How to Choose a Bedside Lamp
Size and Height
The most common mistake is going too small. Your bedside lamp should be roughly two-thirds the height of your bedside table, and when you’re sitting up in bed, the bottom of the shade should sit at about chin-to-eye level. On a standard 55–65 cm bedside table, that means a lamp around 45–65 cm tall.
Pick Your Switching
Touch lamps let you tap the base to cycle brightness — no fumbling for a switch in the dark, which makes them the perfect bedtime lamp for late-night readers. Prefer a classic switch? Look for in-line cord switches you can reach from bed. Most of our bedside lamps take standard E27 or E14 bulbs, so you can also add a smart bulb for voice control and sleep timers.
Match the Mood with the Right Bulb
For bedrooms, warm white (2700K) is the standard choice — easier on your eyes at night and better for winding down. A 400–700 lumen bulb is ideal: bright enough to read by, soft enough not to light the whole room. Browse warm white bulbs and dimmable bulbs to pair with your lamp.
Style It to Your Bedroom
Pair ceramic table lamps with linen shades for a relaxed coastal look, brass table lamps for warmth and a hotel-luxe feel, or black table lamps for modern and industrial bedrooms. Buying two? Matching pairs on each side of the bed instantly balance the room.
Popular Bedside Lamp Styles
Shopping by look? Our most-loved styles for the bedside: mid-century modern for clean lines and warm retro tones, Scandinavian for calming neutrals and natural textures, industrial for bold metal finishes, and classic stained-glass Tiffany lamps for a timeless statement piece.
Bedside Lamp FAQs
What height should a bedside lamp be?
Around 45–65 cm tall for a standard bedside table. The test: sitting up in bed, the bottom of the shade should sit roughly level with your chin or eyes, so you get light on your book without glare from the bulb.
Should bedside lamps match?
They don’t have to, but matching pairs create symmetry and make a bedroom feel considered — the safest choice for main bedrooms. Mismatched lamps can work in eclectic or guest rooms, as long as they’re a similar height.
What’s the best bulb for a bedside lamp?
A warm white (2700K) LED between 400 and 700 lumens. Warmer light in the evening supports your natural wind-down; save cool white for studies and workspaces, not bedrooms.
Are touch lamps worth it?
If you read in bed or share a room, yes — tapping the lamp off without finding a switch is genuinely useful, and most touch lamps offer three brightness levels so you can go dim for late nights.
How far should a bedside lamp be from the bed?
Sit the lamp centred on your bedside table, usually 30–60 cm from the edge of the mattress. Close enough to reach comfortably, far enough that you won’t knock it reaching for your phone.