The Best Desk Lamps for Miniature Painting in 2025
Let’s Shed Some Light on This Subject.
Listen, Looter. You have invested in the best brushes, you’ve printed a pristine 75mm model, and you have set up your wet palette. But if you are painting under the dim, yellow glow of a standard room light, you are playing on “Hard Mode.” Lighting is often the most overlooked tool in our hobby, yet it is critical for avoiding eye strain and ensuring your colors look exactly how you intended.
We are going to cut through the confusion and shed some light on the subject (pun intended). Whether you are working on a budget or building a professional studio, here is how to choose the right equipment to elevate your painting game.
The Science of Light: What You Need to Know
Before you buy any hardware, you need to understand three specific metrics: Kelvin, Lumens, and CRI. Ignoring these is the most common mistake beginners make.
First, you must consider Lumens, which measure the raw intensity of the light. For painting miniatures, you need enough power to see fine details without squinting. A standard household bulb won’t cut it; you should look for a light source that emits between 1,000 and 3,000 lumens. Anything less might leave you straining to see the texture on a cloak or the eyes of a character.
Second is Kelvin (K), which refers to the color temperature. Low numbers (around 3000K) produce a warm, yellow light, while very high numbers can look blue and clinical. For miniature painting, you want a “neutral” white light that mimics a typical sunny day. The sweet spot lies in the 4,000K to 6,000K range. This ensures that the colors you mix on your palette will look natural when your mini is displayed on the gaming table.
Finally, there is the CRI (Color Rendering Index). This number indicates how accurately a light source reveals colors compared to natural sunlight. While most decent lamps have a rating above 80, professional-grade lights push this number higher. If you are serious about blending and color theory, a high CRI ensures you aren’t fighting against your own lighting to see subtle transitions.
The Budget-Friendly Solution: The IKEA Hack
You do not need to spend a fortune to get a professional-quality setup. For a solution that is consistently available and cost-effective, the IKEA Tertial lamp is a community favorite.
The Tertial is popular because it is highly malleable, lightweight, and inexpensive. However, the secret isn’t just buying one; it is buying two. By placing one lamp on each side of your desk, you eliminate the shadows usually cast by your hand or brush. Simply fit them with daylight LED bulbs that meet the specifications mentioned above, and you have created a shadowless environment for a fraction of the cost of a dedicated hobby lamp.
The Mid-Range Standard: Neatfi
If you are looking for a dedicated task lamp that requires less setup, the Neatfi XL is a staple recommendation among enthusiasts.
This lamp is widely used for a reason. It features a wide LED bar that bathes your desk in light, reducing the need for a dual-lamp setup. It pumps out 2,200 lumens and is fully dimmable, allowing you to adapt the brightness to your specific environment. Furthermore, because it uses LEDs, it lasts significantly longer than traditional bulbs, backed by a three-year warranty. In fact, this is the style of lamp many of our own painters use right here at Loot Studios.
The Professional Choice: RedGrass R9
For those who want to treat themselves to the absolute best, there is the RedGrass R9. This lamp is designed specifically for creatives and boasts state-of-the-art technology.
The R9 distinguishes itself with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of over 98.5, provided by 96 pure daylight LEDs. This offers near-perfect color accuracy. Additionally, it features glare-free and flicker-free technology, which can significantly reduce eye fatigue during long painting sessions. It is the most expensive option on the list—running well over double the cost of the Neatfi—but it claims to meet every need of the high-end hobbyist.
Light is Just the Beginning
Finding the best desk lamp ultimately boils down to your personal taste and budget. Whether you go with the clever IKEA setup or the high-tech RedGrass, the goal is simply to see your work clearly.
Remember, the absolute best lamp won’t make you a better painter—painting will. Now that you have the right gear, it is time to delve back into the world of miniature painting. If you need models to practice on, Loot Studios offers highly detailed miniatures, statues, and props in our monthly Fantasy and Sci-Fi bundles.
Get your lights set up, grab your brush, and let’s create something legendary.
Loot Studios can help you paint highly detailed minis, statues, and props. Choose your favorite bundle from our previous releases or sign up for Fantasy or Sci-Fi to receive a new bundle every month. You can also check out some tips on our YouTube Channel.
Robert, also known as Rob, is an artist, English teacher, and lifelong RPG enthusiast. When he’s not sketching worlds or guiding learners through language, he’s diving into dice-rolling adventures and uncovering the magic that makes tabletop storytelling unforgettable. Fuelled by imagination and curiosity, Rob has spent years immersed in the RPG community, studying its stories, creatures, and creativity. He currently works in the marketing department at Loot Studios, where his passion for fantasy, minis, and the RPG universe fuels everything he does. Always with one foot in the real world and one in the realms of adventure, Rob celebrates art, language, and the joy of bringing ideas to life, whether at the table, in class, or behind the scenes.
