Wooden book stands

Place a wood reading lamp where you actually read: a wall-mounted swing-arm light above the headboard, a floor lamp beside an armchair. The wooden, cork or bamboo shade diffuses a warm white between 2700 and 3500 K, without dazzling the person sitting next to it. The arm adjusts, the beam lands on the page and nowhere else.

What is a wood reading lamp and what light does it give?

A wood reading lamp is a supplementary light with an articulated or offset arm, wall-mounted or on a stand, with a shade in wood, cork or bamboo. It gives warm white light, between 2700 and 3500 K, plugs in indoors (IP20) and most models in the selection use an E27 base. Others run on an integrated 6 or 10 W LED, or a 10 W GU10 spot. The light is directed, never diffuse: the arm does the work, not the wattage. About half the models accept a dimmer, useful for lowering the intensity late in the evening. To browse the whole catalogue, see all Designix light fixtures.

Where to install a wood reading lamp in the home?

A wood reading lamp belongs first in the bedroom, living room and office, the three most represented rooms in this selection. It also finds its place in a dining room, above a sideboard, and in a workshop. The wall light frees up the floor, the floor model moves from room to room when you move house or rent.

A wood reading lamp above the headboard

In the bedroom, the wall light is fixed at shoulder height once seated, so the beam falls on the book and not in your eyes. It frees up the bedside table, which matters in a small room. The Liègora wall light with cork shade is an example: 90 cm long, 30 cm shade, black arm, E27 base. For another size, compare the bedside reading lamps.

Lighting a sofa or desk with a swing arm

In the living room, a long arm reaches the armrest from the wall. The Livnorissa's large adjustable arm extends from 120 to 150 cm with a 60 cm drum shade, and Ondnorora, with its long articulated arm of 145 cm, suits deep rooms. At the desk, aim for an adjustable head: the Natasja, with flexible arm and cylindrical head, in a 10 W GU10 spot, places light on the worktop without glare on the screen. When the wall cannot be drilled, floor reading lamps do the same job.

Wood reading lamp on a stand or wall light: which to choose?

The wooden wall light is fixed above a headboard or a sofa, without cluttering the floor, and its articulated arm directs the light. The floor reading lamp moves and suits rented spaces. In this selection, the wall light dominates by far, with a floor reading lamp for nomadic uses. The question comes down to three points: whether you can drill, the floor space and the reach needed to get to the reading area.

Which material and finish to choose for a wood reading lamp?

Wood and cork give a matte, warm finish, woven bamboo a more graphic relief. The structures often mix wood, steel or metal for the slenderness of the arm. Velvet and linen dress the shades and diffuse a softer light. Metal remains the majority in the selection, often combined with wood on the shade or the support.

Cork or wood shade: what difference in light?

Cork, beige and matte, absorbs direct radiation and makes the light more enveloping: ideal near a table or a sofa. Wood, with its grain, lets through a slightly crisper warm white. A conical wooden shade on a wooden support, like the Harmonie Lumineuse wall reading lamp, lights a corner of the living room without harshness.

Woven bamboo and velvet: two opposite moods

Woven bamboo casts light shadows on the wall and creates a bohemian mood. Banwé and its woven bamboo shade is the typical case, with a curved arm from 115 to 145 cm and a 50 cm shade. Velvet, on the other hand, rounds the light and dresses the room: see the reading lamps with refined design for that register.

What wall colour with dark wood furniture?

With dark wood furniture, walls are lightened to let the wood dominate: off-white, beige, light grey or sage green. The black and bronze finishes of a wood reading lamp echo the furniture, while a cork or linen shade softens the contrast. The light fixture acts as a link between the light wall and the dark furniture.

Which wall tones for dark wood furniture?

A very white wall hardens the contrast; an off-white or light grey keeps the wood as the focal point. Sage green works because it shares the same family of natural undertones. A wall light in dark tones, like the black models, then picks up the furniture and blends into the decor. For a metallic touch, look at the bronze reading lamps or the gold finishes.

Wood reading lamp and white: the duo that brightens the room

On a light wall, a light shade and a dark arm create the most legible line. The white reading lamps pair well with a dark oak desk or an old chest of drawers. Always keep a difference in tone between the wall mount and the wall: the fixture should stand out, not disappear.

Which base and wattage for a wood reading lamp?

Most wood reading lamps in the selection use an E27 base, with stated wattages of 40 W, sometimes 40 W maximum. Some models run on an integrated 6 or 10 W LED, others on a 10 W GU10 spot. The light temperature is warm white, between 2700 and 3500 K, and all models are rated IP20, so for indoor use only. The E27 base leaves the choice of bulb: it is the most flexible format for adjusting intensity or tone without changing the fixture. For models with an integrated source, see the floor LED reading lamps.

How to adjust and care for a wood reading lamp?

The articulated arm is adjusted to place the beam on the book or the worktop, without glare. Nearly half the models accept a dimmer. For care, a soft cloth is enough on wood and metal, a brush on woven bamboo, and abrasive products are avoided on cork.

Aiming the arm of a reading lamp correctly

First adjust the wall joint, then the middle articulation, finally the head. The beam should fall at about 45 degrees on the page, never in the line of sight. To read as a pair, mount the wall light a little higher and tilt the head downwards: each keeps their own zone. A cylindrical adjustable head, like the one on the Natasja, adjusts faster than a wide shade.

Caring for a wood and cork reading lamp

Dust regularly: dust baked by heat eventually dulls a light shade. On wood, a soft, dry cloth, with no standing water. On cork, neither alcohol nor abrasive, a feather duster is enough. On steel, a damp microfibre then dried avoids marks. Switch off and let cool before handling the bulb.

Why choose Designix for a wood reading lamp?

Every wood reading lamp in the selection is guaranteed for two years. Orders are paid by secure payment, shipping is tracked and returns are possible. Designix customer service answers questions about dimensions, base or mounting before the purchase, as well as after. Before ordering, check three things: the reach of the arm in relation to your reading area, the base accepted, and whether there is a dimmer if you read late. These three points decide the model, not the colour. Find the whole selection on the Designix light fixtures page.

Frequently asked questions about wood reading lamps