Bedside Lamps

A bedside lamp should work when you are already in bed: easy to operate, comfortable to look towards and small enough to leave the table useful.

Shop the collection

A bedside lamp should work when you are already in bed: easy to operate, comfortable to look towards and small enough to leave the table useful. This selection includes decorative night lights as well as lamps. Decide whether you want gentle orientation light, light for winding down or enough directed light for reading.

Judge height from the mattress

The relationship between the mattress, bedside table and light source matters more than the lamp’s height alone. Picture the shade beside your eyes while sitting up. A lamp that shines straight towards you may be uncomfortable even at a modest brightness; a directed or diffused source can be easier to live with.

Separate a night light from a reading lamp

A decorative scene or softly illuminated shape can give atmosphere without illuminating a page. If you read in bed, identify the light’s useful direction and adjustment range. A low setting may suit winding down, while separate controls let one person keep reading without lighting the whole room.

Plan the charging and cable space

Keep the switch or touch surface reachable beside a phone and water glass. For battery-powered designs, check whether batteries, a rechargeable cell or a USB supply are required. Plan where charging happens so the lamp does not routinely disappear from the bedside when you need it.

Further reading: Energy Rating: choosing the right light bulb

Useful answers

Bedside Lamps: your questions

How do I choose a bedside lamp when the mattress is much higher than the table?

Judge the light from the position you use while sitting up in bed. The combined height of table and lamp determines whether the source shines towards your eyes or reaches the page. Also check that the control is reachable without stretching down past the mattress or moving a water glass.

Can a decorative night light replace a bedside reading lamp?

A gently lit shape may help orient the room without directing enough light onto a book. If reading is part of the routine, compare the useful light direction and adjustment, not only the glow in the product photograph. A separate reading light can serve that job while the night light provides atmosphere.

Should both bedside lamps use the same brightness setting?

Not if the two sides serve different routines. One person may want to read while the other prefers lower light. Independent reachable controls and suitable light direction are more useful than matching settings. Plan the power leads or charging routine for each side so both lamps remain convenient to use.