Should a lamp shade sit at eye level? Slide it and see

A table lamp beside the sofa can feel soft and warm, or like a small spotlight in your face. The difference is often its height. The rule of thumb is that the bottom of the shade sits at about seated eye level, or a little below.

Slide the table and the lamp up and down, set your own eye height, and watch the sightline: when it can slip under the shade and reach the bulb, that is glare. Then measure your own corner, and learn how to fix a lamp that is the wrong height without buying anything.