5 min readWhen I was growing up, I thought lava lamps were the coolest decor accent. The swirly, hypnotic goo and colorful ambient light brought such a “cool girl” vibe that I so desperately wanted. But time passed, I never got one, and these design throwbacks eventually fell out of style. I had forgotten all about them until they started popping up regularly on my Instagram and TikTok feeds, specifically in posts from artists like Studio Shae and Rosectra. Then, I was seeing them everywhere.
Nostalgia has been dominating the trends for a while now—it’s the reason why seemingly every new movie or TV show is a reboot or spinoff, like Elle, the Legally Blonde prequel. Even landlines are cool again. It only makes sense these groovy lamps have eventually made their way back into the mainstream. (Funnily enough, a lava lamp and landline make appearances in the Elle series.)
But lava lamps are more than just nostalgia bait. Many designers now see them as a stylish way to elevate a room’s aesthetic. Ahead, find out why design pros say they’re making a comeback, and check out their tips for incorporating lava lamps—or similar, retro-inspired pieces—into a modern, sophisticated home.
Why Lava Lamps Are Having a Moment
The revival of the lava lamp isn’t surprising if you’ve been paying attention, according to Vanessa Larsson, an interior designer at Planner 5D.
“Maximalism never really left, and the Gen Z aesthetic—color, neon, a bit of glow, and above all personality and nostalgia—has made room for objects that are expressive and unapologetic,” she explains. “The lava lamp fits that mood perfectly: it is warmth, motion, and a wink of the ‘60s and ‘70s, all in one piece.”
However, just because something brings up feelings of nostalgia doesn’t mean it’s going to rise in popularity—it has to resonate. People are embracing homes that reflect their personalities more than resemble a showroom, and the most interesting spaces are layered with vintage finds, unique treasures, and thoughtful investments. Lava lamps fall right into this category. They’re playful and humorous, and every home could use a bit of humor.
“For millennials, there's definitely a nostalgia factor. For Gen Z, it feels like this cool vintage object they've discovered for themselves,” explains designer Marisa Wilson. “Either way, people are looking for pieces with personality instead of perfection.”
How to Style a Lava Lamp in Your Home
Lava lamps used to feel more like novelty items, and maybe they still do for some, but Wilson says she’s been adding them and seeing them in rooms that feel more collected and intentional. She says to commit to this intentionality if you’re adding a lava lamp to your home, but don’t make it the loudest piece in the room.
“I love one tucked into a bookshelf with vintage books, brass candlesticks, ceramics, and framed art,” she says. “It also works on a credenza or in a cozy reading corner where it's adding ambient light instead of competing with the rest of the room.”
Before going out and buying one, though, Wilson suggests finding a vintage one because their proportions and finishes tend to hold a lot more character than new ones today.
Larsson likes to see a lava lamp treated like a sculpture. She says to give it attention; set it on a table in the corner of the room and keep the surroundings monochromatic so the lamp “becomes the only source of color and movement in the frame.” Or you can embrace the dopamine decor aspect and design your color scheme to complement the colors of the lamp. Either way, respect the actual light.
“A lava lamp does its magic in a low-lit setting where its glow can actually do something. In a bright, busy room, it disappears,” Larsson adds.
For even more personality and an emphasis on the sculptural vibe, maybe a regular lava lamp isn’t what you need at all. Artist Shae Hickey of Studio Shae started making her Groove Tubes in 2023 after finding that modern lava lamps tend to be poorly made. Her lamps, some of which are pictured above, sit on uniquely shaped bases with equally as fun toppers that come in many different colors and patterns—some are even skirted—and they’re both amusing and mesmerizing.
Rosectra is another artist who makes lava lamps that are objectively more interesting than the ones you can find in your local mall. She customizes hers with 3D-printed bases or different-colored wax (that’s the goo inside). She’s even been making ones out of old gumball machines.
Though these are harder to obtain than a mass-produced one, these and others like it transform the lava lamp into a one-of-a-kind art piece that’s sure to get attention and add a magnetic layer to any space.
How to Capture a Similar Groovy Vibe
If lava lamps still feel a bit juvenile for your space, there are other ways you can enjoy that ethereal, glowing vibe without sacrificing sophistication.
For Wilson, she captures this warmth through layered lighting rather than relying on a single statement piece. “Table lamps, sconces, candles, and reflective objects all help create a home that changes throughout the day and feels inviting at night,” she explains.
Specific pieces would be Noguchi’s Akari lamps, adds Larsson. “No color theatrics, just an organic sculptural form and a soft, even glow,” she adds, like in the homes below.
If color is what you’re after, Larsson likes artist Sabine Marcelis's resin work, specifically her pieces that trap light inside so the sculptures glow from within. A more accessible option would be IKEA’s donut lamp, which creates the same radiant vibe.
Larsson reaches for Oskar Zięta's steel sculptures to capture movement. “It's as if you extracted only the lava itself, froze it, and hung it on the wall,” she says. “Liquid metal that never stops moving even though it's completely still.” However, if this isn’t within your budget, try a convex mirror or a less expensive abstract light sculpture.
It’s definitely possible to capture the allure of a lava lamp without having to commit to one for your home. No matter your style, your interiors can likely benefit from some movement and warmth.
