Artemide's sleek Itis table lamp pivots to point a concentrated beam of light where you need it most

The want: A crisp, compact light for late nights and gloomy days at the office. It should be sleek and not ostentatious—with a bulb that lasts.

The get: Artemide's Itis Table Lamp ($340 at artemidestore.com) has a 15-inch stem that tilts and pivots to point light where you need it. The LED bulb lasts 50,000 hours and delivers one concentrated beam along with a softer glow diffused through transparent polycarbonate sides. A touch dimmer adjusts from dim to bright. Plus, the base is only five inches in diameter so it leaves room for the rest of your junk.

THE BATTLE OF THE BULBS

What you should know about the most popular light sources

LED

Color/quality: Crisp, daylight-likeEnergy efficiency: ExcellentBulb life: 100,000 hoursIntensity: Brightest (the best)

HALOGEN

Color/quality: Blue-white, clearEnergy efficiency: GoodBulb life: 2,250-3,500 hoursIntensity: Bright

COMPACT FLUORESCENT

Color/quality: Sometimes dullEnergy efficiency: GreatBulb life: 6,000-8,000 hoursIntensity: Kinda bright

INCANDESCENT

Color/quality: Warm, soft, flatteringEnergy efficiency: BadBulb life: 750-1,000 hoursIntensity: Dim