Light up your life with this desktop classic.

We’ve all experienced it – the flop when an unruly, not-so-adjustable desk lamp indecorously plummets desk-ward. It’s all about a perfect balance mechanism. And for that, you need to hit up the real thing: an Anglepoise desk lamp.

Designed in 1932 by British engineer George Carwardine, this hardworker has a spring, crank and lever mechanism that’s adjustable with the lightest touch. That first Anglepoise, the Original 1227, is still part of the collection, replete with a ziggurat-weighted base and Carwardine springs in glam brass, but there have been many incarnations since. For us, it’s the sleek midcentury style of the Type 75 by Sir Kenneth Grange (launched in 2006) that hits all the right design buttons.

As Anglepoise heads toward its centenary, the brand has been having fun. Collabs with fashion designers Paul Smith and Margaret Howell introduced a playful touch to the Type 75 – Smith’s is multicoloured, while Howell’s makes a splash in juicy, on-trend tones. A recent project with the U.K.’s historic National Trust debuted lamps in soft, muted tints. But if you really want to go big, might we suggest the Brobdingnagian floor lamp version originally commissioned by the Roald Dahl Museum? At more than eight feet tall, it’s sure to shed some light.

Back at your desk, adjustable lamp options abound, with style and function battling it out for coveted desktop real estate. USB charger and energy-efficient LED bulb? Sure thing, but beware of too many weird upgrades. (We see you, integral pen holder and Bluetooth speaker!)Sometimes you just want to flip the switch and light the task at hand.

Classic

 

Anglepoise Type 75, Margaret Howell Edition, $398, GR Shop by Gabriel Ross, grshop.com.

Worthy Competitors

Modern Industrial

 

Hektar work lamp, $70, IKEA, ikea.ca.

Vintage Glamour

 

Fairview task lamp with cone shade, US$459, Rejuvenation, rejuvenation.com.