Bedside lamp: how to choose the height, lampshade and warm light

A good bedside lamp lights your book without waking the other person, can be found by feel in the dark and does not take over the whole bedside table. Height, lampshade, warm light, switch: here is how to choose a bedside lamp that really works for you, and when a bedside wall light does better.

The bedside lamp is the light we use most often day to day, in the evening and on waking. Yet we often choose it on impulse, without checking its height or its light.

A useful point: Maison Alméa does not sell table lamps. We offer wall lights and pendant lights. This guide therefore stays neutral about the lamp itself, and shows you honestly when a bedside wall light or pendant meets the same need better.

1. What we expect from a bedside lamp

A bedside lamp has three jobs: letting you read in bed, creating soft light before sleep and guiding you at night without dazzling you. It does not need to light the whole bedroom: that is the job of the ceiling light or wall lights, as set out in our bedroom lighting plan.

If you read a lot, go for light directed at the book. If the lamp is mainly for mood, a soft, low light is enough.

2. The right bedside lamp height

The right reference point is taken sitting in bed, with your back against the headboard: the bottom of the lampshade should come roughly to the height of your chin or shoulder. Any higher and the bulb dazzles; any lower and the light falls on the table rather than the book.

With a very high bed or an ottoman bed, choose a taller bedside table rather than an oversized lamp.

3. Size relative to the bedside table

The lamp should not take over the table: you need room for a book, a glass of water and a phone. Two simple guidelines:

• Lampshade diameter: about half to two thirds of the table's width. For a 45 cm table, a 25 to 30 cm shade.
• Base footprint: no more than a third of the tabletop.

If the bedside table is less than 35 cm wide, the lamp quickly gets in the way. This is one of the cases where a wall light makes more sense, as we will see below.

4. The lampshade: material and shape

A conical or drum shape that flares out at the bottom sends more light onto the book. With a fabric or paper shade, respect the maximum wattage shown: see lights and heat. For care, our method for dusting a lampshade will stop you damaging it.

5. Warm light: kelvins and lumens

In the evening, warm light helps you get ready for sleep. Stay at 2,700 K, or even 2,200 K for a night light. 3,000 K suits you if you read for a long time. We explain this in light and sleep.

A 3 to 5 W LED bulb is enough in most cases. Many bedside lamps use an E14 fitting: our guide to the E14 bulb helps you choose the right one.

6. Switch, dimmer, touch

You should be able to find the switch lying down, in the dark, without turning on a light. A switch on the cable or the base is easier than a button under the shade. Touch lamps switch on with one hand on the base, often with three brightness levels. A dimmer is the best compromise between reading and mood. Our comparison pull cord, rocker or touch details each system.

7. One or two bedside lamps

In a bedroom for two, each person should have their own light, with their own switch. Two identical lamps create a reassuring symmetry; two different lamps of the same height give a more relaxed effect. Either way, keep the same colour temperature. The logic is the same with wall lights, as shown in perfect symmetry on each side of the bed.

8. Common mistakes

• A lamp that is too tall: the bulb is visible and dazzles the other sleeper.
• A lampshade that is too light: the light spreads all over the bedroom.
• Cold light: above 3,500 K, the atmosphere becomes clinical.
• A dangling cable: it catches your feet or the duvet.
• An overloaded table: no room left for a book or phone.

9. The bedside wall light, the alternative

A bedside wall light does the same job as a lamp, but on the wall. It takes up no room on the table, cannot be knocked over and gives the bedroom a hotel feel.

The centre of the wall light is usually placed 70 to 90 cm above the mattress. All the guidelines are in our guide to the bedside wall light, and the pros and cons in a wall light instead of a bedside lamp. As for materials, our warm-light travertine bedside wall light gives a soft glow through the stone.

10. The bedside pendant, the other option

A small pendant hanging on each side of the bed also keeps the bedside table clear, with a more graphic effect. The bottom of the shade sits 45 to 60 cm above the bedside table. Our detailed guidelines are in the guide to the bedside pendant.

11. In short

Choose a bedside lamp whose shade bottom reaches shoulder height when you sit up in bed, a lampshade that directs the light, a 2,700 K bulb of around 250 lumens and a switch that is easy to find in the dark. If the table is small, missing or cluttered, a bedside wall light or pendant does better. To go further, see how to light a headboard.

Frequently asked questions