Bedroom Lighting: Bedside Lamps and Wall Lights

Bedside lighting needs to be reachable while seated in bed and low enough that the shade does not shine directly into the other person’s eyes.

A table lamp works when the nightstand is deep enough for the base. The bottom of the shade is usually comfortable just above eye level when you are sitting against the pillows. A swing-arm or fixed wall light is useful when the nightstand is narrow or when both sides of the bed should match without two large lamps.

Use a warm bulb for winding down. If the listing names E26, choose a bulb with that base and confirm whether the fixture is dimmable. Plug-in wall lights avoid new wiring; hardwired lights need an electrical box at the marked height.

Keep the same shade height and finish on both sides when the room is arranged symmetrically. A single floor lamp can serve a corner chair, but it is a poor substitute for light at the bed.