There’s nothing to say that practical household objects can’t also look great. Everything from mirrors to bookshelves can be made to be visually pleasing and made to match, or even stand out from, your home’s décor.
Light fixtures are the same, they can be an outstanding addition to any room, or be a subtle decoration in a reading nook.
In any case, 3D printed lamps and lampshades are a great and inexpensive way to make your home complete. With 3D printing, you can make lamps that change a room completely, either through different kinds of lighting or their overall aesthetics whether they’re in use or not.
So here we’re going to look at some of the best and coolest 3D printed lamps and lampshades to decorate your home today.
Can you 3D Print a Lamp?
3D printing a lamp is just as simple as 3D printing a vase or plant pot, but the trick is to make sure there’s enough room for wiring and enough space within to make sure the bulb doesn’t melt the filament.
Even if you’re not keen on wiring yourself, many of these can be used to repurpose lamps you already own. So don’t worry, you’ll still be able to enjoy many of these illuminating prints even without a background in electrical engineering.
Traditional Lamps
Of course, there’s always something to be said for more traditional lamps. If you prefer a minimalist setting in your home, then you’re likely after a more subtle but still great 3D printed lamp, then you’ll love this list of projects that won’t stand out too much.
Table Lamp
- Where to Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: ryang3d
- Price: Free
Table lamps are great for offices or nightstands, and are a nice, small household piece that’s as practical as it is nice to look at.
Being able to choose your favorite color is but one way this lamp can be customized. The best part of such simple-looking prints is that they’re ripe for personalization, either by altering it slightly in your preferred software, or by adding your own paint or decals post-print.
This 3D printed table lamp may be simple in appearance, but it is a more complex print than it seems. But the designer is well acquainted with how challenging it can be, and has plenty of recommendations for printer settings and technique to help you get the best results.
All in all, don’t be fooled by the basic appearance, as this isn’t an ideal project for beginners. But if you want something that won’t detract from your décor by drawing too much attention to itself, or a lamp you can customize to your heart’s content, then it’s a great place to start.
Bedroom Lamp
- Where to Download: Cults3D
- Designer: JOB
- Price: Free
I don’t know about you, but I always need to set the lights in my apartment to be as soft as possible in the evenings because otherwise I know I’ll never get to sleep. I can’t imagine I’m alone in this, which is why, as well as warm colors, many bedroom lamps are designed to actually cast less light than a naked bulb would.
The bedroom lamp is an attractive vase-shaped lamp that sheds light shaded enough not to be obnoxiously bright. While designed for nightstands, it can also be suspended from the ceiling. Personally, I’d put it in a conservatory or patio, pretty much anywhere a warm evening light can relax you at the end of the day.
Because this is a 3D printed lamp with an enclosed space, you should stick to low-wattage bulbs or LEDs so the plastic doesn’t melt. Naked bulbs get very hot and can damage your print and even become dangerous over time if exposed to plastic for long periods.
Fortunately, LEDs work well with this lamp too, as they’re ideal for a soft light that won’t keep you awake or be particularly intrusive during a time when we would all like to wind down.
Bedside Lamp
- Where to Download: Cults3D
- Designer: IDEMA_3D
- Price: ~$1.50
If the bedside lamp above is still too art-deco for your tastes, then this simple 3D printed bedside lamp should be perfect for you. It’s an attractive lamp ideal for reading or getting up in the night without the shape that could stand out a little too much amongst a minimalist décor.
It’s got all of the openings and holes to allow for a standard cable to run through it easily without getting in the way or detracting from its basic shape. It’s an easy print if you follow the simple instructions in the link above, so it’s ideal for newcomers to 3D printing.
So even if it’s not to your tastes, it’s a good starting point so you can get a handle on how 3D printing lamps work, giving you more confidence when you get to printing more complex shapes.
Unfolding Flower Lamp
- Where to Download: CGTrader
- Designer: jobsmolders
- Price: $10.80
Traditional doesn’t always mean uninspired. Lamps resembling blooming flowers are a nice way to add a touch of nature’s beauty to your home without distracting too much from your décor.
The unfolding flower is best used as a table lamp, but can be hung from the ceiling too. The rippling shape reflects light beautifully and casts subtle shapes on any surface while still working well as a pleasantly curved 3D printed lampshade that’s simple to print in any color you like.
While you can use a standard bulb for this fixture, the photos featured show the lamp with an E14 LED, so if you like how it looks here, then that should be the light source you go for.
Be advised, however, that the designer recommends a 0.8mm nozzle for the best results, which is larger than the standard nozzle size for FDM printers. Though if you don’t have access to a thicker nozzle, they were also kind enough to include recommended settings for a 0.4mm nozzle along with the file.
So whatever your printer’s hardware, you can be confident that you’ll get great results as long as you follow the clear guidelines that come along with the files.
Bottle Lamp
- Where to Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: bottlelampmakers
- Price: Free
Restaurants and diners have used empty bottles as candleholders for decades, perhaps even centuries. They’re an inexplicably classy way to recycle, and they add a certain atmosphere to any room.
Of course, it’s not uncommon for people to use this technique in their homes too. They make for wonderful mantlepiece decorations and even add a touch of class to a romantic dinner.
From this idea came the bottle lamp. This 3D printed lamp is designed to work with all standard wine, beer or liquor bottles. It’s a great way to reuse any old bottles you have lying around, especially if you have a favorite spirit or want to commemorate a welcome gift.
I know I don’t like to throw out liquor bottles that I got as presents, so I can’t think of a better way to keep the memories around in a more practical way than simply displaying them on a shelf.
Creative Lamps
Because lamps can come in all shapes and sizes, there are any number of ways people have found to make unique lamps and lampshades.
Here are a few of our top picks for 3D printed laps that go beyond the traditional, from the artistic and inspired, nerdy and referential, to the downright kitsch.
Mondrian Table Lamp
- Where to Download: Printables
- Designer: Chris
- Price: Free
Whether you know his name or not, you’ll undoubtedly recognize the work of Dutch abstract artist Piet Mondrian. The straight lines form squares and rectangles filled in with different colors that contrast yet fit together at the same time.
This 3D printed lamp uses this art style to create an artistic, multicolored light that’s just as much of a delight to behold when it’s switched off.
Even though this lamp is inspired by real artwork, that doesn’t mean you should feel the need to stick to the designs in the files or emulate the sample pictures exactly. If you feel so inspired, you can change the shapes and colors to your heart’s content!
Mushroom Lamp
- Where to Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: wuguigui
- Price: Free
A generic mushroom’s shape makes it a natural stand-in for a lamp, and the fairytale look of a toadstool further adds to the magic a well 3D printed lamp can bring to a room.
The designer has updated this model a few times since its initial conception to be easier to print, more reliable as a project, and even use less filament. With only two big pieces and nine little ones, the print shouldn’t take too long and assembly is a snap as long as you’ve already got your desired bulb.
While the standard look is red with hollowed-out whites, you can also print this lamp with clear filament and use a smart bulb to change the tint whenever and however you like.
Art Deco Lamp
- Where to Download: CGTrader
- Designer: 3dladnik
- Price: $8.40
Despite what many purists may insist, art deco never died and likely never will. Specifically, decorative pieces depicting ‘traditionally beautiful’ women, which have been commonplace in decoration for ages, and lamps are no exception.
There were a few art deco lamps in this vein that I could have chosen, but I decided on this one as my favorite because of its elegance and focus on grace over lust. The woman is depicted in an elegant dress and is bathed in the light cast by the lamp itself.
It’s classy and detailed, and would make a fine addition to any space that needs a little bit of artwork as well as more light.
The designer has even offered alternate sizes on request depending on how big you want your lamp to be if you’re not comfortable making such adjustments yourself.
Himalayan Salt Lamp
- Where to Download: Cults3D
- Designer: JORDIEMARTO
- Price: $1.99
Himalayan salt lamps are in many homes as both a light source and a meditative aid. Though like many decorative items, they are often overpriced, costing up to $15 for what is essentially a translucent rock and a lightbulb.
Not that there’s anything wrong with supporting these businesses, but if you want a soothing lamp on a budget that’s safer than lighting a candle, then this is the print for you.
This 3D printed lamp is a good recreation, and the files are available for under $2. If you get the right color filament and some decorative stones of your own, you can 3D print this lamp to make a fire-like glow that will soothe you on even the most stressful of days.
The print includes a lotus motif on the side to both help with light distribution and add to the Zen vibe these lamps are known for. It’s an easy print and would look great in any room that needs just a little more warmth of color.
Big Space Rocket Lamp
- Where to Download: Thingiverse
- Designer: graph
- Price: Free
The big space rocket lamp looks so impressive in its style that it’s hard to imagine that it was actually repurposed from a plant holder.
The clever design allows for excellent light dispersion with even the mildest of light sources. A simple LED can throw pleasing patterns onto your walls. While maybe not the best lamp to read by, it makes for a nice evening atmosphere if you’re relaxing with loved ones or just watching some TV.
The Big Space Rocket Lamp is one of the biggest 3D printed lamps on this list, but it also uses the least amount of filament due to its mesh- or honeycomb-like design.
Better yet, even if you happen to get the wrong shape for a lamp due to a printing error, you can always use it as a purely decorative piece or put any beloved houseplant in it.
Bonus: Soul Eater Moon Lamp
- Where to Download: MyMiniFactory
- Designer: Jukka Seppänen
- Price: Free
Ending this list with a personal favorite, the moon in the celebrated anime Soul Eater is known for observing and reveling In bloodshed. Its creepy demeanor chuckles as violence ensues on its nightly watch.
The shape and detailing make it the perfect lamp for any anime fan, and even if you’re not familiar, you can’t deny this creepy celestial body would make for an awesome porch decoration on Halloween.
So if you happen to have access to some translucent or clear filaments, I highly recommend giving this 3D printed lamp a shot.
Related Articles:
- Best Bookmarks To 3D Print
- Best 3D Printed Clocks
- Best 3D Printed Hinges You Can Print
- The Most Useful 3D Prints To Make