bedside lamps

Best Bedside Lamps: Ultimate Guide!

A good bedside lamp can make all the difference between how you feel in your own space. After a long exhausting day, entering your cozy, softly illuminated bedroom is the best feeling ever. And you can make your bedroom your individual heaven through colours, textures, and furniture that suits your needs. The combination of bed lamps, table lamps, and ambient lighting can completely transform your space into a cozy atmosphere.

Finding the perfect bedside lamp can instantly transform your bedroom into your own comfortable sanctuary. Whether you’re looking for a lamp to read by or just create an ambience, the right bedside lighting can make all the difference.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore everything you need to know about choosing the best bedside lamp for your needs.

What Is the Best Bedside Lamp?

The best bedside lamp is one that balances functionality along with your personal style and that of the room. It should provide adequate lighting for activities and complement the bedroom décor. Bedside lamps should also create an inviting atmosphere that is warm and makes your bedroom feel like a true sanctuary. To choose the best bedside lamp, you must be aware of your specific needs. Your choice will also depend on the kind of focused task lighting you need, the brightness you need while sleeping, accessibility as well as how seamlessly it fits into your lifestyle and night time routine.

How to Choose a Bedside Lamp?

As we said above, choosing your bedside lamp will depend on multiple factors, some of which are:

  • The height and proportion : Your bedside lamp should be proportionate to your bed and nightstand. Generally, it should be 20 to 27 inches tall from the nightstand surface and the lampshade should sit at your eye level when you are sitting in bed. This ensures that the light does not shine directly into your eyes and provides proper illumination.
  • The light type. : The brightness of your lamp will depend on the primary use of the lamp. If you need brighter focused light, then you should choose a bulb with 400 to 600 lumens. But if you need the lamp for creating a warmer environment, that softer illumination around 150 to 300 lumens works better.
  • Accessibility : We all have struggled to find the correct switch in the dark and it’s a real struggle. Hence, look for lamps that have easily accessible controls, such as pull chain or modern touch controls that can be easily operated through your mobile phone.
  • The style and aesthetic. : Your bedside lamp acts as a base of decor and furniture in your room and pulls together the entire design. Hence, choose a style that complements your existing decor, whether it is minimalist, modern, traditional elegance or bohemian eclectic style.
  • The shade material. : The lampshade significantly affects the light quality. You can use fabric if you want soft diffuse light, a metal or opaque shade for downward illumination and translucent material for ambient and dark lighting.
  • Stability : You should always choose a sturdy and well-weighted base to prevent tipping and so that the lamp feels solid on your nightstand.

LED Bedside Lamps

LED bedside lamps not only offer exceptional energy efficiency and longevity but are extremely efficient and provide long-lasting brightness. This means you not only save money on electricity but also on maintenance and replacement bulbs over time.

Modern LED bedside lamps come in multiple designs from contemporary sleek models to traditional styles that incorporate the LED technology. The use of adjustable colour temperature to adjust brightness based on your mood is one of the best benefits of having an LED bedside lamp. The absence of heat emission also makes it safer to touch, reduces fire risk and which is particularly important in a bedroom setting where fabrics and beddings are present.

 Best Bedside Lamp for Small Bedroom

 Small bedrooms need bedside lamps that can maximize functionality without overwhelming the space. So, when you are choosing a bedside lamp for your small bedroom, try to go for wall-mounted lamps that save space and provide direct light to where you need it. Look for models that have adjustable arms, can be easily adjusted and positioned for reading and tucked away when not in use.

Clip-on lamps are another safe and space-saving option. They can attach directly to your bed frames or headboard, eliminating the need for a nightstand completely.

There are also slim-profile lamps that provide maximized light and minimum footprint. Multifunctional lamps that can act as storage or charging capabilities also help you make the most of your limited spaces.

 Modern Bedside Lamps

Today the market is flooded with modern bedside lamps that are contemporary with clean lines, minimal aesthetics, and innovative materials. The Light Kart is one of the best online sites from where you can buy modern bedside lamp tables that serves as an art piece and can elevate your bedroom’s minimalist design.

If you want a modern sleek look with a metal finish, then choose a silver bedside lamp or bronze modern finish.

If you are looking for more of a bulky but aesthetic look, then go for lamps that have a stronger and a wider base. If you want a sculptural look that blends in perfectly the modern charm along with artistic features, then go for lamps that combine different materials like glass, metal and with interesting lampshades.You can also go for modern, sleek, and minimalistic designs that are made from innovative materials and act as a piece of furniture in your room while also providing functionality.

FAQs on Bedside Lamp

  • What are the best bedside lamps for reading?

Bedside lamps have versatile uses and one of its most important usages is for reading. As these lamps are adjustable, they can provide focused and directional light with brightness control. When you are choosing bedside lamps for reading, here are the tips to make sure that you choose the best bedside lamps.

  • The LED bulbs in the lamp should produce 400 to 450 lumens for comfortable reading.
  • They should have an adjustable arm or head for positioning the light exactly where it is needed.
  • Use warm white or neutral white colour to reduce eye strain.

Your bedside lamp should also have dimmer switches so you can customize brightness levels. Other top features for the best bedside lamp for reading includes touch controls, USB charging modes, clip-on or clamp designs for space saving, and task lighting design that focuses the light downward on your book. 

  • What colour light is best for bedside lamp?

Warm white light is the best colour light suited for your bedside lamp as it promotes relaxation and also supports our body’s natural sleep cycle. It creates a cozy and calming bedroom atmosphere and does not suppress military production like blue light. It also reduces the strain on your eyes before you’re going to sleep and helps you transition into a state of rest.

Make sure that your bedside lamps avoid school white or blue tone light as they can interfere with sleep quality as they mimic daylight and keep you alert.

A pro tip is to always look for smart bulbs or lamps where you can adjust the colour temperature so that you can use different colour lighting throughout the day based on your routine.  

  • How bright should a bedside lamp be?

Bedside lamps should provide 300 to 400 lumens for general lighting and 400 to 600 lumens if you are reading or doing a specific task.

Brightness should also be changed based on the activity you are doing. For example, while relaxing or watching tv you can use soft dim lights up to 150 to 300 lumens whereas general bedside use for comfortable visibility mostly ranges from 300 to 400 lumens

  • Where to place bedside lamps?

The placement of your bedside lamp can vary based on different features of the lamp itself. However, the ideal position is usually on the nightstand, which is 18 to 24 inches away from the edge of your mattress.

  • The lamp should also be tall enough that the light source isn’t directly visible when you are lying down and prevents glare.
  • Taller headboards might be required for taller lamps.
  • Matching lamps on both sides also create visual harmony, whereas if you prefer the bedside lamp only on one side, then choose the dominant hand side for easy reach.
  • If your bedside lamp come does not have automatic or smart control, then make sure that your lamp is within arm’s reach so that you can turn it on and off without getting up.
  • It should always be away from your pillow zone so that it does not get accidentally knocked over.

If you don’t want to go for the traditional bedside lamp on your side table, you can also go for wall-mounted swing arm lamps, headboard-mounted lights, floor lamps beside your bed, or pendant lights that are hung from the ceiling close to your sleeping area.

Shop the best bedside lamps from The Light Kart