Best Reading Lamps for Bed: 7 Bedside Lights That Will Not Wake Your Partner
A good reading lamp for bed does one thing well: it lights the page and leaves the rest of the room dark. That rules out most decorative bedside lamps, which glow in every direction. These seven lights from our range are the ones we would put beside a bed if reading is the priority. For the theory, see our guide to reading in bed without waking anyone.
Quick answer
- Best overall: Twin Bedroom Reading Lamp, one light for the room and a separate rotating one for the book.
- Most adjustable: Lever swing arm lamp.
- Plug-in, no wiring: Nook adjustable plug-in sconce.
- Bedside table lamp: Mush mushroom lamp, dimmable down to a night light.
What to look for
A beam you can aim. Rotating heads, swing arms and tilting shades let you point light at the book and away from the other pillow.
Wall-mounted beats table-top for reading. A wall light sits above your shoulder, so the light comes from behind the page and frees up the nightstand.
Warm light, dimmable. Around 2700 K is comfortable for reading at night; dimming lets the same light become a night light.
Our 7 picks
1. Twin Bedroom Reading Lamp
Twin puts two light sources in one fitting: a soft upper glow for the room and a lower lamp that rotates, so you can aim a tight beam onto a book and leave everything around it dark. It is the most complete answer to reading next to someone who is asleep.
Best for: couples, and anyone who reads late.
2. Lever Chrome Swing Arm Lamp
The arm extends and pivots and then stays put. A swing arm gets moved several times a day beside a bed, so the stiffness of the joint matters more than anything else about it.
Best for: beds without a nightstand, and reading chairs.
3. Swivel Rotatable Bedside Light
Swivel rotates about 350 degrees, stiff enough to hold its position and loose enough to turn one-handed in the dark. Aim it at the book, turn it to the wall for indirect light, or away from a sleeping partner.
Best for: small bedrooms where a swing arm would be too big.
4. Basalt Travertine LED Sconce
A travertine face on a solid wood base with a rotating LED head that tilts up and down. It is a precise reading light that also looks good switched off, which matters on the wall you see every morning.
Best for: natural, Japandi and stone-heavy bedrooms.
5. Nook Adjustable Plug-In Sconce
Both the arm and the shade move, so Nook can be a focused reading light, an accent light bounced off the wall or a soft corner light. It plugs into an ordinary socket.
Best for: rented bedrooms and corners with no wiring.
6. Thread Slim Copper Wall Sconce
A slim copper line with a warm integrated LED. It projects barely anything from the wall, so it fits beside a bed where a bulkier sconce would catch a shoulder.
Best for: narrow gaps between bed and wall.
7. Mush Table Lamp
If you would rather not drill, the Mush mushroom lamp dims steplessly from reading brightness to a faint night light and shifts between warm, natural and cool white. It is small enough to leave space for a book and a glass of water.
Best for: nightstands, and anyone who wants one lamp for reading and sleeping.
Where to mount a bedside reading light
Mount a wall reading light so the shade sits about 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 in) above the top of the mattress and slightly forward of your shoulder. Our bedside wall light guide covers spacing and where to put the switch. Browse every wall light or table lamp.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best type of lamp for reading in bed?
An adjustable wall-mounted light, such as a swing arm or rotating sconce, placed above and slightly behind your shoulder. It lights the page without shining into your eyes or across the bed.
How bright should a reading lamp for bed be?
Around 250 to 450 lumens aimed at the page is enough for most people. Dimming lets you lower it once you stop reading.
How do I read in bed without waking my partner?
Use a narrow, aimed beam on your side only, such as the rotating lower light on Twin, and keep the colour warm. Avoid open shades that glow in every direction.
Do I need an electrician for a bedside wall light?
Not if you choose a plug-in model such as Nook or Wick, which plug into a normal socket.
Every Lumenorth order ships free worldwide, with delivery in 3 to 14 business days, and you have 30 days to return anything that does not suit the room.