Retro lamp, mid-century lamp, Bauhaus lamp, space age lamp: the words are often used for the same thing, but they describe four different moments in design. Knowing which is which makes it easier to search for the lamp you have in mind.
The four styles at a glance
| Style | Period | How to recognise it |
|---|---|---|
| Bauhaus | 1920s and 1930s | Simple geometric forms, a dome or sphere on a straight stem, metal and glass, no ornament |
| Mid-century modern | 1940s to 1960s | Tapered shades, curved arms, warm wood and brass, soft colours |
| Space age | 1960s and early 1970s | Spheres, chrome, white plastic and acrylic, shapes inspired by satellites and planets |
| 1970s | 1970s | Amber, orange and brown tones, smoked or swirled shades, arc floor lamps |
One example of each
- Bauhaus: the Bauhaus Silver Dome Table Lamp, a mirror-bright silver dome on a slender wooden stem. Height 39 cm, dome Ø 30 cm.
- Mid-century: the Mid Century Fabric Drum Wall Sconce, a small tapered fabric drum with contrast piping on a dark bronze curved arm, in dark brown, orange-red, blue or light coffee.
- Space age: the Space Age Chrome Globe Floor Lamp, opal white spheres of Ø 35 cm held in thin polished chrome loops.
- 1970s arc: the Amber Dome Arc Floor Lamp, a slim arching arm ending in a glossy amber dome. Height 165 cm, reach 100 cm, dimmable.
- 1970s swirl: the Swirl Acrylic Bell Pendant, a flared acrylic bell in sunset swirl, tortoiseshell or white, Ø 46 × H 41 cm.
For a mid-century wall light in wood and metal, see the Walnut & Hammered Copper sconce in our guide to ceramic and wood wall sconces.
Dome, tapered drum and bell are also classic lamp shade shapes; our guide to the types of lamp shades compares them with real sizes.
How to mix retro lamps in one room
- Repeat a material. Chrome with chrome, brass with brass, wood with wood.
- Keep one statement piece. An arc floor lamp or a row of chrome globes is enough for one room; keep the other lights quieter.
- Match the light colour. Amber and brown shades look best with warm white light. See our guide on warm white vs cool white.
Planning a whole room? Our living room lighting ideas place the arc lamp, the chrome globes and the Bauhaus dome in three layers, with a guide to how many lights a 15 m² or 25 m² room needs.
Arc, tripod and globe floor lamps are compared side by side, with real heights and lighting areas, in our guide to the types of floor lamps.
The swirl bell and the amber dome are both made of acrylic: our guide to acrylic lamps and chandeliers compares them with our acrylic flower lights. The wooden stem of the Bauhaus dome and the walnut and copper sconce feature in our guide to rustic and wood lamps.
The chrome spheres of the space age lamp sit alongside our glass and silk globes in globe lamps and globe pendants, and the no-ornament spirit of Bauhaus lives on in today's minimalist lighting.
For mid-century wall lights specifically, our guide to mid-century wall sconces compares drum, sunburst, tulip and glazed ceramic designs with real sizes, and our guide to colored glass lighting sorts amber, green, pink and blue glass lights by colour.
The Bauhaus dome also works as a desk lamp: our guide to desk lamps compares it with bankers, stained glass and cordless designs. For older, pre-war looks such as ribbed glass, antique brass and velvet, see vintage lamps and pendant lights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mid-century and Bauhaus?
Bauhaus is earlier and stricter: pure geometric forms in metal and glass. Mid-century is warmer, with wood, brass, tapered shades and curved lines.
What is a space age lamp?
A lamp from the 1960s and early 1970s built from spheres, chrome and white plastic or acrylic.
What defines a 70s lamp?
Amber, orange and brown tones, swirled or smoked shades, and the arc floor lamp.
See more in our floor lamps and table lamps collections.
