Reading bedside lamp

To read in bed, choose a bedside reading lamp whose light falls on the page and not in the eyes of the person next to you: a low shade, a source below eye level, a warm tone between 2700 and 3500 K. Allow for a height of 12 to 25 cm on a narrow bedside table, up to 50 cm on a tall piece of furniture, with an E27 base or an integrated LED source depending on the model.

What is the best lamp for reading a book at night?

You need a lamp whose light falls on the book and not in the eyes of the person next to you: a low shade, an E27 base or LED source, placed on the bedside table, in a warm light between 2700 and 3500 K. The Designix guarantee is two years on the entire selection.

Best bedside reading lamp: the criteria that matter

Three points decide it: the direction of the light, the height of the source and the tone. The shade must come down low enough to cut the direct gaze. An E27 socket lets you choose the bulb, and a dimmer saves you from getting up to lower the intensity. All the bedside lamps in the selection are IP20, so for dry interiors.

The LumiNova, an LED model with dimmer combines an integrated source and adjustment: you lower the light at the end of your reading without changing the bulb.

Bedside reading lamp: what dazzles without you noticing

The ceiling light switched on at the same time as the lamp creates backlighting, and a cold white between 4500 and 6500 K tires the eyes more in the evening. A visible source, without a shade, acts as a bright point in the field of vision. Turning off the ceiling light and keeping a single warm source often solves the problem.

Reading lamps with a low shade and models with an integrated LED source also avoid the heat build-up of a filament bulb.

Which base and wattage should you choose for a bedside reading lamp?

The models in the collection mainly use the E27 base, complemented by E14, G9 and GU10 sockets and by integrated LED sources. In terms of wattage, there are LED sources from 5 to 10 W and E27 sockets designed for a bulb up to 40 W, to be chosen according to the light you want.

Which bulb should you choose for a bedside reading lamp?

On an E27 socket, a 5 to 8 W LED in warm white is enough to read without lighting the whole bedroom. The modern bedside lamp with an integrated source simplifies the choice: the temperature is set by the manufacturer, around 2700 to 3500 K on the warm models.

E27, E14, G9 or integrated LED base: what are the differences in daily use?

The E27 base leaves you free to replace the bulb with a softer or a stronger one. The E14 and G9 sockets suit small lamps with a crafted shape. The Lueur Élégante mushroom lamp with a G9 base is a good example: close light, a shade that cuts the gaze.

What height and format of bedside lamp should you choose for reading in bed?

On a bedside table, a bedside reading lamp measures between 12 and 25 cm for a narrow bedside table, and up to 50 cm for a tall piece of furniture. The useful height depends on the position of the book: the source must stay at shoulder level or below when you are sitting.

Small bedside lamp for reading: what dimensions should you aim for?

Under 25 cm, the light stays close to the book and does not light up the sleeper. The small formats for a narrow bedside table leave room for the book and the glass of water. The Lueur Sphérique table ball lamp, 12 cm with an E14 base, is one of them.

Bedside table lamp for reading: how far should you move it from the bed?

Allow for a hand's width of offset between the shade and the edge of the mattress: too close, and the light falls behind your head. On a tall piece of furniture, a table lamp of 42 to 50 cm places the source at the right level for reading seated, leaning back.

To decide between two formats, measure the height of your bedside table and the position of your eyes once seated: that is the reference point that decides. Éclat Moderne, a designer bedside lamp with dimmer, takes up a wide surface and suits a tall headboard.

How should you direct the light to read without dazzling your neighbour?

The light must fall on the page, not cross the room. A fabric shade diffuses, a metal or glass shade directs more. Place the lamp on the side of the hand that turns the pages and check that the source stays below eye level when you are sitting.

Directing a bedside lamp for reading: fabric, metal or glass?

Fabric softens and spreads the light: handy when two people share the bed. Metal and glass concentrate the beam downwards. Glass globes and shades need a little attention with placement, the wood versions with a textile shade are more forgiving.

Do you need a bedside lamp with a dimmer?

Useful when you read for a long time and lower the intensity before sleeping, without getting up. An integrated dimmer avoids adding a wall control. Warm white remains the reading tone; cold white, between 4500 and 6500 K, is better suited to a desk than a bedroom. The IP20 rating of the models indicates indoor use, protected from water splashes.

Bedside lamp for a child to read: how should you choose it?

For a child, look for a stable lamp, in metal or wood, whose source is not directly visible and does not heat the hand. Models with an integrated LED source and small formats in glass or ball shape work well, often in warm light to accompany the bedtime moment.

Bedside lamp for a child to read: LED or interchangeable bulb?

The integrated LED avoids handling a bulb within reach and gives off little heat. The interchangeable bulb, on an E14 or E27 socket, lets you replace the source with a softer one if the child finds it too strong. In both cases, aim for a shade closed towards the top.

Where should you place a child's bedside lamp?

On a shelf or a bedside table fixed to the wall, out of the path between the bed and the door. Children's bedside lamps in a small format slip onto a narrow surface and stay within reach for shared reading as well as independent reading.

Italian, vintage or contemporary designer bedside lamp: which style for the bedroom?

The collection blends contemporary and modern lines, ball, tube or oval shapes and black, white, gold or beige finishes. A contemporary or minimalist style goes with clean interiors, a vintage or industrial model brings character, a jungle or original spirit works well in a child's bedroom.

Designer bedside lamp: how should you match it to the rest of the bedroom?

Start from the furniture already in place: a light wood bedside table calls for a metal or brass base, a dark wall supports a light shade. The designer bedside pieces with fine lines, glass and metal, evoke Italian design without overloading. The industrial models in glass and metal play a rawer register.

Black, gold or white finishes: which should you choose?

Black visually disappears and leaves the light as the only object. Gold warms a bedroom in neutral tones. White and beige blend into a light wall. For a less expected result, the more original pieces rely on glass, marble or concrete, with the same E27 base in most cases.

How do you connect several lamps to a single electrical supply?

Two bedside lamps are most often plugged into a power strip or a double socket, without exceeding the wattage intended for the line. For a fixed connection, the work is done as a spur, with the power off, and it is better to entrust the wiring to an electrician. The whole selection is IP20, for indoor use.

How many lamps can you plug into the same socket?

Two lamps with an LED source, which consume little, go without difficulty on a quality power strip. The limit comes from the line and the other appliances already plugged into it: a heater or a powerful charger changes things. If in doubt, spread them over two wall sockets.

Bedside lamp with a switch or a smart plug: which should you choose?

The switch built into the base or the cable avoids adding a wall control, and a dimmer adjusts the intensity at your fingertips. A smart plug works when the lamp stays far from the bed. Designix lamps plug into a standard socket, without modifying the circuit.

Should you complete the reading lamp with a chandelier, a floor lamp or a WC light fixture?

A bedside reading lamp serves a specific purpose: it does not light the whole room. In a living room, a chandelier or a floor lamp provides the general light, while a wall light handles the passageways. For modern kitchen decor or a WC light fixture, look mainly at the format and the material.

Large chandelier for a high ceiling and bedside lamp: how do you make them coexist?

The chandelier lights the room, the bedside lamp lights the page: the two do not replace each other. In a bedroom with a large volume, a ceiling light too low in the field of vision hinders reading; better to have a diffuse general light and a low point on the bedside table.

Living room floor lamp: what role alongside reading lamps?

A floor lamp replaces the ceiling light for the additional lighting of a reading corner or a sofa. In passageways and wet rooms, wall lights and wall lamps free up the floor. To equip a complete bedroom, the bedside lamps for the bedroom and the light fixtures for the whole home are chosen together, keeping the same family of warm tones.

Secure payment, tracked delivery, possible returns and Designix customer service: the selection is covered by a two-year guarantee, and the most affordable models are still designed for the same daily use.

Frequently asked questions