Bedside lamps
Choosing a bedside lamp: four decisions, in order
A bedside lamp should be chosen based on the nightstand it will occupy, not on a photo. Four questions are enough, and each one can be measured.
Reading or sleeping
To read in bed, you need light directed at the page: an articulated arm, swiveling head, or reflector, with the equivalent of a 40 to 60 W bulb, or 470 to 800 lumens. For ambient or night lighting, 100 to 300 lumens diffused through opal glass or a closed lampshade is sufficient. A dimmable model covers both uses on the same nightstand.
Understanding lumensThe right height
While sitting in bed, the bulb should never be visible: the bottom of the lampshade should be placed at eye level or just above. With a 50 to 60 cm nightstand and a mattress whose top is 55 to 65 cm from the floor, a lamp 35 to 50 cm high places the diffuser at the right level. On a narrow table, a base less than 15 cm in diameter leaves room for a book and a glass of water.
Six measured piecesThe color of the light
In a bedroom, the light should remain warm. 2,700 K is the reference warm white, that of the incandescent bulbs of the past; between 2,000 and 2,200 K, the tint resembles a flame and is reserved for ambiance. A color rendering index of 90 or higher restores the colors of linens and skin without dulling them.
Choosing your KelvinsWired or wireless
A wired lamp provides constant light without time limits: the right choice for reading every night. A cordless, rechargeable bedside lamp can be placed wherever you like, on a windowsill or balcony table, and eliminates visible cords, with battery life of a few hours depending on the chosen intensity. This collection includes a dozen.
All cordless lampsThree uses, three lamp families
Reading: the adjustable lamp
The bedside reading lamp is recognizable by its mobile lampshade or reflector, which sends light onto the page and nowhere else. The AJ by Louis Poulsen and the Spider 291 by Oluce are the two historical references; the Pose task by Tom Dixon is a contemporary take on it.
Ambiance: the diffusing lamp
Opal glass, a closed lampshade, or a multi-reflector system distribute light without revealing the source. The PH 3½-2½, the Panthella, and the Atollo were designed for this, and the Nesso and Nessino family does so with a translucent mushroom shape.
Nomadic: the cordless lamp
Rechargeable battery, integrated dimmer, a few hundred grams: the portable lamp has become the bedside lamp for guest rooms and beds without a nearby outlet. The PH 1/1 portable, Bell portable, Pose portable, or Panthella 160 fit in the palm of your hand.
Eight benchmark pieces, and why they are
Eight bedside lamps whose history and design are documented by their manufacturer. They are not the most expensive in the collection; they are the ones that are cited.
AJ
Louis Poulsen · Arne Jacobsen, 1957
Designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Adjustable shade: the architect's reading light.
PH 3½-2½
Louis Poulsen · Poul Henningsen, 1928
Three shades traced on a logarithmic spiral: no bulb visible, no glare.
Panthella 160
Louis Poulsen · Verner Panton, 1971
Dome and trumpet base reflect light downwards. The 160 is the portable version of the original.
Éclisse
Artemide · Vico Magistretti, 1965 · Compasso d'Oro 1967
An inner shell rotates to eclipse the light source: from nightlight to reading lamp, without a dimmer.
Nessino
Artemide · Giancarlo Mattioli, 1967
The translucent mushroom born from the 1965 Artemide and Domus competition, shown here in its compact size.
Atollo
Oluce · Vico Magistretti, 1977 · Compasso d'Oro 1979
A cylinder, a cone, a hemisphere. The brand presents it as the archetype of the bedside lamp.
Spider 291
Oluce · Joe Colombo, 1965 · Compasso d'Oro 1967
A tilting reflector on a chrome stem. The brand's first Compasso d'Oro.
Boalum
Artemide · Castiglioni and Frattini, 1970
Two meters of flexible light, to be placed or coiled on the nightstand. The original bedside lamp par excellence.
Designer bedside lamps: three schools, sixteen brands
Scandinavian
Louis Poulsen defined the Scandinavian bedside lamp: glare-free light, timeless shapes, with the PH, AJ, Panthella, and VL 38 leading the way. Ferm Living and New Works provide today’s version, in ceramic, pleated paper, and marble.
Italian
Artemide and Oluce hold the canon of the Italian designer bedside lamp: Magistretti, Colombo, Sottsass, and Castiglioni left behind award-winning pieces that are still in production. Produzione Privata, Michele De Lucchi's workshop, continues the lineage with the "Bonne nuit".
Contemporary and sculptural
Tom Dixon treats the bedside lamp as an object in its own right, with the Melt, Bell, Pose, and Stone families. Jurie & Jarre, Ferroluce, Atelier Areti, and Hübsch complete the collection, from exceptional bedside pieces to entry-level options.
Colorful, white, or black bedside lamp: filter by color and material
A bedside lamp is the least committal way to introduce color into a bedroom: it can be changed in a minute and imposes nothing on the walls. From light blue to sage, orange to yellow, each shade below opens the filtered collection.
By color
By material
Dimensions: six bedside lamps measured
The dimensions below are taken from manufacturer spec sheets. A 40 cm wide nightstand can easily accommodate a 12 to 18 cm base; beyond a 25 cm diameter, the lamp requires a console or a large table.
| Model | Overall size | Table footprint | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Éclisse, Artemide | Ø 12 cm, h. 18 cm | Ø 12 cm | Nightlight or reading, rotating shell |
| Panthella 160, Louis Poulsen | Ø 16 cm, h. 24.1 cm | Ø 16 cm | Ambiance, cordless |
| Dalù, Artemide | 18.4 × 18.4 cm, h. 26 cm | 18.4 cm | Adjustable ambiance |
| PH 1/1 portable, Louis Poulsen | Ø 16 cm, height 29 cm | Ø 11.7 cm | Ambiance, cordless |
| Atollo piccola, Oluce | Ø 25 cm, height 35 cm | Ø 25 cm | Ambiance |
| PH 3½-2½, Louis Poulsen | Ø 33 cm, height 46.5 cm | Ø 33 cm | Ambiance and reading |
| AJ, Louis Poulsen | width 16 cm, depth 21.5 cm, height 56 cm | 16 × 21.5 cm | Reading, adjustable shade |
Frequently asked questions about bedside lamps
Which is the best bedside lamp?
The one that suits what you do in bed. For reading, an adjustable lamp like the AJ or the Spider 291; for falling asleep, a diffused light lamp like the PH 3½-2½, the Panthella, or the Atollo; for a guest room or a bed without an outlet, a cordless lamp. Our 2026 selection details each model with its measurements.
What wattage for a bedside lamp?
Wattage no longer describes light output since the advent of LED; we now think in terms of lumens. For reading, the equivalent of an old-fashioned 40 to 60 W bulb, or 470 to 800 lumens, which is what a 5 to 8 W LED provides. For ambiance, 100 to 300 lumens. A dimmer allows you to switch between the two. Always check the maximum wattage indicated on the fixture before changing a bulb.
What height should a bedside lamp be?
While sitting in bed, the bottom of the lampshade should be at eye level or slightly above, so that the bulb remains hidden. For a 50 to 60 cm nightstand, this usually corresponds to a lamp that is 35 to 50 cm high. A lamp that is too tall will cause glare, while one that is too low will only light the table.
What are the different types of bedside lamps?
Four categories: adjustable table lamps for reading, diffused table lamps for ambiance, rechargeable cordless lamps, and headboard wall lights, which free up space on the nightstand. For a child's bedroom, a nightlight or a child's bedside lamp meet different safety and intensity requirements.
Corded or cordless bedside lamp?
Corded if you read every night: the light is constant and lasts indefinitely. Cordless if the outlet is far away, if the lamp needs to move from the bedroom to the terrace, or if exposed cables bother you. The battery life of a rechargeable lamp is measured in hours and decreases with intensity; most recharge via USB.
Do you need a bedside lamp on each side of the bed?
In a double bed, yes: each person controls their own light, and the pair structures the headboard wall. Two identical lamps create a calm room; two different models of the same height create a composed room. The only rule is to keep the diffusers at the same height.
Which bedside lamp for a bedroom in 2026?
Three trends are evident in manufacturer catalogs: the portable dimmable lamp that breaks free from the outlet; bold colors, from yellow to orange, on understated designs; and reissues of pieces from the 1950s to the 1970s, several of which feature among our eight benchmarks. Trends come and go, but the height of the diffuser and the color of the light remain the two criteria that make a good bedside lamp.