The lava lamp was invented by the Englishman Edward Craven Walker in 1963. Much more than a simple decorative curiosity, it diffuses a subdued light in the bedroom, placed on a desk or a bedside table. Whether you decide to give one as a gift or to buy one for yourself, you'll need to pay attention to certain points such as the color, the quality of the lighting and the robustness. So, which lava lamp should you choose?
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Our selection
"Lava lamp lovers of all ages will love the Mathmos Neo. Made of visually compelling cast stainless steel, it uses a unique lava formula covered…"
"Whether decorating a bedroom or a living room, this Lunartec NX7603-944 glass and aluminum lava lamp is a must. It generates a zen and pleasant…"
"Admire the Mathmos Telstar, a beautiful hand filled lava lamp. Made in the UK, it has a beautiful rocket shape, with chrome steel legs. The…"
"Barely taller than 4 coffee cups, the Licht-Erlebnisse Timmy F/LA/177/9999 owes its place in this comparison to the realism and beauty of its lava. Its…"
Lava lamp lovers of all ages will love the Mathmos Neo. Made of visually compelling cast stainless steel, it uses a unique lava formula covered in shatterproof glass.
76 £ on AmazonThe Mathmos Neo features the iconic lava lamp design of the 1970s. Featuring a polished silver body, it will enhance your bedroom or office. This model will suit users of all ages, from the youngest to the oldest. In addition, its tightly closed construction and unbreakable glass make it safe for use by children. This 12W lava lamp comes in 3 colors: yellow/orange, turquoise/blue and purple/pink. You have to wait a little longer to see its lava compared to the other lamps. But it is really worth the wait!
Whether decorating a bedroom or a living room, this Lunartec NX7603-944 glass and aluminum lava lamp is a must. It generates a zen and pleasant atmosphere with its bubbles.
14,20 £ on AmazonThis Lunartec lava lamp in the form of a column has many advantages. Indeed, it is easy to assemble and illuminates well its environment. In addition, its ultra-strong glass body and aluminum body make it very robust. Without forgetting the green color of the lava which marries well with the blue liquid. For the price, the Lunartec is ideal to decorate a child's room. Adults will also be able to use its beautiful luminosity to brighten up their evening. You must however accompany it with another lamp if you wish to have a sufficient lighting for the room. And it will be necessary to wait 4 h for the first lava.
Admire the Mathmos Telstar, a beautiful hand filled lava lamp. Made in the UK, it has a beautiful rocket shape, with chrome steel legs. The rendering is breathtaking.
80 £ on AmazonFor all the 70's decor lovers out there, this Mathmos Telstar lava lamp is a must have. Designed and filled in Great Britain, it offers a beautiful light green lava that is sure to catch the eye of your visitors. The Telstar was inspired by the Cold War space race, hence its rocket-like shape. Note the precision-molded chrome-plated steel legs marked with the famous Mathmos brand logo. The warm-up time before the lava appears lasts 1 to 3 hours depending on the ambient temperature.
Barely taller than 4 coffee cups, the Licht-Erlebnisse Timmy F/LA/177/9999 owes its place in this comparison to the realism and beauty of its lava. Its aluminum and glass body helps it to last.
27,96 £ on AmazonThe Licht-Erlebnisse Timmy F/LA/177/9999 is characterized by the striking realism of its bubbling red lava. Both in terms of color and fluidity, the lava of this lamp is unparalleled. It offers a vibrant atmosphere, thanks to the colors that combine to give this glowing effect. The end cap and base are made of aluminum, while the bowl is made of unbreakable glass. The rise and fall of the lava inside gives a calm, captivating look. However, keep in mind that the lava formation process may take some time. Also, avoid shaking it too much while it is still hot to avoid disturbing the liquid.
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The best entry-level lava lamp
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OUR SELECTION |
Mathmos Neo
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Lunartec NX7603-944
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Mathmos Telstar
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TimLicht-Erlebnisse Timmy F/LA/177/9999
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Lava lamp lovers of all ages will love the Mathmos Neo. Made of visually compelling cast stainless steel, it uses a unique lava formula covered in shatterproof glass.
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Whether decorating a bedroom or a living room, this Lunartec NX7603-944 glass and aluminum lava lamp is a must. It generates a zen and pleasant atmosphere with its bubbles.
|
Admire the Mathmos Telstar, a beautiful hand filled lava lamp. Made in the UK, it has a beautiful rocket shape, with chrome steel legs. The rendering is breathtaking.
|
Barely taller than 4 coffee cups, the Licht-Erlebnisse Timmy F/LA/177/9999 owes its place in this comparison to the realism and beauty of its lava. Its aluminum and glass body helps it to last.
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Dimensions
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14 x 14 x 43 cm
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312 x 22.8 x 13 cm
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16 x 51 x 16 cm
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30 x 8.5 cm
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Colors
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Yellow/orange
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Blue/Red
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Blue/green
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Magma red/orange
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Style
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Retro
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Vintage
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Modern
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Retro
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Material
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Chromed steel and unbreakable glass
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Unbreakable glass and aluminum
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Chrome-plated steel and unbreakable glass
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Aluminum and unbreakable glass
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Bulb type
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Halogen
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Incandescent filament
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Halogen
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The size of the lamp is the first thing you need to consider. Even if the lamps look the same, they are not necessarily the same size. Ranging in size from a 225 mL unit to 1500 mL, they are available in many shapes: rocket, bottle, hourglass, pyramid and many others.
To choose the right size for you, first determine its location and use. If you want to buy some for your home, you can easily choose from larger sizes. But if it's for a gift, a small 20-inch lamp should be fine.
The container of a lava lamp is usually kerosene wax with water or mineral oil. As for its container, it is made from unbreakable glass, clear PU plastic, or even real glass.
Buying lava lamps with a larger vessel allows you to have a captivating decoration. As for the basic material, that is, the caps, chrome steel or aluminum is still the most suitable. This is because it will prevent the cap and the base from breaking easily. It is also important, because it is the cap material that prevents the liquid in the lamp from escaping.
The main feature of lava lamps is the shades and variations of colors they offer. Opt for the multi-colored lamps to decorate your room differently. The more colors there are, the more decorative they are and give more atmosphere.
For a more discreet touch, choose lamps with less color or single color. Lamps that have only one color of lighting provide a soothing comfort, it's also less tiring for the eyes.
To better know which lava lamp is right for you, you need to know the right lighting power for your needs. If you like to have a bright light, choose the lamps made of glass that contains clear liquid. On the other hand if you were looking for light that is a little dim, go for those that are made of blue or green glass with orange liquid.
A lava lamp needs maintenance to make it last especially when used frequently. Start by dusting the lava lamp weekly. This involves dusting it when it is unplugged and nice and cool to avoid the risk of damage that can occur.
To remove traces of dirt, wet a clean cloth with in warm water and wipe the unplugged lava lamp. This should also be done after the lava lamp is thoroughly cooled. Then wipe the lamp with a clean cloth and make sure the lamp is completely dry before plugging it back in.
For the most stubborn stains, wet a cloth in warm water mixed with mild liquid soap. It's important here to make sure the lamp is unplugged during this process, but also cool. Remember to let the lamp dry completely before plugging it back into the outlet.
A lava lamp is a type of large glass or plastic bottle containing a transparent mixture of mineral oil or water with kerosene wax and carbon tetrachloride. Once the lava bubbles reach the top, they gradually come down when they have cooled down a bit. A decorative object always in fashion since the 60s. It even has the virtue of facilitating the quality of sleep, improving air quality, and keeps allergies away. The disadvantage of yellow lava lamps is that it becomes very hot and its brightness decreases in continuous operation.
The plasma ball is a small glass ball that contains electrons and rare gases. Inside the ball, the wire coil is traversed by electrons that oscillate at a very high frequency. A plasma ball is a perfect choice if you are looking for fancy lights. It's a great retro accessory to have in your home that adds a vibrant energy to your room or living room. The concern with a plasma ball is that it can present a minor shock hazard, so you should unplug it before bedtime.
Whether it is a child, an adult or a senior citizen, every age group is fascinated by the concept of the lava lamp. A plasma ball is more suitable as a gift for a child or to decorate his room.
Don't leave your lava lamp on overnight.
While it's nice to run your lava lamp at all hours of the day and night, it can cause it to overheat. To prevent that, the colored drops stop moving, use the lamp for less than eight hours at a time and let it cool down before using it again.
Repair the lamp if its lava stops flowing.
To do this:
Don't shake your lava lamp or drop it.
When it is hot, you may permanently damage the lamp, by shaking it. If in case it falls, immediately turn off the lamp and let it rest for 24 hours, then turn it on again normally.
Repair the wax in a lava lamp if it starts to stop floating.
Turn on the lamp for about an hour, then turn it off and let it cool down again. This will give the wax enough time to melt a bit. The goal is to make it nice and soft, so it will settle down again.
Operating a lava lamp in direct sunlight can fade the color of its liquid.
This problem is permanent and is not usually covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Note that the problem is not that the wax turns white, but rather that the liquid becomes clear.
A lava lamp gets cloudy for 2 reasons: either it was shaken or moved while hot, or it has reached the end of their life (2000 hrs).
The lava lamp bottles are all almost sealed units and should not be modified. So you must buy a new bottle with its contents.
This is not dangerous, but you must not remove the cap of the lava lamp under any circumstances, or it will lose its quality.
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