From the classic look of the Tolomeo or L-1 task lamp styles to the modern arm of the Lim C by Pablo Pardo, your country desk or city workspace can be illuminated by a variety of gorgeous lighting units that blend well into their surroundings. Most often using an LED lightbulb (or several) to create light, these hearty little units beautify your space by fulfilling their task in order to serve yours.

Top Ten: Gracious Task Lights.

Task Lights Illuminate Your Workspace While Adding Style to Your Desktop.

1. Onus
MANUFACTURER: Cerno
PRICE: $405
Dimensions: 18″H and 5″W x 4.5″L base

With an aluminum body and arms, the Onus task lamp by Cerno maintains its solid stance with the weight of natural or black concrete or carrara marble at its base. Extending to the light in brushed aluminum, nickel plated or black anodized aluminum finishes, the bulb rests under the square shade with a turf-like design on top.

2. Archimoon Soft
DESIGNER: Philippe Starck
MANUFACTURER: Flos
PRICE: $360
Dimensions: 22.3″H x 19.2″W x 3.8″shade diameter

The matte silver finish of Philippe Starck’s Archimoon Soft lamp is a cool contrast to the plissé cloth diffuser’s warm glow. Designed back in 1998, the aluminum task light is both urban and sophisticated.

3. Daylily
MANUFACTURER: Light Corp
PRICE: $115- 151
Dimensions: 10″W x 10″H x 2″D

While task lamps typically contain an arm with a right angle, it’s not a requirement. What is important is that it serves a specific purpose, or completes the task at hand, like the fluorescent Daylily light that can be mounted in small work spaces using its 13W bulb and magnetic option.

4. Horizon
DESIGNER: Peter Stathis and Michael McCoy
MANUFACTURER: Humanscale
PRICE: $475
Dimensions: 9.5″L x 3.75″W x 18.5″H arm

New to the Humanscale line-up, the Horizon LED task light uses their remarkable Thin Film Technology to produce an ultra-wide reach of glare-free light. High-intensity LEDs using polycarbonate and optical films make this dimmer controlled lamp the ideal task light for both energy saving and ambiance.

5. Lim C
MANUFACTURER: Pablo Pardo
PRICE: $250
Dimensions: 24″L x 16″H x 1″W

The Lim C by Pablo Pardo is an ultra modern task light with an L-shaped arm that turns into its source of illumination with no lampshade. The high-output LEDs that create its sleek power also include a magnetic attachment system for effortless adjustment.

6. Tolomeo Classic LED
DESIGNER: Michele de Lucchi
MANUFACTURER: Artemide
PRICE: $420
Dimensions: 30.75″W X 25.4″H x 9″diameter base

Using Artemide’s MWL technology that ranges from a 3,200K (warm light) to 10,000K (cold light), the Tolomeo Classic LED task lamp by Michele de Lucchi uses suspension and joints to create a fully-adjustable direct task system. Using both polished and polished die-cast aluminum, the lamp’s tension springs and controls create what many refer to as the “perfect” task light.

7. Personal Underline
MANUFACTURER: Details for Steelcase
PRICE: $235
Dimensions: 22″W x 20″H x 4-3/4″D

While many task lights look dainty, the Personal Underline takes a bigger stance. Made from aluminum with plastic end caps and anth acrylic batwing lens this 8W task light by Details for Steelcase is available in freestanding, panel-mount, or C-clamp versions.

8. Leaf
MANUFACTURER: Herman Miller
PRICE: $379
Dimensions: 22″H x 23″D x 8.625″W

As a completely moldable light, the Leaf task lamp by Herman Miller allows you to adjust the intensity or change the light color from warm to cool with your finger. Fold it or straighten to create the perfect position and shine the 20 LEDs onto whatever you’re working on, using just 8 to 9 watts of energy.

9. Mix
DESIGNER: Alberto Meda and Paolo Rizzatto
MANUFACTURER: Luceplan of Italy
PRICE: $550
Dimensions: 28.5″H; 3.9″W x 6.3″L base

The Mix LED table lamp by Alberto Meda and Paolo Rizzato for Luceplan of Italy has a lightweight frame with a 5W light that uses the LED Chip on Board technology built in. Available in a shiny aluminum finish, the lamp contains a small blue light that illuminates in the dark to find it easily at any time.

10. L-1
DESIGNER: Jac Jacobsen
MANUFACTURER: Luxo
PRICE: $179
Dimensions: 41″L arm

In black, silver grey or white finishes with a table clamp, the L-1 task light by Jac Jacobsen for Luxo was desinged in 1937 as the perfect architectural lamp. Since then, it has earned the reputation in the lighting world as a solid, flexible spring-balanced design with a classic, small lampshade look to illuminate your project at hand.

Hope you enjoyed our roundup of the Top Ten Graceful Task Lights!

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