# Table lamp that doesn't relect in the TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041 "2008-11-10T15:53:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/1 "2008-11-10T15:53:44Z")
The table in question is opposite the TV, and our LazyBoys are to the left and right of the table. I want a lamp for using the computer, reading, doing xwords, but at the same time doesn’t reflect its light so much in the TV, as does a regular lamp with the usual lampshade. Might anything here… [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb\_ss\_?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=Desk+Lamps&x=0&y=0](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=Desk+Lamps&x=0&y=0) …fill the bill? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/2 "2008-11-10T15:56:16Z")
It’s not a table lamp, but I have a torchiere in the living room, partly for this reason. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/3 "2008-11-10T16:01:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s not a table lamp, but I have a torchiere in the living room, partly for this reason. Had to Google for it, and then found it’s not what I have in mind. But thanks for the education.😃 ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/4 "2008-11-10T16:11:47Z")
Put a heavy cloth [folded towel, etc…] over the front portion of the shade facing the TV. That will block the light going toward the screen but still allow light to the sides and back for work/reading. Adjust coverage to eliminate/reduce reflection to a suitable level. Martha Stewart will be along shortly and have a more elegant solution but this works well. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/5 "2008-11-10T16:27:52Z")
I’d look for more of a “reading lamp” than a general “desk lamp”. Reading lamps tend to be more directional, like [this](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012LG3S4/), so you can focus the light on whatever you’re doing with very little, what would you call it, “oversplash”? They also make torchiere lamps with a reading lamp attached, like [this one](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013I0BT8/), so you can have both in one unit, if you need a general lamp as well. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/6 "2008-11-10T16:28:50Z")
You want a polarized task lamp. (A lamp with a polarizing filter.) You’re welcome. Edit: [Something like this](http://shopping.msn.com/reviews/3m-polarizing-task-lamp-21-height-1-x-27w-fluorescent-bulb-weighted-base-adjustable-silver/itemid1040560884/?itemtext=itemname:3m-polarizing-task-lamp-21-height-1-x-27w-fluorescent-bulb-weighted-base-adjustable-silver). ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/7 "2008-11-10T16:30:45Z")
Sounds like you’re looking for some kind of vampire lamp. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/8 "2008-11-10T16:33:18Z")
[Torchiere](http://www.affordablelamps.com/trflla.html) floor lamp will do what you want. You can get them for $20 - $40 at staples. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/9 "2008-11-10T16:33:55Z")
If it doesn’t necessarily need to be on the table, I would suggest a black metal tree lamp. My parents have one in their TV room for precisely this reason. Here’s [an example](http://www.amazon.com/Track-Tree-Floor-Metal-Shades/dp/B000078DDI) off of [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com). ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/10 "2008-11-10T16:42:55Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > You want a polarized task lamp. (A lamp with a polarizing filter.) Polarizing your light only reduces reflections at angles where the incident & reflected light are fairly oblique to the reflecting surface (making about a 34[sup]o[/sup] angle with the surface for a typical glass-air interface.) For the geometry the OP is talking about, the light is hitting the TV glass at pretty much right angles, so polarization won’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/11 "2008-11-10T16:44:05Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Might anything here… > > [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb\_ss\_?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=Desk+Lamps&x=0&y=0](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=Desk+Lamps&x=0&y=0) > > …fill the bill? Seems to me most of them could work, offering at least some improvement over a standard table lamp. However, someone working at the table would want to angle the shade away from his eyes, which would send more light towards the TV. You might need a homemade shade extension to prevent glare in the TV. One could be cut from black construction paper or poster board and taped to the lamp’s shade. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/12 "2008-11-10T17:22:51Z")
This one at… > **[Grandrich FD-100 ST 50W Halogen Desk Lamp, Satin Steel - Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/Grandrich-FD-100-Halogen-Satin-Steel/dp/B00065ZK5Y)** > > Product Description When you need to shed a little light on the situation, this adjustable halogen desk lamp is the perfect solution. The metal desk lamp comes with a 50-watt halogen bulb that burns brightly in a brushed-satin steel finish... Takes a 50 Watt 120V Halogen Bulb. Is that bright enough for task lsmping, you think? ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/13 "2008-11-10T21:04:34Z")
CurtC is right, but vampire electronics are falling into disfavor these days - energy conservation, you know. You need some kind of lamp that you can’t see in a mirror. Or you need to cause the TV to be in a shadow of the lamp. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/table-lamp-that-doesnt-relect-in-the-tv/472041/14 "2008-11-12T13:59:39Z")
I had to give up on the vampire electronics and chose the lamp shown here: > **[Office Supplies, Technology, Ink & Much More | Staples®](https://www.staples.com)** > > Staples offers free next-day shipping with no minimum order on office supplies & furniture, ink, printing services, computers, & promotional products for business. I mention this only because it includes a feature not mentioned at the site or in the accompanying literature. Once you’ve settled on the angles you want in your lamp, you’re supposed to screw the “joints” tightly to lock it in. But - and here’s the Skull and Bones secret never before revealed - there are little threaded set screws in the horizontal bars that you can tighten instead, using the tiny Allen Wrench supplied with the unit. I like this thing. The halogen bulb can run hot, but the lamp has a built-in Dimmer Switch that lets you run from full off to full power.