The Best Lava Lamps For Kids
If your little one has recently decided to take a more active role in their room's decorative choices, don't be surprised if you hear them ask, "Can I get a lava lamp?" Thanks to its vibrant color palettes and groovy visual aesthetic, the lava lamp has become an irreplaceable and iconic staple of kids' bedrooms everywhere. To help you and your kid find the best lava lamp for their room, check out this comprehensive list of our top picks.
What To Look For
A lava lamp doesn’t need too many bells and whistles. Primarily, what you want to see in a high-quality lamp is brightness, color variation, and interesting lava formations. We feel that the lava lamp that best exemplifies these qualities is the lamp we highlighted from Jambo. This offering has a sleek design, an eye-grabbing color scheme, and a reasonable price tag. Alternatively, if you’re looking for something with a theme, Ukonic’s Star Wars lava lamp might be the ideal choice for you. Not only does this top-notch lava lamp feature one of the most popular characters from the beloved sci-fi saga, but it also has an elongated construction that gives the lava plenty of room to move around. Keep reading to find out what we love about the rest of our favorite lava lamps.
Jambo Lava Lamp
Get groovy
If you’re in the market for a lava lamp that looks classic in every way, this option from Jambo might be your best bet. With a sleek design that feels equal parts futuristic and retro, this unique lamp brings together the old and new to create something fresh and special. Plus, we love that Jambo offers this lava lamp in a wide variety of color options.
Pros:
- Sleek design
- Color-changing wax
- Sturdy construction
Cons:
- Sometimes it can take some time for the water to uncloud itself when warming up the wax
Lamp Volcano Lava Lamp
Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow can make us feel vital and alive. Thankfully, this volcano lava lamp utilizes a distinct volcano-like color palette your kid can use to warm up the vibe any time they want. The iridescent base creates some dazzling reflections of the lamplight and the wax moves freely and smoothly throughout the piece. We also love that this lamp tends to heat up more quickly than many comparable lava lamps.
Pros:
- Bright, warm color palette
- The base features depictions of molten lava
- It has glitter mixed in with the wax
Cons:
- A bit pricier than some of its competitors
Lamp Lava Tri-Colored Lava Lamp
Major glow up
If you were hoping to find a lava lamp with a little more glitter than usual, this tri-colored glitter lava lamp is an excellent choice. The hundreds of sequin glitter pieces floating in the wax shone and specked light across the wall like an aquarium tank. The tri-colored design opens the door to all kinds of color-shifting visuals and experiences. We also appreciate the sturdy base construction that keeps the lamp reliably upright.
Pros:
- Unique look
- Great for kids
- Highly affordable
Cons:
- It might not be as visually striking as traditional lava lamps
Lava Lite the Original Lava Lamp
Lost in the swirl
There’s something about the contrast of the bright green and blue with the stark silver plating of the lamp’s base that instantly reminds us of outer space. Much like the color palette of a flying saucer, this lava lamp keeps it minimal but still manages to be striking and affecting. The heating element gets warm quickly, only taking a few short moments to send the hot wax into freefall. We also appreciate the more than reasonable price tag on this model.
Pros:
- Classic lava lamp design
- Heats up quickly
- Durable base
Cons:
- The liquid can sometimes appear murky
Ukonic Star Wars Darth Vader Lava Lamp
Sci-fi style
If your little one is a massive Star Wars fan, this Darth Vader lava lamp is sure to please. This extra-long lava lamp features a realistic depiction of Darth Vader on the top and bottom of the lamp, with plenty of room for hot wax to gurgle and coagulate. Fans of the saga will instantly recognize and appreciate this tribute to the story’s greatest villain. Not to mention, the bright orange light at the base livens up the entire piece and makes the lamp feel even groovier.
Pros:
- Great gift for kids and adults
- The red wax matches the character’s lightsaber
- 3D character depiction
Cons:
- This makes a great gift for a kid, but if you’re buying for one you don’t know too well, make sure you double-check to see if they enjoy Star Wars
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shifting material inside the lava lamp?
The material that gives lava lamps their amorphous, ever-shifting aesthetic is heated wax. The hot wax travels back and forth from the top to the bottom of the lamp, creating new shapes with each pass-through. Some lava lamps take a long time to heat their wax supply, while others do it very quickly, but it always takes heat, pressure, and wax to create the iconic lava lamp look.
Can you use a lava lamp as a night light?
We would strongly advise against using your lava lamp as a night light. Since lava lamps contain heating elements and hot wax, they shouldn’t ever be left on for more than eight hours at a time. To ensure safety, only use your lava lamp when you’ll be present and attentive.
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