Rechargeable lights

A rechargeable lamp runs on a battery: you charge it, then it lights up without a cable thanks to an integrated LED. It sits on a bedside table, is mounted in a hallway or on a terrace, anywhere running an electrical line would be complicated.

The selection brings together dimmable bedside lamps, touch wall lights, pendants and outdoor wall lights. Here is how to choose according to the room, the protection rating and the light you want.

• How a rechargeable lamp works
• Runtime and battery life
• Protection rating and outdoor use
• Where to install it
• Styles, materials and colours
• Colour temperature and dimmer
• Installation and care
• Choosing in store or online

How does a cordless USB rechargeable lamp work?

A rechargeable light runs on a battery: you charge it, then it lights up without a mains connection, via an integrated LED source. Depending on the model, a dimmer adjusts the brightness and a touch control switches the lamp on. Almost the entire selection uses LED, an energy-efficient technology that gives off little heat.

Cordless USB rechargeable lamps: what changes day to day

You choose its spot afterwards, with no socket or cable trunking constraints. In the evening, you move the lamp from the desk to the bedside, place it on a shelf or on a windowsill. A glass vase bedside lamp simply sits on a piece of furniture; a cordless touch wall light stays fixed to the wall and switches on with a fingertip. To equip a whole interior, the Designix lighting catalogue groups the families by use and by room.

USB rechargeable lamps: where to plug in the charging cable

While charging, you need a port or a socket: phone charger, desk power strip, kitchen or bathroom socket. That is the only moment the light depends on the mains. A wall light is often charged in place, without being taken down, or is removed for the duration of the charge. The rest of the time, the lamp lives its life cordless.

How long does a rechargeable bulb last?

Two elements must be distinguished: the battery, which is recharged regularly, and the integrated LED source, which lasts far longer than a conventional bulb. Battery life depends on the power of the model, the brightness chosen and how often it is switched on. So no fixed duration applies to every model.

What affects battery life: power, brightness, dimmer

In the selection, power ranges from 3 to 10 W depending on the model. A lamp pushed to full brightness drains its battery faster than one left on a low setting; the dimmer, found on some of the models, is precisely what lets you adjust it. Use as accent lighting, a few dozen minutes a day, puts far less strain on the battery than use as main lighting. Recharge before the light dims noticeably.

Rechargeable spots: when a fixed light point is more suitable

A rechargeable spot lights a precise area and is mounted or placed near a worktop, under a cabinet or in a hallway. For a bedside table or a reading corner, a dimmable lamp remains more comfortable. If you are looking for a fixed light point rather than a mobile device, recessed spots connect to the mains and free up the worktop.

Outdoor rechargeable lamps: which protection rating to choose?

It all depends on the IP rating: IP54 protects against dust and water splashes and is suitable under an awning, IP65 withstands water jets and handles an exposed terrace. An IP20 model remains reserved for dry indoor use. In the selection, the terrace wall lights and the rope pendants are IP54.

IP54 or IP65: what can be left outside

An IP54 withstands light rain and splashes, provided it is under an awning or a roof overhang. An IP65 takes direct water jets and stays outside without shelter. An IP20 intended for dry indoor use must not stay outside overnight, even in overcast weather. The bohemian cage outdoor wall light is IP54, like the braided rope pendants in the catalogue.

Solar or rechargeable models: which to choose for a terrace

Solar avoids any charging and is installed where the sun reaches, but it depends on sunlight. Rechargeable keeps a constant brightness and is charged from a socket when you bring it inside. On a shaded terrace or a north-facing balcony, rechargeable is safer. To go further, browse the modern outdoor lighting and the models designed for poolside areas in the outdoor pool lighting.

Where to install a rechargeable light in the home?

They are installed where a socket is missing: on a bedside table, in a hallway, a toilet, an entrance without a light point or on a terrace. The bedroom comes first in usage, ahead of the living room, the terrace, the entrance and the dining room. A cordless wall light avoids running a cable through a passageway.

In a toilet or a hallway with no light point, the compact wall light is the most discreet solution: toilet lighting brings together the short formats suited to these narrow passageways. In a damp room, a reinforced rating is better, as in the selection of designer bathroom lighting. Above a table or an island, a braided rope or rattan pendant provides the general light, completed in the evening by a lamp placed on a shelf: see the kitchen lighting and the modern dining room lighting. In the living room, an adjustable floor lamp completes the set, like the floor lamps.

Modern, original or vintage lights: which style to choose?

Style is read in the shape and the material: round, tube, dome or cage, in wood, braided rope, metal or glass. Modern dominates the selection, followed by bohemian and contemporary; the vintage spirit is found more in the gold finishes and smoked glass. Beige and white are the most common colours.

Original lights: round shapes, tubes, domes and cages

You break away from the ordinary through shape and material more than through size: a round lamp in clear glass, a braided rattan dome, a wooden cage or a coloured tube. The round shape dominates, ahead of the tube, the dome and the cage. The original design models bring together these silhouettes, including the Eda beige rope pendant and its conical Rino version. For a room you want more dressed up, the high-end pieces play on glass and gold finishes.

From modern to bohemian: style markers

Modern, the majority, relies on clean lines, metal and aluminium. Bohemian brings rope, rattan and wood, with more generous volumes and soft shadows. Contemporary mixes tube and straight support. The contemporary tube on support Lordaneno illustrates this vein, at home in the living room as well as at the bedside.

Wood, rope, metal or glass: choosing the material and colour

Wood is the most represented material, ahead of plastic, metal, aluminium and rope. Wood and rope warm up a room; metal and aluminium refine the line; glass, clear or smoked, diffuses more widely. In terms of colours, beige and white dominate, followed by black, clear and gold. The beige and rope models match light interiors, while smoked glass is found in the smoked glass lighting. For a coherent set, the bronze adjustable floor lamp combines metal and a dark finish.

Warm white or cool white: which light for which room?

A warm white, between 2700 and 3500 K, suits the bedroom, the living room and relaxing moments. A cooler white, from 4500 to 6500 K, lights work and passage areas. Some of the models accept a dimmer, handy for lowering the brightness in the evening.

2700 to 3500 K for the bedroom, 4500 to 6500 K for work

These ranges are general industry markers, not an absolute rule. Warm white makes wood and fabric tones softer and tires the eyes less at the end of the day. Cool white makes contrasts sharper, useful above a worktop or in a hallway. The temperature is only given on some of the models: the Lorlinaro bedside lamp is warm white, which destines it for the bedside. For the rest, rely on the product sheet.

Dimmer: adjusting brightness to suit the moment

The dimmer adjusts brightness without changing temperature. You turn it up to read, down for a dinner or before sleeping. Nearly four models out of ten have one in the selection, in particular the Cyliva, Vey, Mervano and Fumello bedside lamps. If you are looking for this function at a reasonable price, the modern living room lighting and the LED living room lighting offer several.

How to install and care for a cordless light?

Depending on the model, the wall light is fixed to the wall without running a cable, or the lamp simply sits on a piece of furniture. You first choose the height and the orientation, then charge the lamp in place or take it down. Care stays simple: dry cloth on wood and rope, a gentle product on glass.

Fixing a cordless wall light without running a cable

Mark the height before drilling: a hallway wall light is placed at shoulder height to light without dazzling, a bedside wall light a little above the mattress, within reach. Check the position of the wall bracket and the orientation of the light head. No mains connection is needed, which avoids trunking and chasing into a finished wall. The hallway models are visible in the toilet lighting selection and in the designer living room lighting.

Charging and care: what makes the lamp last

Recharge before the light drops too much, without letting the battery drain completely. For care, distinguish the materials: dry cloth on wood, braided rope and rattan, gentle dusting on aluminium, slightly damp cloth on metal, non-abrasive glass cleaner on glass and smoked glass. A soft sponge is enough on plastic. Repeated, these gestures keep the original tone and finish. On the warranty side, most of the models in the selection are covered for two years, with some exceptional pieces going up to five years.

Lighting store in Lyon and clearance sales: how to choose well?

The choice comes down to three points: the room to light, the protection rating and the type of fixing. Comparing a lighting store in Lyon or watching for a clearance sale does not remove the need to check the material, the colour, the dimensions and the warranty, two years on most of the models in the selection.

A lighting clearance sale in Lyon or elsewhere attracts by price, but the product sheet remains the reference: real dimensions, socket, IP, material, colour. A piece seen in store is often found online with the same specifications, with the detailed sheet in front of you. Before confirming, compare two models on these criteria rather than on looks alone. To widen the comparison, browse all the lighting families, the pendant lighting collection and all the designer kitchen lighting.

Secure payment, tracked delivery, possible returns and Designix customer service to answer technical questions: enough to order with peace of mind. Start with the rechargeable lighting collection and keep the references you have spotted to hand, then confirm dimensions, IP and colour before buying.

Frequently asked questions