Bedside reading lamps

To read in bed without waking your partner, a bedside reading lamp directs its light onto the page instead of lighting up the whole room: you place it just above your line of sight, sitting up in bed. This collection brings together wall lights with articulated arms, table lamps and floor reading lamps, all IP20, mostly in warm white 2700 to 3500 K, with dimming available on part of the selection.

What is a bedside reading lamp and how does it differ from a bedside lamp?

A bedside lamp lights the whole room; a reading lamp focuses the beam on the book, and it adjusts. That is the whole difference when you turn it off: the other person in bed keeps sleeping. In the Designix lighting range, it takes three concrete forms depending on the space you have.

Wall-mounted bedside reading lamp

The wall light fixes to the wall and completely frees the bedside table. Models with an articulated arm bring the light exactly where you want it, like the Articella wall light, in golden velvet on a brushed steel arm, or the Valranara with its adjustable reach. Swivel heads, meanwhile, pivot without an arm: that is the case with the Orély, whose height goes up to 80 cm.

Freestanding bedside reading lamp

Placed on the furniture, it moves around and needs no fixing. The bamboo Ulfric, 39 cm high, combines a swivel head with a woven shade: warm light, natural feel, and a small E14 base. If you are short of space on the floor as well as on the furniture, look instead at the floor reading lamps for reading without a bedside table.

What height for a reading lamp?

The right height is decided sitting up in bed, not with a tape measure: look for the position where the shade sits just above your line of sight when you are lying down, so you can read without a shadow on the page and without glare. Product pages state the useful dimension of each model, maximum height or arm reach.

At what height should a wall reading lamp be fixed above the bed?

Sit in your reading position, mark your line of sight, then choose a model whose dimension allows that setting. Some wall lights top out at 50 cm high, others at 80 cm, and articulated arms cover a reach of 115 to 145 cm or an adjustable offset of 140 to 185 cm. That offset changes everything: short, it lights a book; long, it reaches an armchair or serves both sides of the bed.

Floor-standing bedside reading lamp: how much floor space?

A tall stem like the Astria, 160 cm, slips between the bed and the wall without drilling a single hole. Allow for a narrow base and a foot that slides under the bed frame or the armchair. It is the solution when the bedside table is taken or a load-bearing wall puts you off fixing anything.

What light for reading in bed without disturbing anyone?

For reading in the evening, aim for a warm white between 2700 and 3500 K: it is easier on the eyes and leaves the bedroom in a soft mood. That is the colour temperature of the vast majority of models in this collection. A few wall lights also offer a crisper cool white, around 4500 to 6500 K, best kept for a desk or technical reading.

Warm white or cool white for a bedside reading lamp?

Warm white suits the evening reading corner: it warms up the tones of the sheets and the wood. Cool white gives a whiter light, useful for working, less enveloping for falling asleep. On wall lights that combine both, such as the Helix, you adjust according to the time of day.

Why choose a reading lamp with a dimmer?

A dimmer lets you lower the intensity when the other person falls asleep, without stopping your reading. More than half the models in the selection accept one. On a wall light, the adjustment is made directly on the fitting or via the wall switch, to be placed within reach from the bed.

How to choose a designer or original bedside reading lamp?

A designer reading lamp is recognisable by its line before its spec sheet: articulated arm in brushed steel, round shade, ball, tube or arc shape. In this collection, round silhouettes clearly dominate, followed by ball and tube shapes, then arcs. The right choice is the one that follows your decor, not the trend of the moment.

Designer bedside reading lamp: round, ball, arc and tube shapes

A round shade diffuses widely and softens the wall; a ball concentrates the light in a small volume; an arc throws it further; a tube directs it straight onto the page. In terms of finishes, black remains the most common, ahead of silver and white, then green and gold. Browse the selection of designer reading lamps and its gold-toned versions.

Original bedside lamp: stepping away from the standard model

A reading lamp stands out through a detail: a blue velvet shade like the Pavone, a chrome scissor arm like the Spring, a cylindrical linen shade like the Classy. The boho style exists too, carried by bamboo and natural textiles.

Which bulb base and material for your bedside reading lamp?

The base decides which bulb you will buy again. E27 for the vast majority of models in this collection, E14 on the freestanding lamp, G4, G9 or GU10 on a few wall lights, and integrated LED when the source is not replaceable. The material, meanwhile, changes how the light renders.

E27, E14, G4, G9 or GU10 base: what it changes

An E27 base is replaced in five minutes and is available everywhere. An integrated LED cannot be changed: it lasts, but locks in the source. Check this point before buying, especially if you like changing the tone of your bulbs.

Metal, fabric, linen, velvet or bamboo: what rendering?

Metal and brushed steel give a clean line and discreet reflections, and wipe clean with a soft cloth. Fabric, linen and velvet filter the light and make it softer, at the cost of dry cleaning. Glass lights crisply, bamboo brings a natural warmth. Find these materials in the wood and bamboo reading lamps.

Where to install a bedside reading lamp in the home?

The bedroom remains the primary use, then the living room, then the office. A wall light with an articulated arm frees the bedside table, a floor reading lamp lights an armchair without drilling, a freestanding lamp moves wherever you want. The choice depends above all on the space available around the bed.

Two reading lamps either side of the bed

With two wall lights, nothing clutters the bedside tables any more and each person adjusts their own side. A 6 cm wall plate is enough for the fixing, then the arm adjusts. In a light bedroom, white reading lamps for a light bedside blend into the wall, while matte black finishes draw a clean line.

Bedside reading lamp in the living room or office

Next to an armchair, an adjustable wall light is a good replacement for a bulky floor lamp, and a freestanding model such as the LED floor-standing models lights the spine of a book. At a desk, you want light directed onto the work surface. All models are IP20: dry rooms only.

How to install and maintain a bedside reading lamp?

Start by working out the height from the bed, in your reading position. Then fix the plate to the wall, connect to the room circuit, and adjust the arm or the swivel head. All models are IP20, so reserved for dry rooms, never a bathroom.

Wall fixing and arm adjustment

The plate is fitted at the height you worked out, then the arm extends: adjustable offset of 140 to 185 cm on the Valranara, reach of 115 to 145 cm on the Classy. A wall light with a swivel head needs less clearance than a long arm. The wall switch remains the main control, to be placed within reach from the bed.

Maintaining a fabric, linen or velvet shade

On metal and brushed steel, a soft cloth is enough, with no abrasive product. On linen and fabric, dust dry with a soft brush. Velvet is brushed dry, never damp. Bamboo is cleaned with a dry cloth and dislikes humidity. Glass is wiped with a microfibre cloth, plastic with mild soap.

How to choose between an affordable model and a luxury bedside reading lamp?

An affordable model focuses on the essentials: E27 base, textile shade, round shape, and installs without fuss. A luxury bedside reading lamp adds brushed steel, brass, velvet or a long articulated arm. The whole selection is covered by a two-year warranty, whatever the level of finish chosen.

Wood or bamboo reading lamp for a warm bedside

For a warm bedside, bamboo and wood bring a living material and light filtered through the woven shade, as on the Ulfric. It is the Nordic boho spirit, far from cold metal. The wood and bamboo reading lamps pair well with a light wall and natural bed linen.

What sets a luxury bedside reading lamp apart

What pushes a model upmarket is the noble material, the articulated arm, the velvet or brass shade, sometimes an integrated LED source that simplifies use. Compare the bronze models and the reading lamps with a strong style: for the same use, the finish changes the look, not the way you read. To light a wide area without a bedside table, a floor-standing reading lamp remains the simplest choice.

Tracked delivery, returns and secure payment

Secure payment, tracked delivery and returns are provided across the whole selection, with Designix customer service to help you choose between a wall light and a freestanding lamp. You can also explore all our lighting for the home and the black, discreet models before confirming.

Frequently asked questions about bedside reading lamps