Best Bedside Lamps
It is important to choose the right type of bedroom lighting – not only that it has the power to improve your sleep quality by stimulating a healthy circadian rhythm, but it also allows you to have good visibility at all times of day and night. Whether you’re reading a book in your bed, getting up in the middle of the night for a glass of water, or just waking up before the sun is up, you’ll want a clear but not overly bright source of light at the tip of your fingertips.
Bedside lamps are an important part of bedroom lighting and choosing the right type for your unique needs is important. Despite what you may think, the choice is not that simple. From style to size and lumens intensity, there are plenty of factors to consider before buying a bedside lamp.
| Top Bedside Lamps | Specs |
LimeLights Stick Lamp with Charging Outlet |
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Kenroy Home Rustic Table Lamp |
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Seaside Village Dimmable Touch Lamp |
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Masdio by Ampulla Bedside Lamp |
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Bosceos Set of 2 Touch Control Bedside Table Lamp |
|
Table Of Contents
- What Is the Right Size for a Bedside Lamp?
- Features to Look For in Bedside Lamps
- Dimensions
- Light intensity
- Special features
- Style
- Top Picks For Bedside Lamps
- LimeLights Stick Lamp with Charging Outlet
- Kenroy Home Rustic Table Lamp
- Seaside Village Dimmable Touch Lamp
- Masdio by Ampulla Bedside Lamp
- Bosceos Set of 2 Touch Control Bedside Table Lamp
- Bottom Line
What Is the Right Size for a Bedside Lamp?
One of the most common questions people have in mind when buying a bedside lamp is the size – or more precisely, its height. The reason for this is that the height of a bedside lamp can influence its efficiency in terms of dispersing the light throughout the room. While there are no set rules about ideal bedside lamp sizes, most experts recommend that you first measure your bed and then go from there when determining the right dimensions of your lamp.
The base of the lamp should be at the mattress surface level – presuming that your bedside table is at this height as well, but if it’s lower than your bed it only means that you should go for a taller lamp. The top of the lamp should reach just above the headboard (if your bed frame has one) in order to be able to illuminate the bed’s surface and allow you to read while you’re lounging. Of course, this is by no means a prerequisite but it does make for better bedroom lightning.
In case your bed frame doesn’t have a headboard, then go by a general rule of thumb that the perfect bedside lamp height is between 24 and 27 inches. Just high enough to give good visibility, but not too tall so as to look out of place in your bedroom
Features to Look For in Bedside Lamps
Even though you might be tempted to go for the first bedside lamp that catches your eye or fits your budget, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t many other factors to consider before purchasing. Like all other types of lightning you picked out for your home, bedside lamps should also be both functional and fit in with the rest of the room’s decor. And remember- be sure to factor in your own needs. You might be an avid night reader, have a baby that’s keeping your up at night, or want to create an atmospheric mood in the room – or all of the above – and each of these factors can significantly influence what you need to be looking for in a bedside lamp.
Dimensions
As we’ve already mentioned, the thing to start with is the size of the lamp. Generally, most people go for lamps that are slightly taller than their bed’s headboard- and it’s usually in the range of 25 and 30 inches. This allows good light dispersion and looks aesthetically pleasing both. Another thing to consider in terms of dimensions and design is that the lampshade should be around two-thirds of the overall lamp height.
Light intensity
When it comes to bedroom lighting in general, the last thing you want to do is to go overboard with light brightness and intensity and mess up your body’s natural sleeping pattern. Bedside lamps are usually used before you drift off to sleep or to provide visibility during the night, and in neither case would you want the light to be blinding white. Choose warm white light bulbs or warm-colored LED lights if you prefer (as long as your steer clear from blue tones) and a lumens count of circa 25 to 50 lumens per square meter for optimal visibility.
Special features
While the standard bedside lamp will just turn on and off, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for basic functions if you require a bit more from your lighting. Nowadays, bedside lamp can be dimmable so you get to control the ambiance in the room and adapt to different situations or double as Bluetooth speakers and SAD lamps. There are so much innovation and many clever designs out there that could make sure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck with something as simple as a bedside lamp.
Style
Last but not least is the design itself. It goes without saying that there are countless options to choose from: whether you prefer modern minimalistic design or romantic shabby chic, you’ll easily find a match for your bedroom’s decor. And it’s important to match bedside lamps to the overall look of the room – it can be the perfect finishing touch that ties the room together and makes a focal point if you opt for bolder styles.
Top Picks For Bedside Lamps
LimeLights Stick Lamp with Charging Outlet
Best overall
A good bedside lamp should be practical, easy to fit in with most decors, and provide optimal levels of light for a bedroom – and this design by LimeLights offers all of that and more. With a tall brushed steel base and a minimalistic fabric shade (that comes in 19 different color options), this bedside lamp matches most interiors and looks great paired with bed frames with headboards or without them. The lamp uses a simple and convenient pull chain switch system for turning on and off, which many prefer as you won’t have to feel the lamp in the dark to find the switch.
As an additional bonus, this innovative bedside lamp also has two USB outlets built-in the base so you can use it to charge your phone overnight without having to fuss over additional cables. The lamp uses 60W type A medium base bulb and depending on the color of the shade, you can achieve a cozy warm glow or clear brightness with this bedside lamp.
Who Should Buy This?
If you prefer a sleek minimalistic design and want something that’s both affordable and practical, LimeLights Stick Lamp is a great choice. It is bright enough for reading and with a wide range of shade colors to choose from, you won’t have a problem matching the style of the lamp to your interior.
Pros
- Affordable
- Minimalistic design
- Pull chain switch
- Built-in USB port for charging
Cons
- Cheaply made
Specs:
Dimensions: 8.50 x 8.50 x 19.50 inches
Wattage: 60W
Available styles: 19 different color options to choose from
Kenroy Home Rustic Table Lamp
Best bedside lamp for reading
Bedside lamps can be as decorative as they are functional and this ornamental design perfectly proves it. The design of this lamp was inspired by nature: the earth tones and the leaf shapes and sweeping vines of the base give a rustic appeal to this striking bedside lamp. The oil-rubbed bronze finish looks even better when the light is on as it shimmers and takes on a gorgeous coppery hue in the warm glow of the bulb. But, despite being undeniably beautiful, this bedside lamp is also a great choice for reading in bed.
The 150W bulb that can be put in this lamp is more than enough to give you good visibility while you’re skimming through chapters before going to sleep, yet the high-quality gold-toned fabric shade keeps the light warm and pleasant enough for bedroom ambiance. And if you use a 3-way bulb (which this lamp supports), you can switch between different levels of light brightness to always meet your needs.
Who Should Buy This?
When the style is as important as functionality to you, this gorgeous lamp is the answer. Combining beautiful design with superior functionality, this bedside lamp by Kenroy Home is not just a pretty piece of decor in your bedroom: it makes a great lamp for reading and setting the mood both, as it has a 3-way switch.
Pros
- Beautiful design
- 3-way switch for adjustable lights
- Great lamp for reading
- Compatible with Alexa smart plugs (sold separately)
Cons
- Expensive
Specs:
Dimensions: 15.00 x 15.00 x 31.00 inches
Wattage: 150W
Available styles: Oil-rubbed bronze finish metal base with gold-toned fabric shade
Seaside Village Dimmable Touch Lamp
Best dimmable bedside lamp
The sleek and modern design of this bedside lamp makes it easy to fit in with most bedrooms – whether they are contemporary and minimalist, to classic and elegant and almost everything in between. But it’s not the versatile looks that set this bedside lamp apart – it is its ability to offer you different light intensity at the tip of your fingers. The metal base of this bedside lamp is sensitive to touch and that’s how you control the brightness of the LED bulb that comes with it. You can touch the top or the sides – it doesn’t matter – to go through low, moderate, and high brightness intensity settings. This way, you can use the lamp for reading or to create a cozy atmosphere with its warm glowing light.
The only potential downside is the compact size of this lamp- it’s 17.5 inches tall so if you have a bed frame with a high headboard, it might look a bit off- be sure to double-check the dimensions of the bedside table and bed frame before purchase.
Who Should Buy This?
When you have versatile lighting needs, you need a bedside lamp that’s adjustable. It’s the most cost-efficient and convenient solution, and this budget-friendly, practical dimmable bedside lamp by Seaside Village is a great choice that offers precisely that.
Pros
- Dimmable lights
- Sleek and minimalistic design
- Easy to use
- Comes with its own bulb
Cons
- You have to scroll through all the brightness settings to turn the light off
Specs:
Dimensions: 5.51×5.51×17.52 inch
Wattage: 60W
Available styles: TC cloth shade and metal base
Masdio by Ampulla Bedside Lamp
Best smart bedside lamp
For the tech-savvy, there’s never enough gadgets- and even a bedside lamp has the potential to double as one. This smart design perfectly illustrates this: not only that this is a beautifully designed contemporary bedside lamp but it also functions as a wireless charger and a Bluetooth speaker. The base which doubles as a wireless charger which supports all Qi-enabled cell phones and features stepless dimming light controls that allow you to control the light brightness with smooth touch control. This way, you can effortlessly adjust the light to suit the mood at all times.
When it comes to its speaker function, this bedside lamp delivers a surprisingly crisp and clear sound. Nothing better than to fall asleep with your favorite soothing playlist or wake up with energizing feel-good songs – especially when the playback is seamless and the speaker hid inside a beautiful lamp. The cherry wood shade doesn’t just add to the overall appeal but also gives the light a beautiful warm tone.
Who Should Buy This?
When you want to minimize the number of gadgets you have yet don’t want to sacrifice the perks that come with, this all-in-one bedside lamp design is just the thing. Not only is it beautiful enough to serve as bedroom decor, but it’s also a practical dimmable bedside lamp, Bluetooth speaker, and a wireless charger all bundled into one.
Pros
- Dimmable lights
- Attractive design
- Bluetooth speaker
- The base is a wireless charger
Cons
- Pricey
Specs:
Dimensions: 11.2 x 6.1 x 6.7 inch
Wattage: 20W
Available styles: Wood-print shade and sleek plastic base
Bosceos Set of 2 Touch Control Bedside Table Lamp
Best bedside lamps for couples
A rule of thumb is that one bedside lamp is enough if you’re sleeping alone, but if you share your bed with another person, you will need to have a lamp on both sides of the bed. And while for most it’s best if the lamps are matching in style, lightning preferences of partners often vary. For instance, you might want to read a book whereas the person with you doesn’t need brighter light and wants a soft soothing glow instead. That’s where dimmable lamps come in as a great solution. With three levels of light intensity and brightness, each person can set their lamp according to their own needs.
To boot, these dimmable bedside lamps also have USB outlets built-in within their touch-sensitive bases, so you can minimize the clutter and use them for charging your devices overnight. The neutral grey of the shades makes them versatile enough to fit most decors but it also filters the light from the bulb in a way that’s comfortable to the eyes.
Who Should Buy This?
With an affordable price tag and a versatile design, this set of bedside lamps will fit in with most bedroom decors and budgets. The USB outlets for charging are a nice touch, but the main selling point of these bedside lamps is that you can adjust the light intensity to suit your and your partner’s needs – individually.
Pros
- Dimmable lights
- Versatile style
- Affordable price
- USB outlet for charging
- LED bulb included
Cons
- Plain design
Specs:
Dimensions: 10.23 x 5.51 x 15.94 inches
Wattage: 60W
Available styles: Grey fabric shade with a black metal base
Bottom Line
A good bedside lamp will offer good visibility in the room and allow you to read in bed all without disrupting your circadian rhythm. Furthermore, with the right style choices, a pair of bedside lamps can really transform the room for the better – and be a stunning part of the decor.
Of course, when you’re choosing a bedside lamp for you or your partner, be sure to take into account the other types of lightning in the bedroom and make sure your reading light complements them.
Photo credit: Iglenas/Shutterstock