beds and in entrances. The term also covers lamps with a glass ball in the stem or a row of spheres on a floor lamp. Below you will find the kinds of globe lights, the real sizes of the ones we sell, and a simple way to choose the right diameter.
Types of globe lights
Blown and painted glass globes. The Swirl Glass Globe Pendant is blown glass with a fine diagonal swirl that catches the light like ripples, in five soft colours. The Candy Stripe Glass Globe Pendant is white glass painted with straight or twisted stripes. The Scalloped Glass Globe Pendant is a rounded, pumpkin-like globe in emerald green or milk white on an antique-bronze rod.
Silk globes. The Round Silk Globe Pendant is a beige silk lantern with fine black ribs. Silk gives a warmer, more muted glow than glass and suits Japandi rooms.
Opal glass and crystal. The Crystal Globe Pendant Light pairs an opal glass ball under a small metal dome with a faceted crystal shade, on two cords of different lengths.
Globe floor lamps. The Space Age Chrome Globe Floor Lamp holds white acrylic spheres in polished chrome loops, from one sphere on a stem to a floor-to-ceiling pole.
A globe in the stem. The Botanical Glass Globe Table Lamp sets a ruby red or cobalt blue globe in the middle of a gilded column, under a floral fabric shade.
Real sizes of our globe lights
All figures come from our product pages. The lighting area is the manufacturer's guide for the space one light covers on its own.
| Light | Globe material | Globe size | Mounting | Lighting area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swirl Glass Globe Pendant | Blown glass, 5 colours | Ø 20, 30 or 40 cm | Cord with canopy | Not stated |
| Candy Stripe Glass Globe Pendant | Painted glass, 5 styles | Ø 20, 25 or 30 cm | Cord with canopy | Not stated |
| Scalloped Glass Globe Pendant | Glass, emerald green or milk white | Ø 30 × H 31 cm | Rod with canopy | Not stated |
| Round Silk Globe Pendant | Beige silk, black ribs | Ø 25 × H 26 cm, 150 cm cord | Cord with canopy | 5–10 m² |
| Crystal Globe Pendant Light | Opal glass ball + crystal | Dome Ø 15 cm, crystal Ø 8 cm, cords 150 and 120 cm | Two cords, one canopy | 10–15 m² |
| Space Age Chrome Globe Floor Lamp | White acrylic spheres | Spheres Ø 35 cm; H 80 to 130 cm, or pole 250–280 cm | Floor lamp | 5–10 m² |
| Botanical Glass Globe Table Lamp | Coloured glass globe in the stem | Not stated | Table lamp | 3–5 m² |
Which globe size? A guide with real figures
Beside a bed or in a nursery. The product pages of both the Swirl and the Candy Stripe globes recommend Ø 20 cm for a bedside, a nursery or a small kitchen. A hanging globe beside the bed frees the bedside table: see our guide to bedside lamp height and reading lights.
Over a table. A common working rule is a shade no wider than about two thirds of the table width. For a 90 cm wide table, that is 60 cm at most, so every globe above fits; a single Ø 40 cm Swirl globe is the strongest choice. The Candy Stripe page notes that Ø 30 cm gives more light over a table than Ø 20 cm.
A row or a cluster. Globes are often hung in threes. With the working rules from our dining table lights guide (about 20 cm between shades and 15 cm of margin at each end), three Ø 20 cm globes span 100 cm and need a table or island of at least 130 cm; three Ø 30 cm globes span 130 cm and need at least 160 cm. Hanging them at different heights, as the product pages suggest, gives a looser cluster.
A statement in a living room or entrance. The Swirl page recommends Ø 40 cm for a statement in a living room or an entrance. For a lamp on the floor rather than the ceiling, the Space Age model F puts one Ø 35 cm sphere on a floor-to-ceiling pole of 250–280 cm.
Glass, silk or acrylic?
Glass globes show colour and texture best and are easy to wipe clean; silk is softer and warmer; acrylic spheres are lighter than glass of the same size. Our glass pendant lights guide compares globe, ribbed and fluted glass, and glass vs fabric pendant lights compares the light of each material. Coloured globes for children's rooms are covered in kids' room and nursery lighting, and globe floor lamps in types of floor lamps.
FAQ
Is a globe lamp the same as a world globe lamp?
No. In lighting, a globe lamp is a lamp with a round, ball-shaped shade. A world globe lamp is a map globe lit from inside, which we do not sell.
Which globe size is best beside a bed?
Ø 20 cm, as recommended on the Swirl and Candy Stripe product pages. The Round Silk Globe (Ø 25 cm) is also described for hanging beside the bed instead of a table lamp.
How many globe pendants over a kitchen island?
Often three. With about 20 cm between globes and 15 cm at each end, three Ø 20 cm globes need about 130 cm of island and three Ø 30 cm globes about 160 cm. For hanging height and spacing, see kitchen island pendant lights.
See our pendant lights, fabric and silk pendant lights, floor lamps and table lamps.
