Bedside Lamps: How to Choose the Right Ones?
In the bedroom, as in the rest of the house in general, the choice of lighting fixtures affects the lighting atmosphere and interior design of each room. In fact, when choosing a bedside lamp, it’s essential to consider not only its design but also the type of light it provides.
Traditionally placed on a nightstand, bedside lamps have undergone many changes in recent years, making it easier to move beyond the traditional small bedside lamp with a white fabric shade.
What are the trending bedside lamp styles, and what factors should you consider when choosing one? Discover all the tips and ideas you need to find a bedside lamp whose style suits your personal tastes and needs—both in terms of lighting and decor.
The Most Popular Bedside Lamp Models
As we just pointed out, the world of lighting fixtures and bedside lamps has opened up to new possibilities, thanks to the emergence of new technologies—particularly LED lighting—as well as manufacturers' desire to offer new designs and new ways to light the area around the bed.
The most common types of bedside lamps are:
- The table lamp, which comes with a base and a lampshade, can be placed directly on a nightstand or bedside table;
- a clip-on lamp that attaches to a nightstand or the edge of the bed;
- the pendant light, mounted high on the ceiling, which hangs down to the level of the bed.
The choice of one of these models affects several factors, starting with the amount of space the nightstand takes up. A table lamp necessarily takes up space on the nightstand, whereas a hanging lamp only occupies one edge of the nightstand and can also be mounted elsewhere. Finally, pendant lights stand out because they leave the nightstand entirely free for other items, though they are more complicated to install, since their electrical connection is located on the bedroom ceiling.
In addition to the decorative aspect of bedside lamps, which is evolving significantly, there are also new features available, such as touch-activated operation with a simple touch of the hand, programmable on/off schedules, integration with home automation systems, and wireless solutions—powered by regular batteries or rechargeable batteries—which are very useful when there is no electrical outlet near the bed.
Selection Criteria
As both a decorative item and a source of light and ambient lighting in the bedroom, choosing a bedside lamp depends on several criteria that are important to consider.
Lighting Power
The light emitted by a bedside lamp—or any type of light fixture—depends on the wattage of its bulb, keeping in mind that bulbs can be interchanged as desired. This light output can be adjusted by various factors, such as a lampshade that is more or less opaque, a dimmer switch built into the lamp, or a gradual dimming feature often found on touch-controlled models.
As a general rule, it is considered that the lighting should be brighter in an adult's bedroom than in a child's bedroom, where the bedside lamp can serve as a soft nightlight.
In the absence of strong preferences regarding light intensity, or when multiple light levels are needed, an adjustable bedside lamp seems like the right solution, since you can simply move the light source closer or farther away as you wish. There are therefore several options that allow you to create different lighting atmospheres with a single bedside lamp.
Dimensions, Height, and Shapes of Bedside Lamps
The dimensions and height of a bedside lamp are important because they affect its lighting range, its footprint, its stability, and its decorative appeal.
As for height, you should follow the recommended guidelines, such as ensuring that the light source is at eye level for the person lying in bed. Everyone can therefore measure their own setup, which will depend on the height of the nightstand, the height of the bed, and the thickness of the mattress. By doing so, reading comfort is considered optimal, aside from the brightness setting, which remains a personal preference.
The overall dimensions (width or diameter) of a bedside lamp should be in proportion to the size of the nightstand, so as to create a sense of harmony in the proportions and avoid taking up the entire surface of the nightstand.
It’s also important to note that the shape of the lampshade plays a key role in how light is diffused. There are many different lampshade shapes, the most common of which are cylindrical (which provides good light for reading) and flared or conical, the latter being very effective at creating a beautiful, soft lighting ambiance. When choosing a lamp with a shade, it’s also important to keep in mind that the shade’s color will alter the color of the light.
Materials and Design
There is a wide variety of materials used in the world of lighting fixtures, and this is also true for bedside lamps. The most common materials, however, are wood, metal, and glass.
The materials and design of the lamp should complement the bedroom’s decor and style. For example, a wooden bedside lamp with a white shade is a perfect fit for a bedroom with a clean, minimalist, or Scandinavian style.
An all-metal bedside lamp can be a great fit for an industrial-style loft bedroom. With this type of lamp—which typically doesn’t have a lampshade—it’s important to know that a bare bulb emits much more light, so you should consider choosing a model with an adjustable or extendable arm so you can control the light intensity.
As for glass lamps, it’s important to remember that because they are fragile if dropped, they should perhaps be used only in an adult’s bedroom.
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