The 10 best bedside lamps

The best bedside lamps will fill your bedroom with soft, diffused light – just bright enough to read by, but dimmed enough to help you wind down for bed. There are innumerable lamp designs out there to satisfy every possible taste in bedroom decor. From traditional, classic ceramic designs – perfect for pairing with pleated shades or Matilda Goad's woven ones – to industrial and Nordic-style lamps crafted in metal, we are confident you’ll find something you like in our roundup of bedside lamps. 

The best bedside lamps

This iconic table lamp was designed by legendary designer Arne Jacobsen for Louis Poulsen, and will instantly punctuate a bedroom with its slim, black frame and sleek curved shade. 

It's extremely compact, featuring a petite base and a slim shade too, making it ideal for small bedside tables.

Black not your colour? It also comes in 8 other hues. 

With its distinct shape and wide array of colour options, the AJ table lamp is an ideal bedside light.

See Also: Beautiful Bedroom Lighting Ideas

The Ribbon black mini metal table lamp is the latest version of the sculptural, award-winning design by Claire Norcross exclusively for Habitat.

We love the seamless ribbon shape, which makes this lamp stunning whether on or off.

It gives a lovely, soft and warm light which is still bright enough to be used as a reading light, and it's an absolute steal at just £45 – it's no wonder this product has received rave reviews online.

The Milton Task Table Lamp has a very versatile look which would suit most interior schemes, and a compact base that's ideal for bedside tables.

The lamp is fully adjustable, meaning you can angle it to give better reading light at night, and the handy toggle switch on the lamp base makes it an easy bedside lamp for reaching over and switching on in the night – no more fumbling around for the switch!

We love this lamp's matte black and brass colour way, and the warm light it emits making it ideal for creating atmospheric evening lighting.

It has a five star rating online, with customer feedback including that it comes very well packaged, has a quick delivery time, has a nice weight and looks more expensive than what it's priced at.

All in all great value for money.

This leaf inspired bedside table lamp offers designer looks for just £100.

Available in both black or white options, the lamp emits a soft and atmospheric glow, but can also be angled to give better reading light at night.

The compact base makes it an ideal option for a bedside table.

This gorgeous ceramic table lamp was inspired by the shape of an artichoke, and features an olive coloured crackle glaze. It arrives very well packaged, and has received rave reviews online.

This small size is perfect for a bedside table, and it emits a lovely atmospheric glow.

The slender and refined shape of this bedside table lamp has a classic and lasting sophistication. The lamp is finished in soft, dove grey with fine, gold edging, and looks super stylish placed either side of your bed.

This sculptural curved porcelain table lamp is a bit of a breath of fresh air from the endless modern options out there – and we have a feeling this one is less likely to date than others, as it's not trying to be the latest thing.

The reason this ceramic bedside lamp costs what it does is because it was handmade, and individually hand woven. The effect is beautiful, and we love the blush pink colour too. Worth absolutely every penny.

This elegant, classic and dainty bedside light will fit small bedside tables, and suit most schemes with its understated design. It has a stone glaze which gives is a nice vintage-like feel and finish. It's a great quality product for the £95 price tag.

When it tires or you want a bolder design, just update it with a bold lampshade, as shown above.

How to choose the best bedside lamp

While the choice of the best bedside lamp ishould ultimately be dictated by individual preference, there a few general tips that are worth following when choosing your lamp.

Style and shape

Generally speaking, lamps with opaque, rounded bases with soft, ‘empire’ pleated shades are best suited to traditional bedroom styles with plenty of rugs and soft furnishings. Edgier, more angular designs in metal, concrete, or glass tend to be better suited to contemporary bedroom interiors. 

Table lamp or bedside lamp?

Most lamps suitable for bedrooms tend to be called table lamps. That doesn’t mean that they’re only suitable for tables and desks, and there’s no reason you can’t use them as bedside lamps. Traditional bedside lamps tend to come in pairs, but most lamps are sold singly anyway, so you’ll just need two of them if you want a symmetrical look.