You voted, I got to researching.
Home Front by Domino
Home Front is a weekly deep dive into the rising—and returning—trends, decor, and teeniest of design details fresh on our radar. Today, Lindsey, Domino’s digital director, is ready to cut the (lamp) cord.
Home Front by Domino
Home Front is a weekly deep dive into the rising—and returning—trends, decor, and teeniest of design details fresh on our radar. Today, Lindsey, Domino’s digital director, is ready to cut the (lamp) cord.

In May, we put out a Home Front poll asking what you wanted us to cover next. Not to brag, but my personal contribution to the list—mini portable lamps—eked out the win with 28 percent of the vote. Which means this newsletter is dedicated to all the cordless cuties I’ve encountered since the style popped up on my radar back in 2019-ish. Let’s do this.

 
On Board
On Board

I say 2019 because that’s when Hay came out with its iconic bell-shaped PC lamp, one of the first portables I remember taking note of. That same year, &Tradition’s now-ubiquitous Setago light hit virtual shelves. Fast-forward to 2024, and little rechargeable lamps are popping up at all the design fairs. We’ve already been graced with a fluorescent orange take, a vase-lamp combo, and a mini mountainous delight made of mycelium. A take-anywhere light source feels particularly useful for my new it’s-almost-summer ritual with my husband: sunset dinners on the patio after we put the baby to bed.

Bright Lights

Photography by Cody James; Styling by Merisa Libbey

It’s impossible to pick a favorite, so here are nine more I’m eyeing:

 

01. Middle-of-the-night baby wake-ups have got nothing on this washi paper lantern, which has a handle for easy toting from rocking chair to changing table.

 

02. I love how Schoolhouse put just as much attention into the design of the bulb as the rest of this space age–y light. (Psst: There’s a round option if the diamond isn’t for you.)

 

03. Forgoing a cord typically means missing out on dimmability, a nonnegotiable for good vibes. Luckily, Lulu and Georgia is two steps ahead and smartly incorporated a brass knob.

 

04. Our Friday night pizza tradition would be positively elegant in the company of this slender table topper—the opaque shade directs light downward for a restaurant feel at home.

 

05. Honestly, the shape of this creamy matte one is so striking, it looks just as good off—let it be sculpture. But if you do turn it on, the charge should last 12 hours. 

 

06. Rather than mar the plywood-clad ceilings in her living room with hardwired lighting, creative director Bethany Brill relies on the soft glow of a coffee-table lamp.

 

07. The finial on this shiny, candylike light is for more than just looks—it’s how you turn it on and off or adjust the brightness, all with a tap or press of a finger.

 

08. Okay, this U.K.-made lamp is totally out of budget, but I’m a sucker for the traditional bone china shade paired with playful powder-coated metal. 

 

09. For whatever reason, most cordless lamps look nothing like their wired counterparts. Audo’s rechargeable version of its standard Torso style, however, is a third the size but has the same linen shade and ceramic base.

 
Good Investments
Good Investments

Casting a wider net—the whole world of cordless lighting, not just minis—here’s what I’d add to my cart.

Splurge on…Updated Classics

Iconic vintage designs will never go out of style, and their newfound portability makes them extra-functional.

• Flowerpot VP9 Rechargeable LED Table Lamp by Verner Panton for &Tradition, from $315

• Multi-Lite Portable Lamp by Louis Weisdorf for Gubi, $499

• PH 2/1 Portable Glass Table Lamp by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, $1,134

Go Either Way on…Outdoor Lanterns

If you want yours to survive the occasional summer rainstorm, you’ll have to shell out for an IP44 rating or higher.

• URI Portable Table Lamp by MoMA Design Store, $50

• Lucca SC51 Rechargeable LED Table Lamp by Space Copenhagen for &Tradition, $270

• The Muse Outdoor Lamp by Tala x Farrow & Ball, from $325

Save on…Sconces

Cordless sconces are a boon for renters. Given you’ll eventually have to move, there’s no need to invest a lot in a temporary fix.

• Wireless Bowl Sconce Lamp by Fatboy, from $79

• Poplight, $95

• Twinky Cordless Wall Sconce by Pooky, $125 (coming soon!)

 
What other decor is just better in miniature?
What other decor is just better in miniature?
 
Side Notes
Side Notes

Ditching unsightly cords and wires is so satisfying—why not do it all over the house? I’ve got plenty of ideas for you.

 

• Elena of ThisHouse5000’s bedroom pendant lamp hack turned me onto rechargeable lightbulbs. 

 

• Now use the same bulbs, but also grab some adhesive hanging strips. Voilà—hardwired sconces made cordless.

 

• When wires are a necessary evil, may I introduce the dreamiest organza cord cover?

 

• If you hang a handled lantern on its side, you’ve got an instant no-drill wall light, as spotted in art director Swantje Hinrichsen’s makeshift bathroom changing station.

 

• Cord-cutting in the wild: Remember when The New York Times wrote about the mini portable lamp taking over the city’s restaurants?

 
Today’s Topic... What do you want us to cover next in Home Front? Wood stains gone wild
Color-blocked bedding
Masters of (appliance) disguise
Not-just-green houseplants
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Today’s Topic... What do you want us to cover next in Home Front? Wood stains gone wild
Color-blocked bedding
Masters of (appliance) disguise
Not-just-green houseplants
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe Now
 
 

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