We end each and every night with a good book and about 30-60 minutes to delve into fictional tales or factual information. After a whole day of working online all day, cozying up with a book eases us into the comfortable and relaxed state for sleep. Having the right lighting for a reader can make a big difference too, so we put together this top ten of best reader's lights, ranging from affordable Target and IKEA offerings to lamps that you might need to dream up some money for....
Elise Mini Table Lamp: this small footprint light is very same lamp that sits in the corner of our bedside corner shelf. It has an adjustable dimming operation and is built with sturdy construction (our cats have knocked it down a few times with hardly a scratch).
Bureau DeBank Reading-lamp: a lamp and magazine rack in one, a great idea for us chronic magazine readers (our mags are sadly draped below and around our bed in the semblance of stacks).
Cate & Nelson Fiat Lux: Like the Bureau DeBank lamp above, the Fiat Lux has a built-in slot for reading material. The Fiat Lux is roomier, accommodating books or magazines. When turned on, the words "Fiat Lux" ("let there be light") become visible on the side of the lamp.
IKEA Kulla Table Lamp: we've always thought IKEA was at their best when they offer simple, modern, no-frills design like this Kulla table lamp. Available in 3 colours with three-way touch dimmer that let you turn on and off/dim by touching the dimmer after you've finished your New York Times bestseller. The $49.95 price tag is as easy on wallet as the lamp is on the eyes.
FLOS Kelvin Lamps: we don't have the room for an articulating lamp, but we think these are the best for serious reading lighting. The Antonio Citterio with Toan Nguyen design lamps come in floor, table and wall mount versions. Sleek, but not slick, the Kelvin line reminds us of a metal sheathed bonnet.
Habitat Flut Tube Lamp: Here's an idea shown several years back in an issue of Livingetc (April 2005) showing the Habitat Flut light positioned on the underside of a bed nook. A very clean finish for a modern bedroom and the lamp should provide ample illumination for your greatest sized tomes.
Northernlighting Seed: inspired by the shape of a plant emerging from a seed, the wall-mounted reading lamp uses energy saving LED bulbs and can be shaped into whatever need you might have while enjoying your read. Added bonus: buy a couple in green and you can do an impressive impression of Shrek too.
Target Contemporary Steel Table Lamp: Nothing fancy about this handsome lamp. What makes it a great reader's option is the shape of the base, with an ample spot to drop your paperback or reading glasses onto.
Black+Blum "Turn Me On": like the Elise above, the "Turn Me On" is notable for a space saving design; its form has been divided into a lamp half, with one side complete flat for easy positioning against a wall. The lamp hides two bulbs, one 60 watt bulb above and another 25 watt bottom bulb for an ambient glow.
Diogenes floor lamp: not really a bedside lamp, but a model that could be positioned bedside for a towering light source. We love the positionable light and the additional upward indirect lighting.
Other bedside lamp posts:
10 Best Bedside Lamps
On the Side: Bedside Sconce or Lamp?
DIY Lace Bedside Table & Lamp
Alternative Nightstands
Spruce up the Bedroom with Great Lighting
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
The Fiat Lux and IKEA lamps - while clever and nice looking - appear to be very poor choices for reading lamps on a bedside table (the top of which should ideally be the same height as the top of the mattress) as the light would be directed down to the surface below and straight up to the ceiling by the impenetrable shades rather than over to where the reading material would be as you sit up in bed.
Directable lights such as the Flos and Northernseed Lamps would be great for folks who sleep with a partner and don't want general lighting to interrupt their partner's sleep.
view bepsf's profile
I am currently using the IKEA Korsby as my bedside light. I particularly like that it has a dim and bright setting. One thing I think is imperative in a bed side light is a very dim setting. Something you can turn on in the middle of the night without causing yourself pain. The korsby is especially nice because it has a small footprint and doesn't crowd the bedside table.
view Jen C's profile
More specifically... where do we find a lamp that allows the BF to read in bed (he hates using the book light), while not keeping me from sleeping (the sleeping mask cuts some-but not all- of the light)? Our decor is more traditional- the lamps above all look a bit too modern for our bedroom. Le sigh.
view MelissaLeigh's profile
Melissa, I work for Lightology and we sell the Edge Lighting Night Owl, which is designed specifically for allowing one person to read without disturbing his or her partner. Kind of modern looking, too, but maybe not quite so much in the bronze finish...
view Benjy's profile
For those of us who are terminally broke, I recommend the Ikea Lersta which rises above the rest of the list at a bantam weight $10 and will provide you with reading light for many years. The bendy neck and the three colour options (aluminum, black and white) make this both useful and accommodating.
While it is a floor lamp, I use it by my bedside.
view sciencegeek's profile