Buying guide

The best bedside lights for a calm bedroom.

Light a bedroom from the bedside outward: warm, low and easy to switch from bed. Every pick comes from our range, with the figures taken from each listing.

Which bedside light?

By Enso Lighting · Updated 23 October 2026

Vela, our pick for pendants either side of the bed. See it

The quick list

  1. 1 Best for couples Defoe Recessed LED Wall Light £110
  2. 2 Best without recessing Callas Wall Spot Light £56
  3. 3 Best soft glow Lattice Ceramic Table Lamp £195
  4. 4 Best for reading Valen Tripod Table Lamp £215
  5. 5 Best glow Vela Alabaster Pendant Light £270
  6. 6 Best for a sleeping partner Selene Spherical Pendant Light £135
  7. 7 Best classic shape Lira Rechargeable Table Lamp £80
  8. 8 Best for a shared room Cocoa Wireless Table Lamp £50
  9. 9 Best compact shade Amalfi Table Lamp £140
  10. 10 Best for the smallest table Isla Travertine Globe Table Lamp £85
  11. 11 Best night light Momo Rechargeable Mushroom Table Lamp £55
01

A wall reading light

What matters here

  • Mount it 90–110 cm above the mattress to clear the headboard.
  • Set it towards the reader's outer shoulder, not over the pillow.
  • Switch each side separately, so one reads while one sleeps.
All wall lights (53)

Best for couples

1. Defoe Recessed LED Wall Light

Defoe Recessed LED Wall Light — White, Adjustable Reading Spot

£110 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Defoe Recessed LED Wall Light

A recessed reading spot that sits in the wall beside the headboard. The head swivels out to aim a tight pool of 300 lumens at a warm 3000K onto the page, then folds flush with the wall, so there is nothing to knock in the night.

Specifications

Light
LED built in: 300 lumens, 3000K
Light goes
Tight spot onto the page
Size
W 6.7 cm · H 16.9 cm · D 14 cm
Material
Aluminium
Finish
White
Fitting
Wired in by an electrician

What we like

  • Folds flush when not in use
  • Light stays on the page

Good to know

  • Needs a wall void 14 cm deep
  • Hardwired: an electrician job

Best without recessing

2. Callas Wall Spot Light

Callas Wall Spot Light — Antique Brass, Opal Glass Shade

£56 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Callas Wall Spot Light

An antique brass head on a coiled stem that turns and holds its angle, with an opal glass shade over a single G9 bulb. It mounts on the wall surface, 10 cm wide and 15 cm out, and has its own rocker switch, so there is no extra switch to wire in by the bed.

Specifications

Light
G9
Light goes
Aimed beam, softened by opal
Size
W 10 cm · H 15 cm · D 15 cm
Material
Metal
Finish
Antique Brass
Fitting
Wired in by an electrician

What we like

  • Switch on the fitting
  • Opal glass cuts the glare

Good to know

  • G9 bulb not included
  • Hardwired: an electrician job
02

A bedside table lamp

What matters here

  • Sitting up, the shade base should be 50–65 cm above the mattress.
  • Matching pairs feel calm; mismatched lamps at matched heights work too.
  • Fit 2700K bulbs, or 1800K amber where the bulb shows.
All bedside lamps (9)

Best soft glow

3. Lattice Ceramic Table Lamp

Lattice Ceramic Table Lamp — Cream, Linen Shade

£195 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Lattice Ceramic Table Lamp

A cream ceramic base moulded with a lattice relief under a linen shade, 58 cm tall with a 38 cm shade. The linen softens the light so there is no hard shadow edge, and the size suits a deeper bedside with room left for a book.

Specifications

Light
E27 ES
Light goes
All round, soft edge
Size
W 38 cm · H 58 cm · D 38 cm
Material
Ceramic & Linen
Finish
Cream
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • No hard shadow edge
  • Takes a standard E27 bulb

Good to know

  • 38 cm shade needs a deep bedside

Best for reading

4. Valen Tripod Table Lamp

Valen Tripod Table Lamp — Black & Brass, Large

£215 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Valen Tripod Table Lamp

A black and brass tripod with a gold-lined dish shade, 78 cm tall on a 36 cm footprint. The dish gathers light into a tight pool to read beside, so the page is lit and less spills across the bed, which helps when one of you is asleep.

Specifications

Light
G9
Light goes
Down and out, tight pool
Size
W 36 cm · H 78 cm · D 36 cm
Material
Brass, Metal
Finish
Black & Brass
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Tight pool for reading
  • Less spill across the bed

Good to know

  • Tripod needs 36 cm of table depth
03

Pendants either side of the bed

What matters here

  • Hang the shade base at shoulder height when sitting up in bed.
  • Hang it to the outer side of the bedside table.
  • Needs a ceiling point each side: plan the wiring before decorating.
All pendant lights (87)

Best glow

5. Vela Alabaster Pendant Light

Vela Alabaster Pendant Light — Satin Brass

£270 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Vela Alabaster Pendant Light

A small alabaster shade on a brass holder, 17 cm across and 21 cm high. The stone is thick enough to glow rather than glare, so a pair either side of the bed reads as two quiet lanterns, and the 1.8 m cable lets you set the drop.

Specifications

Light
E27 ES
Light goes
All round, through the stone
Dimmable
Yes
Size
H 21 cm
Material
Alabaster / Brass
Finish
Solid Brass
Fitting
Wired in by an electrician

What we like

  • Glows, does not glare
  • Veining differs in each shade

Good to know

  • Hardwired: needs a ceiling point each side

Best for a sleeping partner

6. Selene Spherical Pendant Light

Selene Spherical Pendant Light — Opal Brass

£135 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Selene Spherical Pendant Light

A 25.2 cm sphere: a brushed brass top over an opal glass lower half. The solid top sends all the light down, so it lands on the bedside table and the book rather than the ceiling, and the 3 m cable allows a long drop.

Specifications

Light
E27 ES, bulb not included
Light goes
Down only, opal below
Dimmable
Yes · Trailing edge
Size
W 25.2 cm · H 42.8 cm · D 25.2 cm
Material
Glass / Metal
Finish
Brass
Fitting
Wired in by an electrician

What we like

  • No light up to the ceiling
  • Opal glass hides the bulb

Good to know

  • E27 bulb not included
04

A cordless bedside lamp

What matters here

  • Cordless solves the socket hidden behind a heavy bed.
  • Half an hour's reading a night gives several nights per charge.
  • Keep tunable lamps at warm white in the last hour.
All cordless lighting (17)

Best classic shape

7. Lira Rechargeable Table Lamp

Lira Rechargeable Table Lamp — Brass, Oatmeal Shade

£80 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Lira Rechargeable Table Lamp

A brass stem and an oatmeal linen shade, 41 cm tall with a 20 cm shade, that looks like a wired bedside lamp without the cable. The pale fabric glows all round, and the listing rates it at up to 8 hours a charge.

Specifications

Light
E14 SES
Light goes
All round, through pale linen
Size
H 41 cm
Material
Brass, Fabric
Finish
Brass
Fitting
Rechargeable, no wiring

What we like

  • Up to 8 hours a charge
  • E14 LED bulb in the box

Good to know

  • USB plug not in the box

Best for a shared room

8. Cocoa Wireless Table Lamp

Cocoa Wireless Table Lamp — Mocha

£50 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Cocoa Wireless Table Lamp

A mocha brown lamp, 21 cm tall and 18 cm across, that casts its light downward from under the shade. The glow stays on the bedside table rather than spreading across the bed, and at 30 lumens it is soft enough to leave on while someone else sleeps.

Specifications

Light
LED built in: 30 lumens, 3000–6500K
Light goes
Down onto the table
Dimmable
Yes · Touch dimmer
Size
H 21 cm
Material
Aluminium, metal and acrylic
Finish
Mocha brown
Fitting
Rechargeable, no wiring

What we like

  • Light stays on the table
  • Touch dimmer

Good to know

  • 30 lumens: not for reading
  • Run time not stated
05

A small lamp for a narrow table

What matters here

  • Measure the table top; leave room for a glass and phone.
  • Keep the lamp to about 30 cm across or less.
  • No room at all? Use a wall light instead.
All table lamps (20)

Best compact shade

9. Amalfi Table Lamp

Amalfi Table Lamp — Grey, Linen Shade

£140 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Amalfi Table Lamp

A compact urn of grey stone-effect ceramic with a linen shade, 31 cm across and 44 cm tall. It gives a narrow table a proper shaded lamp, with light leaving the top and bottom of the shade for a soft, even glow.

Specifications

Light goes
Out, from top and bottom
Size
W 31 cm · H 44 cm · D 31 cm
Material
Ceramic & Linen
Finish
Grey
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • 31 cm footprint
  • Proper shade, soft glow

Good to know

  • Glows all round: not a focused reading light

Best for the smallest table

10. Isla Travertine Globe Table Lamp

Isla Travertine Globe Table Lamp — Sand Beige

£85 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Isla Travertine Globe Table Lamp

Only 19 cm tall and 24 cm wide, with an opal globe tilted on a block of travertine. It suits the narrowest bedside or a floating shelf, giving an even, glare-free glow, and it dims when fitted with a dimmable G9 bulb.

Specifications

Light
G9, bulb not included
Light goes
All round, through the opal
Dimmable
Yes · Trailing edge (with dimmable bulb)
Size
W 24 cm · H 19 cm
Material
Travertine (natural stone) and acrylic
Finish
Sand beige and white
Fitting
Plug-in

What we like

  • Only 19 cm tall
  • Travertine base

Good to know

  • G9 bulb not included
  • A glow, not a reading light
06

In a child's room

What matters here

  • Use a very low, warm night light, not a bright one.
  • Add a proper reading light at the bed once books start.
  • Avoid cool-white bulbs; homework light belongs on the desk.
All bedroom lighting (181)

Best night light

11. Momo Rechargeable Mushroom Table Lamp

Momo Rechargeable Mushroom Table Lamp — Green

£55 Free UK delivery over £40 · 30-day returns
Quick look: Momo Rechargeable Mushroom Table Lamp

A green mushroom, 28 cm tall, with no cable to trip over or pull. At 30 lumens it gives the low glow a night light should, and a touch on top dims it; set it to the warm 3000K end and leave the cooler settings alone.

Specifications

Light
LED built in: 30 lumens, 3000–6500K
Light goes
All round, a faint glow
Dimmable
Yes · Touch dimmer
Size
W 15 cm · H 28 cm
Material
Metal and acrylic
Finish
Green
Fitting
Rechargeable, no wiring

What we like

  • Very low 30-lumen glow
  • No cable to pull

Good to know

  • Run time not stated

Questions we get asked

How high should a bedside lamp be?

Sitting up in bed, the bottom of the shade should be at about shoulder height: 50–65 cm above the mattress, depending on your headboard. That lights the page without the bulb entering your eyeline.

How high should bedside wall lights be?

Wall reading lights sit 90–110 cm above the top of the mattress, high enough to clear the headboard and angle down at the page. A recessed reading spot works at about 100 cm, one per side.

What is the best bedside light for couples?

A tightly focused, individually switched reading light on each side. The light lands on one person's page and nowhere else, so the other can sleep.

What colour temperature is best for a bedroom?

2700K, dimmed in the final hour before sleep. Where a lamp shows its bulb, an 1800K amber bulb makes the last light of the day close to candlelight.

Do I need an electrician for bedside wall lights?

Yes, for a wired wall light in a new position: the cable has to be chased into the wall and the work tested by a registered electrician. Plug-in and cordless lamps need no wiring at all.

What light is best in a child's bedroom at night?

A very low, warm night light rather than a bright one: the aim is reassurance, not illumination. Keep cool-white bulbs out of the bedroom and put homework light on the desk.

Not sure yet?

Let the light finder narrow it down.

A few questions about your room, then a short list of lights that fit.

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