You’ve probably seen it by now – a glowing globe (or two, or twelve) of light sitting pretty in the lobby of your favorite design hotel or illuminating some cool person's credenza. Maybe you’ve clocked it on the feed of a creative director or glowing softly in the corner of a buzzy bar you spotted on Instagram. But here’s the thing: it’s not really the lamp I’m obsessed with. It’s the orb.
At first, I assumed these modern lighting ideas were wildly expensive. (And to be fair, the early iterations were – mostly from avant-garde Italian or Swedish brands that, while beautiful, made me nauseous.) So when I found a version on Amazon with stellar reviews for $30, I didn’t hesitate. Into the cart you go.
And while I don’t have a pool to toss it in (it’s waterproof and cordless, for the record), I do have a shower that I think this would work wonderfully in. It’s made from durable PE material with a sealed wick and polyethylene ring, so yes, you could float this portable lamp in your bath or backyard fountain without worry. You could also place it in any room to add a beautiful soft glow.
Waterworks aside, I mostly love to see these lights sitting amongst a collection: on a tray of stacked books and sculptural objects as a living room lighting idea, or surrounded by incense holders and sunflowers with their petals plucked in a Kelly Wearstler-adjacent, editorial sort of way.
This lighting trend is ambient. Slightly mysterious. It's got the quiet, self-possessed confidence of a person who wears scrunched-up ankle socks with stilettos and somehow pulls it off.
But let’s be clear – this isn’t a plug-and-play situation. Styling is extra important here. Left to chance (or the 16 questionable light color options, as evidenced in the customer review photos), it can look a little… misdirected.
Here's my trick: don’t treat it like an ordinary lamp, because it's not. Instead, pair it with a secondary table lamp, creating asymmetry. Or prop it somewhere unexpected – on a bookshelf between ceramics, or among perfume bottles on your vanity. Act as though it's cosplaying another object entirely.
The best part is that, for just $30, it’s the kind of cool that doesn’t try too hard. Which is the coolest kind of cool.
If you’re into it, I’ve rounded up a few more options below.
More expensive, but you're getting twins! Their soft, ambient glow works beautifully as sculptural bedroom lighting, illuminating a nightstand or even on a lacquered dresser. The chrome finish doesn't hurt either.
It's a little quirky – but then again, that's part of orb lighting's charm more generally. Twisted and bold, it’s a hero piece through and through. Available in yellow or white, but this juicy red is beyond striking. This lamp doesn’t need much styling assistance – it is the styling.
Target, you've done it again. Understated and cone-shaped, this little task lamp is a gentle nod to the orb trend, made for desks, dorm rooms, and anywhere that calls for utilitarian sophistication.
I feel like the world of lighting is full of such interesting shapes, trends, and ideas at the moment. All the spaces I am drawn to right now have lighting as the key feature, which thrills me because lighting is one of the easiest, and often most affordable, ways to elevate and switch up a room. At just $30, I am ordering one of these orb lights for every surface in my home.
