This article will cover 2 important topics:
- The appropriate height of bedroom lamps with respect to a headboard
- And how to choose bedside table lamps.
If your headboard is within a couple of inches high, your lamp’s height should be 2X higher if it’s a floor lamp or the same height if it’s a table lamp. So if your headboard is 13 inches high, your lamp should be 26 inches tall.
If you’re serious about decorating your bedroom and making it the best, then knowing the height and size of your lamps will make a whole world of difference. You don’t want a bedside lamp that’s too tall or shorter than what’s required.
When you’ve made up your mind regarding the lamp, endeavor to consider the overall size of the lamps, the height and width of the table where you will place the lamp on and the size of the headboard.
If you have a bed with a tall and ornate headboard, then you should consider getting a complimentary tall, ornate lamp — it should fit your room well. It will also complement the size of the headboard and the décor of the room.
Apart from determining the height of your lamp and headboard, eliminating darkness in your room, bedside lamps also make your room beautiful.
When you choose the right lamp for your bedroom, it offers not only a source of light but also a source of beauty that makes your bedroom pleasing to your eyes and radiating happiness.
However, the key here is choosing the right bedside lamp to grace your bedroom. As you already know, the lamp doesn’t pick itself. You do. It may look like a daunting task but it’s far less difficult than rocket science. You can choose a great lamp for your bedside if you know what to look for.
When you enter a store to buy a lamp, it can look like an impossible job due to the large number of different designs to choose from, but it’s much easier picking one than you think. In this post, I’ll be giving you tips on what to consider before making a choice about which lamp to go for.
Here are 8 important factors to consider in choosing a bedside table lamp:
1. The theme of your bedroom
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To choose a lamp, you must look at your bedroom where it has to go into. Going to buy a lamp without a plan means you may end up buying impulsively and having to suffer through a lamp that doesn’t fit into your room.
This is why you must know the current theme of your room before buying a lamp. The major component of this theme is the color of your room and the dominating color patterns of the materials in it.
You have to consider the color of the wall because ultimately, your lamp will be beside the wall of your bedroom.
Another element you have to consider is the color of your bed, the bed sheet, the pillows because it is easy to know if your lamp deviates from the theme.
Due to the proximity of your lamp to the wall and bed, you must at least make sure the color of your lamp goes with this parts of your bedroom.
When you define the theme of your room, you can make one of two choices: either to have the color of your lamp blend with that of the wall or make it stand out. But even if the color of your lamp stands out, you must make sure that it complements the general theme of your room.
For instance, if your bedroom has an ancient classic theme, you will want to pick a lamp different from someone who has a bedroom with a modern feel.
When Jackie Hernandez saw a lamp she loved and couldn’t resist the temptation of having it in her room, she painted her bedroom wall grey to make sure the color of the lamp complements the theme of her room. This picture below is how beautiful her bedside looks with the lamp.
See how the bedside lamp blends with the theme of the room.
This is another example of a bedside lamp that goes with the theme of the bedroom.
2. Usage
Apart from making your room beautiful, you also have to define what function the lamp will perform in your room. Because this will determine the type of lamp you will buy.
If your lamp will just be a light source in your bedroom, then you can buy a lamp that has a lampshade with a regular diameter from top to bottom. However, if you have plans to read every night before you sleep, then you want to pick a lamp with a lampshade that opens like a cone.
Below is a lamp that makes the bedside beautiful but also serves the function of a reading lamp.
In fact, you may even see your lamp as an artwork and if you see it this way, you will put more focus on the artful statement of your lamp.
3. Size of bedside table
You have to consider the size of your bedside table before purchasing that attractive lamp. This is because the size of your table will determine the size of your lamp. As a general rule of thumb, the lamp must at least occupy one-third of the top of your bedside table.
But this is not the only thing you have to consider when looking at the size of the table, you also have to consider the height of the table.
Generally, the table is usually as high as the level of your bed. It’s not a set rule though and you may find tables 2 inches higher or lower than the bed level. Whatever the height of your bedside table, it will affect the height of your lamp too.
Another consideration in the size of your table is if it is light enough to be moved around or going to be fixed to an average position by your bedside.
4. The lampshade
Without the lampshade in your lamp, I doubt you’ll love your lamp as much as you do now. In many cases, your lamp’s lampshade could determine whether your lamp is a sight to behold or just another lamp fixed by the bedside and only remembered in the night.
Of course, the lampshade you decide to use for your lamp depends on how you want to use your lamp.
If you’re using it as just another light source to improve the ambient lighting of your bedroom, you can pick a lampshade that has a regular diameter. If however, you like to enjoy a novel or write in a journal before you sleep, then you have to pick a lampshade that provides light for a wide space.
The color of your lampshade is important as it needs to blend with the general style of your room.
Lampshades are made of many types of materials, and the fabric is a common type of material used. If possible, it is advisable to purchase a lamp with a lampshade that has similar materials with your curtain.
Generally, the size of your lampshade is also determined by the size of the base of your lamp. The height of your lampshade should be no bigger than one-third of the height of the base of the lamp.
Also, the diameter of your shade should be at least about 3 to 5 inches more than the diameter of the base of the lamp. It’s important that your lampshade doesn’t block the propagation of light from your lamp and that’s why the lampshade should be wider than the base of your lamp.
5. Height and size of lamp
The height and size of your lamp depend on many things. One of the major determinants is the size of the table you have to place the lamp on.
To make sure that light is not shining into your eyes while reading a novel on your bed, your lamp has to maintain a particular height.
There is one way to determine how high your lamp should be by your bedside: When you sit upright on your bed, the lowest part of the lampshade must be on the same line with your chin. This ensures that the lampshade blocks the light from shining into your eyes but light still shines on the book you’re reading.
Now to maintain this height, you have to consider the height of your lamp. But as your lamp will stand on the table, the overall height of the lamp also depends on the height of the table. It means that if your table is high, then your lamp will be shorter and vice versa.
One other thing to consider in the size of your lamp is the diameter of the base of the lamp and of the lampshade. A big bed and a big table mean your lamp will also be big to maintain the proportion ratio.
In fact, if your room is a big one, then a small lamp will easily go unnoticed, which is the last thing you want. You also have to make sure that your lamp is not too high or far from the bed so that you can switch it off or on without coming off the bed. It should be about 21 to 26 inches which is an arm’s length.
6. Size of your bed
The size of your bed as I said earlier also determines the size of your lamp. One thing I didn’t mention is that the size of your bed also determines the number of lamps you’ll need by your bedside. If your bed is for a couple, then you need 2 lamps on both sides of the bed.
However, if you’re sleeping on the bed alone, you’ll only need one lamp to keep you company. But even if you’re sleeping alone on a king size bed, 2 lamps will look better on both sides than a single lamp.
7. Light Layering
Light layering is all about the 3 functions a light performs in an environment: ambient lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. If your lamp will serve as ambient lighting, then it means it will contribute to the lighting without drawing much attention to itself.
What if you want your lamp to focus on a painting or an exquisite part of your bedroom? Then you can use your lamp for accent lighting.
In a case like this, you may choose a lamp with an opaque shade as this will draw more attention to the light. If you have to use your lamp for reading or writing in your journal, then it is performing a task.
8. Price of the lamp
No matter how beautiful you want your lamp to be, you also have to check your purse. You don’t want your lamp to be an epitome of beauty while you shed tears in debt. I know that’s a bit of exaggeration but you get my point.
Make your room stylish and more beautiful with a unique lamp but do it at a right price for your pocket.
Before we wrap up, Click Here to See Our Collection of Bedside Lamps + Pricing, & Discounts!
A room without a bedside lamp looks odd and I won’t advise you to go for it. A room with the wrong lamp looks odd too and I won’t advise that either.
Before purchasing a lamp for your room, go through these tips and make a checklist of the most important elements your lamp must possess. You’ll set a happy tone in your bedroom and you’ll be glad you did.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to make your bedroom lamp taller than the headboard
The most affordable DIY way to make your bedroom lamp taller than the headboard is to stack a few books under it. Go for books with a strong binding that can double up as a stable base and if you want to experiment with the aesthetics, books with a printed spine are a great choice. You can also buy a frame (wood or metal) to put under the light; you will easily find lamp accessories online. Say you want to increase the height only by an inch or two; slide in a thick mat or glass slab under it.
How does the size of the nightstand lamp affect the size of your room?
Practically, the size of your lamp cannot alter the size of your room but it can surely make it seem bigger or smaller. The more a lamp is able to reflect the light, the bigger your room will seem. If you have a small room, a standard size lamp will serve you well. But if you have a huge room, make sure you get a tall lamp that lights up every corner of the room — more or less. Dark corners can easily steal away from the size of your room and make it look smaller.
What kind of lampshade is best for nightstand lamps
The most common materials used in lampshades are cotton and linen. These fabrics are light, durable, and easy to clean. You can definitely experiment with other fabrics as long as they are woven and allow a decent amount of light to pass through. It’s also a good idea to pick light colors that will allow a decent amount of light to pass through. Anything dark or printed might obstruct the brightness of your room.
How to make the lamp go with the bedroom theme?
The best way to make your bedside lamp go with the theme of your bedroom is through a custom, printed lampshade. Match it with the walls or twin with the bedsheets, custom prints bring you endless options.
How many nightstand lamps do you need in your bedroom
It depends on the size of your room and the number of sleepers sharing it. If you have a small or standard size room and sleep alone, you will only need one nightstand lamp. But if there are two sleepers in that same room, you will naturally need one on either side. On the other hand, if you have a huge room, you will need two lamps on either side of the bed even if you sleep alone.
How far should your bed be from the nightstand lamp
A nightstand lamp should be within your arm’s reach. So depending on the sleeper, it can be placed anywhere between 12 to 20 inches from the bed. Make sure it’s not too close to the bed, else you might accidentally smash it. Also, if the lamp is too close to the bed, the light will fall directly on your face, sometimes even blurring your vision. Without getting enough space to bounce and reflect, it will make your room look dimmer.
