Bedside Lamps

Bedside lighting is one of those things that is easy to get wrong and hard to fix once the room is set up. Too bright and it disturbs a partner. Too dim and it is useless for reading. The right bedside lamp sits somewhere between the two: warm enough to feel relaxing, bright enough to be functional, and easy to switch off without getting out of bed.

Touch lamps have become a practical favourite for bedside use. A single tap adjusts the brightness, a second tap changes it again, and a third turns it off. This is far more convenient than reaching for a switch in the dark, and most touch lamps are compatible with standard LED bulbs, making them easy to set to the right colour temperature for evening use.

Size is important on a bedside table. A lamp that is too wide will take up surface space that is needed for other things, and one that is too tall will position the shade above eye level when you are sitting up in bed, which creates glare rather than useful light. For most standard bedside tables, a lamp in the range of 40 to 55cm tall strikes a good balance.

Matching bedside lamps as a pair is a common approach in double bedrooms, and it works well for creating a symmetrical, pulled-together look. That said, using two different lamps of the same height but different designs is an increasingly popular alternative that adds more personality to a bedroom without looking mismatched.

Colour temperature is worth thinking about specifically for the bedroom. Lamps with warmer bulbs in the 2700K range feel more relaxing in the evening and are less likely to interfere with sleep than cooler, bluer light. If the lamp has a linen or cream shade, it will diffuse the light further and make the overall effect softer still.