Small USB Salt Lamps

Small USB Himalayan Salt Lamps

Small USB salt lamps are a good choice when you like the look of Himalayan salt but do not want one of the heavier lamps taking up half a table.

This collection is all about the smaller designs. Some are simple shapes while others have been carved into animals or more decorative pieces. The main thing they have in common is that they are compact and powered through USB rather than needing the same setup as a larger mains lamp.

The size may be small, but there is actually quite a lot of choice once you start looking through the different designs.

Choosing by Shape

With the bigger salt lamps, weight is often one of the first things you look at. With these smaller USB lamps, the shape is probably more useful when deciding which one you like.

There are neat geometric styles if you prefer something simple. Rounded designs have a softer look while cubes and pyramids feel a bit more structured. There are also carved designs that look more like ornaments than ordinary lamps.

If you are buying one for a particular spot, think about the outline as well as the height. A round lamp may need more room around the sides than a narrow carved one even if both are roughly the same height.

Small Enough for a Desk

The smaller USB versions are much easier to fit around the things already sitting on a desk. You can normally find a gap beside a monitor, notebook or other bits without having to rearrange everything.

It is still worth checking the measurements first. Small can mean different things from one design to another and a wide base can matter just as much as the height.

Also think about where the USB cable will go. It is better to have it running neatly behind the desk than stretched across the front where it can get caught.

Using the USB Connection

The USB connection is one of the main differences between these lamps and the larger mains-powered salt lamps.

You can connect the lamp to a suitable USB power source. Depending on your setup, that might be a computer, laptop or USB adaptor.

Before ordering, have a quick look at the individual product details so you know what is included and how that particular lamp is powered.

USB is especially useful on a desk because you may already have a suitable connection close by. It also means you are not choosing the lamp around the position of a normal wall socket.

Make sure it is suitable for the lamp rather than simply using whatever happens to be nearby.

Geometric or Carved?

The collection has two very different sorts of look.

Geometric lamps are the cleaner option. Spheres, cubes, cones and pyramids have a more regular outline and can sit quite neatly among other things in the room.

Carved lamps are more decorative. They are the sort of pieces you notice for the shape first and the fact that they are salt lamps second.

If the lamp is going on a work desk, you may prefer a plain shape. If it is going on a shelf with ornaments, one of the carved designs may fit in better.

What Happens When the Light Is On

Once the lamp is switched on, the salt can look quite different.

Light does not always come through every part of the piece in the same way. A thicker section can stay darker while another area looks much brighter.

On a shaped lamp, this can make the edges or curves stand out more. On a carved design, different details can become easier to see.

Some small USB designs use changing lights. If that is important to you, check the individual listing because the lighting setup can differ between products.

The room itself makes a difference as well. The lamp will look much more noticeable in a darker room than it does in full daylight.

Handmade Pieces Will Vary

Many of these smaller lamps are finished or shaped by hand.

That means the one you receive may not be an exact copy of the product photo.

A curve can be slightly different. A carved edge may be a little deeper on one piece than another. The salt itself may also have its own lines and darker patches.

That is simply part of buying something made from natural salt rather than a piece of moulded plastic.

The photos are best used as a guide to the design rather than expecting every little mark to appear in exactly the same place.

Checking the Base

The base is easy to overlook when you are comparing small lamps.

Many designs have a small wooden base or stand underneath. It keeps the salt upright and also adds a little to the overall footprint.

If you are buying a lamp for a narrow shelf, check the base as well as the salt itself. A lamp may be only a few centimetres tall but still need more width than you expect underneath.

The base can also look different between designs. Some are very discreet while others are more noticeable.

The individual photos should give you a better idea before you order.

Buying One as a Gift

Small USB salt lamps are easier to buy as gifts than the really heavy lamps because the person receiving one does not need to find space for a huge piece of salt.

The shape gives you plenty of ways to make the choice a bit more personal too.

You could go for something simple if you are not sure what they like or pick one of the more recognisable shapes if it suits the person you are buying for.

It is still worth checking what comes with the lamp. Have a look at whether the cable, light and any other parts are included with the particular model.

And remember that the exact shade of the salt may vary from the photos.

Choosing More Than One

If you are buying two or more small USB lamps, they do not need to match.

You could use the same shape in different colours or mix a plain geometric lamp with a carved design.

Because the pieces are small, using more than one does not automatically mean filling the room with large lamps.

They can also be used in different places. One might stay on a desk while another goes on a shelf elsewhere in the house.

Just remember that even two lamps of the same design can have slightly different colouring because of the salt.

Before You Choose

Start with where you want the lamp to go.

Check the available space, think about where the USB cable will run and then choose the shape you actually like.

After that, look at the colour and the way the lamp appears both switched on and off.

Do not worry too much about finding two pieces that look completely identical. With Himalayan salt, small differences are part of the material.

The small USB range gives you a lot more choice than simply buying a miniature version of a standard rock lamp.