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Perhaps you’ve spotted these cord-free cuties in the back garden of a favorite restaurant, that moody cocktail lounge around the corner, or your coolest friend’s impeccably decorated patio. Portable table lamps are everywhere—which makes sense for a light that’s designed to go anywhere you do. Unlike candles that burn down or blow out, these LED-equipped vessels offer a reliably rechargeable glow that will outlast the longest of alfresco festivities. If you, too, are tempted by the cozy glow cast by portable table lamps, consider our top picks for setting the scene. As an added bonus, many of our chosen favorites work just as well sitting on a nightstand or nestled into a bookshelf as they do illuminating the open night air.
Minimal Lamps for the Modern Home
While each of these lamps is outdoor-friendly, it’s pretty easy to imagine them coexisting with your indoor decor. Not to mention that, in certain spots around the house like a coffee table or floating shelf, a cord is the last thing you want to see. And when you’re hanging outdoors after the sun’s down, you’re all set.
Personality-Filled Lamps That Pack a Punch
Summer is all about embracing color and having fun, and that’s exactly what these punchy picks bring out. Their small size won’t stop them from making a bold statement; place Marie Flanagan’s design for Visual Comfort on a coffee table and it becomes the centerpiece of your living room. We don’t always play favorites, but we’re partial to Pooky’s Walter lamp.
Utilitarian Lamps That Light Up Your Dinner Party—And Your Camping Trip
Outdoor-friendly portable table lamps aren’t a new thing—we’ve been using lanterns for decades. But we can pretty much guarantee that what you’ll find at a sporting goods store will be less cute than these. Some of them collapse flat, while others have incorporated handles that let you take light from cocktail hour to the dinner table.
