A bedside lamp does more work than almost any other light in the house. It is the last thing you switch off at night and often the first thing you reach for in the morning. Getting it right comes down to four simple checks.
1. Check the height
Sit up in bed and look at the lamp. The bottom of the shade should sit roughly at your chin, so the light falls onto a book rather than into your eyes. On a standard bedside table that usually means a lamp between 25 and 45cm tall. Smaller lamps, around 21 to 30cm, suit narrow tables and give a softer, lower glow.
2. Choose the light tone
Light is described as warm, neutral or cool. Warm light, the colour of candlelight, is the one to wind down with. Cool white is crisper and better for reading small print. Many modern lamps, such as the Fulda glass lamp, let you switch between all three, which is the easiest way to get both.
3. Decide how it is powered
- Cordless and rechargeable. No cable at all, so it can sit where there is no socket. Lamps like the Sylt charge overnight and last an evening.
- USB powered. Runs from a USB cable and any phone charger. Simple, and there is no battery to wear out.
- Wired wall lights. Fixed either side of the bed, they free up the whole bedside table. The Rauma amber wall light works this way and needs fitting by an electrician.
4. Match the size to the table
As a guide, the shade should be no wider than about two thirds of the bedside table, so there is still room for a glass of water, a phone and a book. If the table is small, a slim stem or a mushroom shape takes up very little space.
A quick checklist
- Bottom of the shade at chin height when sitting up in bed
- Warm light for evenings, or a lamp with more than one tone
- A power option that suits where your sockets are
- A base that leaves room on the table
You will find all of our table and wall lights in one place in the lighting collection, each with every dimension listed.