- Looking to add some mood to your music studio lighting?
- We sifted through a whole bunch of lava lamps available on the internet and tried a bunch.
- Here are the best lava lamps we could find.
Our Pick: Lava The Original
After returning over 6 lava lamps that had all sorts of issues from leaking and overheating problems, we found that the ‘Lava The Original‘ overshadowed the competition.
It works great out of the box with minimal fuss and zero issues. Modeled after the classic, it houses its beautiful, elegant flowing wax in the iconic design we all know and love. No fancy tricks, just classic, nostalgic vibes. Check it out on Amazon.
The hot volcano graphics on the base and cap match perfectly with the hot lava inside the lamp. It’s like having a mini volcano in your room (without the dangers of molten lava). 2 colors available!
- Minimal fuss and zero issues
- Beautiful, elegant flowing wax
- Iconic design
Read until the end because we’ve also shortlisted a bunch more below that we feel are top contenders for the best lava lamps available on the market!
What A Lava Lamp Can Do For You
Simply adding a vintage lava lamp to your room yields positive results instantly. The mesmerizing globs of searing hot wax have sat atop the mixing console of some of the most famous studios in history and have been present in the recording sessions of some of the most influential musicians of our generation.
Some will scoff and claim that LED lights are the new black when it comes to music studio lighting, and while we do agree LED lights are pretty damn fantastic — they don’t have that same classic analog warmth that you get from a lava lamp.
Lava Lamps Boost Creativity
Your environment affects creativity quite profoundly. A brightly lit desk emanating cold, white light that resembles a hospital ward is obviously not conducive to churning your creative juices, nor is it going to do much to stimulate the frontal lobe of your brain — that’s the area of your brain responsible for making great (and terrible) decisions.
Lava Lamps Promote Relaxation
This point is almost exclusively tied to the point above, because science has shown that creativity emerges when we are feeling at ease, and not stressed by our surroundings.
As studio lighting is such an integral part of our surroundings when being creative, why not add an incandescent bubbly lava lamp to help simultaneously relax and inspire you while you work on your next project?
Best Lava Lamps On Amazon: The Reviews!
1. Schylling 2149 Lava Lamp ‘The Original’ Review
The Schylling range of lava lamps comes in four different color schemes and patterns: northern lights, paintball, rainbow, volcano and zebra. Cycle through the available colors here. Our favorite is definitely the Volcano version.
They’re hands down one of, if not the most popular lava lamp on Amazon right now, with over a whopping 1800 reviews at the time of writing.
It’s a bare-bones, 14.5″ tall, classic lava lamp — with white wax in clear liquid, a tri-colored globe, aluminum base and cap, and a 25-watt light bulb included.
Check it out here.
It's a bare-bones, 14.5 inch tall, classic lava lamp -- with white wax in clear liquid, a tri-colored globe, aluminum base and cap, and a 25-watt light bulb included.
- Classic design
- Popular best-seller
2. Lava Lite ‘Original’ Review
The Lava Lite ‘Original’ is another best-seller on Amazon, and it’s clear why. Modeled after the classic, it houses its beautiful, elegant flowing wax in the iconic design we all know and love. Check out photos here.
As the white lava passes through the multi-colored Colormax glass globe like the real flow of molten lava, it absorbs the different colors and changes tone. The hot volcano graphics on the base and cap match perfectly with the hot lava inside the lamp. It’s like having a mini volcano in your room (without the dangers of molten lava).
There are 3 colors available to suit a variety of tastes, and oozes relaxing, soft light into any room it’s put in.
Comes with a 100-watt reflector light bulb, a silver aluminum base and cap.
Regardless of age, the Lava Lite is bound to be a hit in your music studio, the lounge, DJ area, and even the bedroom.
Check it out on Amazon.
There are also large, 27″ versions available, too (check them out here).
The hot volcano graphics on the base and cap match perfectly with the hot lava inside the lamp. It’s like having a mini volcano in your room (without the dangers of molten lava). 2 colors available!
- Minimal fuss and zero issues
- Beautiful, elegant flowing wax
- Iconic design
3. Retro Rocket Ferrofluid Lava Lamp Review
The Retro Rocket Ferrofluid lava lamp secured its spot on our list as it’s a great lava lamp that does exactly what it’s intended do, without any leaking issues. This lamp actually operates at a significantly lower temperature than the others — the globs are just as lively, if not subdued just a little (extra slo-mo action!).
Users have stated that they welcome the lower temperature as that means it’s a lot more kid-friendly. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any children in our vicinity to test such a theory (probably for the best).
- Black magnetic wax in clear liquid
- Provides relaxing, soft light
- Silver aluminum base and cap
- Energy efficient 15-Watt light bulb included
- Warms up in under 1 hour
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Giant Lava Lamps
If you’re after a giant lava lamp, check this one out…
The Gigantic Lava Lamp by VAT19
Let the good times flow with the Gigantic Lava Lamp, a psychedelic behemoth. This enormous accent piece provides over 2 feet of hypnotic enjoyment and weighs in at over 19 pounds!
Just like a regular-sized lava lamp, the included 100 watt light heats the wax inside the proprietary fluid to create a trippy display and a soft glow of light.
To craft the iconic art deco look, each Gigantic Lava Lamp’s glass is hand blown.
Check it out here.
Ferrofluid Lavalamps
Ferrofluid Magnetic Lava Lamp By VAT19
Add a sleek and curious decoration to your room with the Ferrofluid Magnetic Lava Lamp.
This unique display is similar to the famous lava lamp only the grooviness has been replaced by scientific fascination. Instead of colored wax, the lamp has black ferrofluid, an amazing liquid containing magnetic particles. Use the included magnets to manipulate the weird substance, making it jump, dance, and swirl inside the glass.
If you prefer a more hands-off approach, watch the ferrofluid formulate droplets that rise and fall in the lamp’s transparent liquid. It creates a hypnotizing display that will draw your gaze with its odd beauty.
Check it out here.
Regardless of whether or not you’re looking for a lava lamp, VAT’s site is definitely worth a browse! Honestly one of the most unique stores I’ve ever come across — they have an awesome range of quirky products that would fit great in any home studio.
Lava Lamp Trivia/FAQ
Who Invented The Lava Lamp?
How Do Lava Lamps Work?
Liquid motion is a mesmerizing thing, isn’t it? The beautifully seductive patterns are made possible through the interaction of two different types of liquids contained within the lamp. They are almost identical in terms of density, and the separation is due to the fact that they are insoluble from one another.
Remember how you learned in science class that oil and water are inseparable? The same theory applies here, except that heat is added into the equation as well.
In a lava lamp, the heat generated from the light bulb causes the heavier liquid to absorb the heat and expand. Ironically, the more it expands, the less dense it becomes, causing it to rise towards the top. As the glob floats further and further away from the heat source, it then cools, which then causes it to descend slowly back down.
So what makes lava lamps so damn special?
How Large Are Lava Lamps?
A standard size lava lamp is about 14-16 inches. For context, a bowling pin’s height is 15 inches. We’ve seen lava lamps as tall as 60 inches, though!
What’s The Biggest Lava Lamp In The World?
The biggest lava lamp you can could buy was a $5,500 giant lava lamp tower. Unfortunately, the listing has been taken down so we assume it’s been sold to some lunatic. Word on the street was that it would get so hot due to how much energy it consumed, that it even doubled as a heater.
In September 2013, Mathmos celebrated their 50th anniversary at the South Bank Centre London with the installation of giant lava lamp made up of four separate vessels together containing 120 litres of liquid, making it the worlds largest lava lamp to date.
This lava lamp is almost 8 feet tall and holds over 52 gallons of liquid!
Someone Asked: “Can I Leave My Lava Lamp On Overnight?”
If you’re anything like us, the temptation to leave lava lamps on 24/7 is high. But you shouldn’t. Leaving them on past 8 hours at a time will cause the liquid to overheat, which will affect the lifespan of the bulb as well as the viscocity of the liquids. Be sure to give the lava lamp ample time to cool to room temperature before each re-use.
Looking for more studio setup ideas to help you build and customize the home studio of your dreams? Head to our Studio Setup Ideas category for more glorious studio porn to deck out your music studio with. Also, check out our favorite music studio decor ideas here for even more studio goodies.