How to Choose a Bedside Table Lamp

The lamp beside your bed works harder than almost any other light in your home. It's the last thing you switch off at night and often the first thing you reach for in the morning. It needs to be bright enough to read by, soft enough to help you wind down, and the right size for a small surface. Choosing a bedside table lamp isn't complicated, but a few simple rules make all the difference between a lamp that just looks nice and one that genuinely works for you.

Start with the height of your bedside table lamp

Height is where most people go wrong. The easiest rule to remember: when you're sitting up in bed, the bottom of the lampshade should sit roughly at chin level. Any higher and the bare bulb shines straight into your eyes; any lower and the light won't reach the pages of your book.

In practice, this means a lamp of around 40 to 60 cm suits most standard nightstands. If your bedside table is low, or your bed frame and mattress are tall, go for a taller lamp. If your table is high, a smaller lamp will often look more balanced.

Get the size and proportions right

A lamp should never overwhelm the surface it stands on. As a rough guide, the base or shade shouldn't be wider than about two thirds of your bedside table, so you still have room for a glass of water, your phone and a book.

For compact bedrooms or narrow nightstands, a slim or small lamp such as BELLINI or TAPER keeps things uncluttered. In a larger room with a generous nightstand, you can afford a lamp with more presence.

Choose the right light: warmth and brightness

The bedroom is a place to relax, so the colour of your light matters as much as the lamp itself. Look for warm white bulbs, around 2700K, which give off a soft, golden glow that's far kinder in the evening than the cooler, bluer light of 4000K and above. To understand the difference in more detail, read our guide to warm white vs cool white light.

For brightness, around 400 to 450 lumens is comfortable for reading in bed without being harsh. If you share the room with a partner who goes to sleep earlier, a fabric or linen shade helps diffuse the light so it stays on your side of the bed. A lamp with a natural, textured shade like LINEA is ideal for this.

Think about how you'll switch it on

It sounds like a small detail, but you'll use the switch every single night. Fumbling for a cord switch in the dark quickly gets frustrating. A few options make life easier:

• Touch control: a simple tap on the lamp, often with several brightness levels. VELA works this way.
• Cordless and rechargeable: no need to place your bed near a socket, and no trailing cables. Have a look at BRIX.
• Built-in USB port: charge your phone overnight straight from your lamp, as with MANGO.
• Adjustable head: direct the light exactly where you need it for reading, like PERCH.

Pick a style that suits your bedroom

Once the practical side is sorted, have fun with the design. A few principles help:

Match the mood, not the furniture. Your lamp doesn't need to match your bedside table exactly. A stone, ceramic or marble base can add a welcome touch of texture next to a wooden nightstand.

Consider a pair. Two matching lamps on either side of the bed create instant symmetry and a hotel-like feel. In a more relaxed space, two different lamps of a similar height can look just as good.

Think about the lamp when it's off. Your lamp spends most of the day switched off, so it should look good as a decorative object too. Sculptural pieces such as ROKA double as a soft night light once evening comes.

A quick checklist before you buy

• The bottom of the shade sits around chin level when you're sitting up in bed.
• The lamp leaves enough space on your nightstand for everyday essentials.
• The bulb gives a warm white light, around 2700K.
• The switch is easy to reach without leaning over or sitting up.
• You love how it looks, even when it's switched off.

Get these few points right and your new bedside table lamp will make every evening feel a little cosier. Browse our full collection of table lamps to find the one that suits your bedroom best, from minimalist designs like STILL to statement pieces.