What's like a lava lamp but isn't a lava lamp?

June 4, 2023 5:52 PM

Are there any cool, mesmerizing lamps out there OTHER than lava lamps (and their various generic versions)? If I could put six lava lamps on this bookcase, I probably would, but the shelves are too short, and there's nowhere to plug them in. What might I look to buy instead? Bonus points for remote operated, fine with USB or battery. I feel like a lot of LED lamps are just kinda dorm-y or gamercore, and I want something funky and festive....
posted by Charity Garfein to Shopping (16 answers total)

This Etsy store seems to have some really unique lamps made of gourds that project pretty patterns. Not sure if they're mesmerizing in the same way as a lava lamp, but they are in a mesmerizing category of their own and don't strike me as gamerish.
posted by Eyelash at 6:08 PM on June 4, 2023 [3 favorites]

I haven't seen one in a while, but those oscillating wave motion machine used to be a cool thing.
posted by 2N2222 at 6:13 PM on June 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

There are these old lamps called "oil rain lamps" or "drip lamps" that are usually a decorative figure standing inside a kind of cage made of monofilament lines that have oil droplets running down them... hard to explain but very weird in a kitschy/retro way.

Also there are lots of old mechanical animated advertisement lights/signs - the kind of thing where there is a perforated pattern on the outside and a rotating painted drum or disk on the inside, making moving patterns as a result (think waterfalls or rainbows).
posted by niicholas at 6:20 PM on June 4, 2023 [3 favorites]

A Galileo thermometer?
posted by virve at 6:47 PM on June 4, 2023 [2 favorites]

I think the Heng Balance Lamp is quite cool. If that's not quite to your style, there are other very unusual lamps at the same site.
posted by DrGail at 6:48 PM on June 4, 2023 [1 favorite]

Big Clive made a glitter lamp.
posted by kiblinger at 8:25 PM on June 4, 2023

Back in the day, the next step after lava lamps were fiber optic lamps and infinity mirror lights - I think they sell modern versions now that meet your remote / usb asks as well.
posted by Mchelly at 8:41 PM on June 4, 2023

Probably not practical for your space if you do indeed want something that sits on a bookshelf, but:
oil wheel projectors (more)
mirror balls (with different colored lights pointing at them)
posted by ASF Tod und Schwerkraft at 11:22 PM on June 4, 2023

There is a plethora of galaxy projector lamps out there that range from toddler friendly silicone orbs to planetarium grade constellation accuracy to space rave. This one looks like a cute little UFO.
posted by Mizu at 2:58 AM on June 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

I don't know if they'd count as dorm-y or gamercore, but I've always loved plasma globes, and it looks as if they're still pretty readily available. Here's a USB one on Amazon, for instance.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 3:04 AM on June 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

They don’t do anything except change colors but I like these Moon lamps.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 4:41 AM on June 5, 2023

Also there are lots of old mechanical animated advertisement lights/signs

Totally! Search on "beer motion signs" or "beer spectaculars" and you'll find all kinds of cool stuff. They don't make 'em like they used to.
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:14 AM on June 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oh YEAH I get to share these fabulous babies: Jell-O mold salads that are actually lamps! Made of resin, glitter, and fake food.
posted by winesong at 8:13 AM on June 5, 2023 [7 favorites]

Lava lamps use the heat of an incandescent bulb, but I'm a little sorry I didn't buy more than 1 when a local store had them on clearance.

Temu is advertising like crazy, has tons of Chinese goods, and tons of nifty lighting options, including that moon lamp. I got one as a gift and it's quite pleasant. I ordered string lights from them, since they're all made in China anyway, and my order was accurate and took @ 10 days.

I have these string lights; each light changes color on its own cycle. I love them. You could put battery-powered strings of lights in any pretty lantern; they're good night lights.

Now I want that oil lamp; they were popular in the hippie coffee houses of my youth.
posted by theora55 at 9:25 AM on June 5, 2023

> Oh YEAH I get to share these fabulous babies: Jell-O mold salads that are actually lamps! Made of resin, glitter, and fake food.

Those are *terrifying* in the best possible way.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:55 AM on June 5, 2023

These Biolite lanterns are cool, and rechargeable. I use them for camping.

I also have Wyze lightstrips on several shelves. You can set it to various patterns, or to respond to music. They do need to plug in but with a pretty long cord.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:59 AM on June 5, 2023 [1 favorite]