Bedside Lamps
About Bedside Lamps
Bedside Lamps for Reading, Winding Down and Waking Up
The light beside your bed does more work than most people expect. It needs to be bright enough for a chapter before sleep, soft enough not to wake a partner, and easy to reach in the dark. Our bedside collection includes ceramic and crystal lamps with fabric shades, rice paper and bamboo lanterns, a reading lamp with a built in clock, a lamp with a wireless charging base, touch dimming light bars, and wall lamps that free up a small nightstand.
Choosing a Bedside Lamp
- Height: When you sit up against the headboard, the bottom of the shade should sit roughly at shoulder height. That puts light on the page without shining into your eyes.
- Dimming: Look for touch, step or remote dimming. A low setting is kind at night, and a brighter one helps when you are reading or packing a bag in the morning.
- Warm light: A warm white glow, around 2700K to 3000K, suits a bedroom far better than cool daylight tones. Several of our lamps let you choose between warm, neutral and white.
- Footprint: Measure the nightstand before you buy. If a clock, water glass and phone already crowd the surface, a slim lamp or a wall lamp is the practical answer.
Placement tip: Set the lamp on the side of the nightstand closest to the bed, and route the cord behind the furniture so you can reach the switch without leaning across. In a shared bed, a lamp on each side lets each person read on their own schedule.
For more ways to layer light in the room, read our bedroom lighting ideas, or browse rechargeable lamps if your outlet is out of reach.
Common Questions About Bedside Lamps
Matching lamps give a calm, balanced look and are the easy choice for a symmetrical bed and nightstands. Mixing works too if the lamps share one element, such as height, shade color or finish. Keep the tops of the shades at a similar height so the pair still reads as a set.
It is ideal when the nightstand is small or you want the surface for books and a glass of water. Mount it so the light falls onto the pillow area when you sit up. Check whether the model plugs in or needs hardwiring before you choose.
Bright enough to read comfortably, but not so strong that it lights the whole room. A dimmable lamp is the safest choice because you can lower it as you get sleepy. If you share the bed, a shade that directs light downward keeps the glow on your side.
