Our 3 best tips when choosing a bedside table lamp
When choosing a bedside table lamp for the bedroom, you should be looking for one that balances a soft light with a style you love.
You can experiment with lamp textures, colours, patterns or sizes, as long as you’re choosing one that complements the overall feel and mood of the room.
Remember, your bed is the largest object in your bedroom. Incorporating lamps and other objects of a larger scale will give and overall balanced feel to the room.
1. Choosing the right height for your bedside table lamp
The height of the table lamp is depended on how you plan to use it:
Bedside lamp used for reading
When using your lamp for reading or writing while in bed, you will need one that is tall enough to spread enough light across your book or tablet.
When you sit in your bed, the bottom of the lamp shade should be between your shoulder and your chin. This way you will have sufficient amount of reading light without the light glaring in your eyes.
The height of the lamp base depends on the height of your bedside table. Ideally your bedside table should be a similar height as your mattress. If this is the case, the ideal length for the lamp base will be between 60 and 68cm.
If your bedside table is higher than the mattress, go for a shorter lamp base. If your beside table is lower than the mattress, go for a longer lamp base. (Tip: you can always place books underneath your lamp to increase the overall lamp height)
Bedside lamps used for decorative purposes
The height of your bedside table lamp does not really matter when you only use it as a decorative piece or to provide enough light so you do not have to walk to your bed in the dark.
Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash
2. Choosing the perfect shade for your lamp
Lampshades are not just an accessory for you lamp, they diffuse the light your lamp emits. If you want a lot of light to stream from your lamp, use a lampshade that is opaque. If your goal is less light, choose a shade that is non-transparent.
The width of your lampshade should be about twice the width of the widest part of your lamp. If you have a very thin lamp base, choose a shade that is no wider than the height of the shade.
3. Create Balance
Our table lamp should be in balance with the size of your bedside table and the size of you bedhead.
You do not want your lamp higher than one and a half times the height of your bedside table.
The lampshade should not be wider that the table top. Measure the widest part of your lamp (normally the base of the shade). The total lamp width should be only a third to maximum two thirds of your table width.
