Investing in the best bedside lamps can be an ideal way to make your bedroom more cosy. It puts an end to the ordeal of having to get out from under the covers on a cold night to turn off the big light and find your way back in the dark, plus there are other benefits too. Bedside lamps can deliver directional light so you can read in bed without disturbing your sleeping partner, and they provide softer illumination than an overhead light, so they're less likely to wake your brain up when it should be going to sleep.
Deciding to buy the best bedside lamp is an easy choice; what makes it hard is the sheer volume of options on offer, and naturally, your ideal bedside lamp is likely to be an entirely subjective choice based on things like your personal taste, requirements and bedroom décor. But to make things easier, we've put together a winning collection of options for everybody, from straightforward lamps through to eye-catching designs and a few hi-tech models for gadget-lovers.
There are other options to consider, too, for example if you suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), our guide to the best SAD lamps has some top, medically certified options, while if you'd like your bedside lamp to help you get up gracefully in the morning, see our picks for the best wake-up lights.
Best bedside lamps ranking 2023
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Say what you will, we think there’s something utterly delightful about having the original Pixar lamp by your bedside, or on your desk, or anywhere really. Today’s Anglepoise lamps, including the Type 75, are still made to Sir Kenneth Grange’s original design, managing to be at once retro and ultra-modern, and its handsome design and solid build will ensure its cult status for many more decades to come. For a clean and modern home office or minimal boudoir, this is the one.
Philips makes what we think are the best smart bulbs around, and its bedside lamp offering is well worth a look. Equally great for bedtime relaxation, gentle wake-up calls, and creating ambience wherever you go, our pick for the bed smart bedside lamp is the wireless Philips Hue Go. This little lamp is portable, dimmable, and can turn itself any one of a frankly ridiculous 16 million colours. You can control the lighting with your voice by calling in reinforcements from Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Assistant, and it’s compatible with all smart devices. We may not have the flying cars we were promised, but we do have this. The future is now.
Head to our Philips Hue guide for more info on the range, or hit our Philips Hue deals page if you're on a tight budget.
If you're after a stylish but affordable bedside lamp, head to John Lewis & Partners for this 'Bobby' lamp. Available in a handful of tasteful, muted colours (navy, grey, dusty green), it's a simple design that'll fit in with a range of decor schemes. The frosted glass shade it a clever way of maximising light output and creating a warm glow that won't blind those nearby who happen to look at it directly (always a risk with bare-bulb designs). The fixed stem means it's not fully posable, but the shade itself can be pivoted to direct the light – for example at a book. Reviews are very positive, praising the quality you get here for a relatively low price.
The Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 will function as a bedside lamp, but it does a whole lot more besides. Our current best wake up light pick, the headline feature here is that the Shine 300 can be set to gradually brighten in the morning, cycling through a range of soothing sunrise colours until it reaches peak brightness at the time when you need to start you day. The idea is that it's a more natural way to wake up in the morning than an aggressively beeping alarm clock. Almost everything about the wakeup cycle – from duration to accompanying sounds – is customisable, and there's a sunset option too, to help you wind down at night. It also, of course, can just be used as a regular bedside lamp. Head to our Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 review for a more in-depth look at this option.
A scaled-down version of the ubiquitous HEKTAR floor lamp, our best bedside lamp tops the list thanks to its combination of good looks, build quality, ease of fitting, energy efficiency, and space saving design. HEKTAR comes with a choice of fittings, depending on whether you'd like to affix it to the wall (no pricey or fiddly rewiring required) or clip it to a bedside table or headboard. Wherever you put it, its adjustable design is sure to come in handy – direct the beam towards your book, Kindle, or other favourite pre-bed pastime, or point it out into the room for a softer, more diffused light.
As well as its problem-solving design, reviewers also loved HEKTAR's simple but considered styling. All agreed that its industrial-inspired shape and the pleasing contrast of glossy cream interior and matte gunmetal exterior belied its small price tag – but then what else do you expect from IKEA? Great all round.
Our favourite Habitat bedside lamp is this Habitat Rayner Table Lamp design. We love the pared back lines of the base, in an on-trend brass finish, combined with an exposed bulb. This lamp comes very well reviewed, with customers praising the quality and stylish design, as well as the reasonable price point. A couple of reviewers found the included bulbs too bright, but they're easy enough to switch out for a dimmer option if that's your preference. Obviously you won't be able to stick any old bulb in there are expect it to look good, but if you're happy to invest in some cool looking ones, this lamp is a great day to inject a touch of style into your bedsides.
These Cara bedside lamps, which come in pairs and are part of the John Lewis and Partners Anyday range, have chrome bases that include touch functionality. Tap to cycle between the three different brightness levels (or switch off entirely). The design is smart and understated, with the benefit of a compact size so it'll fit on almost any bedside table, and an extremely reasonable price point. The translucent glass shade diffuses the light to give a soft glow, and remove the risk of blinding yourself if you catch the lamp at the wrong angle. Only want one? The John Lewis & Partners Dexter Touch Lamp is very similar, and comes singularly. Browse our handy John Lewis discount codes to make sure you're not missing a saving on your order.
If you're looking for a lamp that's as beautiful off as it is on, make John Lewis & Partners' Lolly Lamp your go-to. Reviewers loved its fresh, nautical style – courtesy of a classic blue-and-white colourway – finding it both eye-catching and versatile enough to suit multiple decor styles. The ceramic base features hand-painted stripes that make each piece unique and bring a touch of artisanal flair to any bedroom.
Unlike table lamps made with multiple rooms in mind, this designed-for-purpose lamp is perfectly proportioned for bedside tables. Reviewers loved its small footprint, which leaves plenty of room for other essentials, and its height, which they say makes it ideal for bedtime reading. They also found its inline rocker switch easy to use – no more fumbling blindly under the shade with bleary eyes.
- For a dreamy night's sleep, invest in the best mattress you can afford
- Keep reading after lights-out with one of the best Kindles
- Rise and shine with our pick of the best alarm clocks
How to choose the best bedside lamp
Much of what makes a great lamp will come down to your personal taste and kind of vibe you're trying to create – and to that end, check out these bedroom lighting tips for inspiration – but there are a couple of practical considerations to bear in mind before you make you choice.
First: size. The world of interiors is still abuzz with its love of hotel-inspired bedroom decor, and it's easy to get drawn in by outlandishly sized designs with maximalist shades and curvaceous vase-like bases – especially when you're buying online and can't see it in situ. We say leave it for the hallway or living room, where it's less likely to look overbearing (or worse, simply not fit on the nightstand). Our list of the best lamps shows that there's no need to compromise between practicality and luxury, with Italian it-brand Seletti and high-street favourite John Lewis & Partners offering sleek, stylish creations with small footprints.
Then, there's the question of energy usage. For this, consult the energy rating. For bulb-included options like the Philips Hue Go, you're working with ultra-efficient LEDs. For some of our more traditional designs, however, the energy efficiency may vary a lot depending on which bulb you use, which is worth bearing in mind if you're after a lamp for the long haul.
