Neon lamp

Consider three things before buying: the shape (bird, ring or heart), the colour (pink or multicolour) and the depth of the furniture it will sit on. A neon lamp casts a coloured accent light on a bedside table or shelf, with no drilling or work needed: it plugs into a socket and is set up in a minute.

What light does a neon lamp give?

A neon lamp gives a coloured, even light, designed for atmosphere rather than for lighting a whole room. The models in the collection are listed as LED, some at 1 W: they create a soft halo on a bedside table or shelf, best kept for the living room and bedroom.

The LED base is shared by all three models: the source is a diode, not a fluorescent tube. The light comes straight out of the cut-out shape, with no shade or diffuser to adjust, and the colour stays stable once the lamp is on. So count on accent lighting, enough to read a page or find your things without switching on the ceiling light.

To spread light across a room, a look at low-energy LED lighting is still more effective than a neon. A classic table lamp completes the bedside table when you need to work for a long time. On the shape side, the Neon Flaming bedside lamp draws a pink bird 30 cm tall, while the Anneau Neon-Saturn neon brings several colours together in a single piece.

Where to place a decorative neon lamp in the home?

On a bedside table, a shelf or a low unit: these neon lamps sit on surfaces, they are not fixed to the ceiling. The models in the collection are intended for the living room and bedroom. Two of them carry an IP20 rating, in other words dry indoor use only.

On a bedside table

The depth of the top decides. The ring and the heart measure 30 cm deep on the floor, the bird only 4.6 cm: it slips between the alarm clock and the book. Check that a socket stays reachable behind the furniture, out of the way of feet.

On a shelf or low unit

A row of books, a sideboard, a hallway console: the coloured silhouette reads from a distance and replaces a decorative object. For a real wall, look at wall neons and wall lights, which are fixed and free up the surface.

How to choose your decorative neon lamp?

You choose the shape first, then the colour, then the size. The collection offers a pink bird 30 cm tall, a multicolour ring and a pink heart 20 cm tall, all in plastic and LED. Check the depth of the furniture and that a socket is nearby.

Shapes and colours

Pink pairs easily with an off-white wall or light wood, and two models carry it. Multicolour makes more of a statement and is best kept for an area where it will be alone. One coloured source per piece of furniture is enough: two shapes side by side cancel each other out.

Dimensions and size

Measure the available width and the clear height above the furniture before deciding. A model 30 cm tall stands taller than a book placed upright; under a low shelf, go for the 20 cm of the heart. It is the actual measurements, width, depth and height, that prevent returns.

To compare formats with other styles, the selection of table lamps gives useful size references. A classic bedside model can also be found in the bedside lamps.

How to match a neon lamp with the rest of the decor?

A decorative neon works as a colour accent: it pairs well with a modern or contemporary interior, simple furniture and neutral walls. Pink stands alone on a bedside table, multicolour takes on the role of statement piece on a shelf. One coloured source per area is best.

Modern and contemporary styles

The smooth plastic and closed lines of these shapes go with furniture with clean edges. In an interior busy with patterns, the neon gets lost: give it a calm stretch of wall. The modern styles in the shop give other examples of harmony between material and colour.

Pink or multicolour

Pink plays the role of warm accent and can be repeated without dominating, provided the rest stays understated. Multicolour, on the other hand, clashes with an already colourful wall: it needs white, grey or raw wood. A look through the design pieces helps to visualise this balance.

Custom neon lamp: should you really order made to measure?

Customisation, a first name, a logo or a drawing, is useful when the shape does not exist off the shelf. The models in this collection are finished shapes, ready to place: bird, ring, heart. Before ordering a custom neon, compare the stated lead time, the supplied fixing and the cable length.

A custom neon often arrives without a built-in switch and sometimes requires a separate power supply: ask the question before confirming. Add the price of the transformer and the wall fixing to the overall budget, otherwise the surprise comes at delivery.

How to install and plug in a neon lamp?

These neon lamps plug into a standard socket and sit without drilling: no electrical installation is needed. Place the socket within reach of the cable, avoid walkways and damp areas. The IP20 rating of the relevant models indicates dry indoor use.

Cable and switch position

An inline switch on the cord means bending down: check its position before choosing where to put the neon. For several lamps on the same line, connect them in parallel, with suitable connectors; an LED rated at 1 W puts almost no load on the circuit. Switch off the power at the breaker before any work.

Routine care

A soft, dry cloth is enough on the plastic, with no abrasive product or scouring sponge. Avoid the bathroom and window areas exposed to splashes, IP20 does not protect against water. The LED bedside models need exactly the same care.

Need another format or a higher light? The bedroom lamps and living room lamps complete the setup without cluttering the furniture.

A neon lamp for a child's bedroom, is it a good idea?

Yes, provided you treat it as an ambient lamp: it gives little light and stays on furniture out of reach of younger children. The heart, ring and bird shapes appeal to children. The cable should be held against the furniture so it cannot be pulled.

Choosing the shape

The pink heart is the most instantly readable shape for a young child, the multicolour ring is more fun. The bird, being slimmer, sits higher on a shelf. For a night light that really works at night, a model giving less direct light can be found in the bedroom lamps.

Securing the cable and height

A cable clip or double-sided tape is enough to hold the cord against the side of the furniture. Keep the lamp away from the edge of the top and from the floor play area. None of these shapes is fixed to the wall: the height is therefore set by the choice of furniture, not by installation.

A real Neon-Herz pink heart 20 cm tall fits on a child's chest of drawers without taking up the whole surface.

Delivery, payment and returns: what Designix offers

Three bedside lamp models make up this neon collection, all in plastic and LED, from pink to multicolour, with the dimensions shown on each product page.

Two things to check before confirming: note the depth of the furniture and the clear height, then check that a socket is within reach of the cable. To see where these neons fit among the other light sources in the home, browse our lighting universe and its breakdown by use in the Designix lamp range.

Unsure between a low placement and a higher light? A floor lamp lights at shoulder height and frees up the surface. The affordable models and the budget bedside range let you complete the set without blowing the budget. For an overview, the full lighting catalogue is the place to start.

Frequently asked questions