Bedside Lamps & Table Lamps

These are bedside lamps and table lamps for a nightstand or side table: linen, paper and glass shaded lamps, touch lamps and cordless rechargeable lamps. To choose, start with how warm and how dimmable the light is, then check the height, then make sure you can switch it from bed.

• Warm light: as general guidance, around 2700K or lower suits evenings. Some lamps here list one warm tone and others list three colour temperatures; check the listing, because many do not state a figure.
• Dimming: about a quarter of these listings state dimming. If you read in bed and also want a low glow, look for it in the listing rather than assuming it.
• Height: aim for the bottom of the shade near eye level when you sit up in bed, so you see the glow and not the bulb.
• Controls: about half are touch or tap lamps; the rest use a button, cord switch, pull chain or remote. Pick one you can reach lying down.
• Power: plug-in lamps stay put, USB lamps need a port or adapter nearby, and rechargeable lamps move without a cord. Some lamps that take a standard bulb are listed without one.

For a lamp with no cable, the Sterling cordless touch lamp lists battery power, a tap that steps through warm, neutral and cool light, and press-and-hold dimming. The Birch oak wood bedside lamp lists a solid oak base, a linen shade and a warm 2700K bulb. The Nova mushroom table lamp is corded and lists three colour temperatures with stepless dimming on two dials. The Gleam glass bedside table lamp lists three colour temperatures from its cord switch and measures 18 cm wide by 28 cm tall.

Most listings here do not state height, colour temperature or bulb type, so check the listing before ordering and ask us where a detail is missing.

Read the bedside lamp guide for placement and brightness, or compare touch lamps and LED desk lamps for task light. Sensor and plug-in night lights now live in night lights; projectors are in moon lamps and projectors, and wake-up lights in sunrise alarm clocks. More help is in our guides and tools.