A table lamp suits a bedside table when the bottom of its shade sits at roughly shoulder height while you are sitting up in bed, and when the shade is no wider than the top of the bedside table. For most UK bedrooms, that means a lamp of around 45 to 65 centimetres tall, with a shade between 25 and 40 centimetres across. The base should take up no more than about a third of the tabletop, leaving room for a book, a glass of water and a phone.
Those figures are a starting point rather than a strict rule, because bed height, mattress depth and cabinet height all vary. Our collection of modern table lamps UK lists the height and shade width for each design, so you can check a lamp against your own measurements before choosing.
The most useful single guide for bedside lamps is where the shade sits relative to your body. Sit up in bed against the headboard, as you would to read. The bottom edge of the lampshade should be roughly level with your shoulder, or slightly below your chin.
At that height, light falls onto the page in your lap rather than into your eyes. If the shade is much lower, the light hits the duvet and leaves your book in shadow. If it is much higher, you will see the bare bulb from below and feel glare, particularly when lying down.
This is also why the lamp should be considered together with the furniture beneath it. Our full lighting collection UK includes lamps across a wide range of heights, which makes it easier to match a lamp to a low or tall bedside cabinet.
Grab a tape measure and a friend, or a phone propped against the wall.
For example, if your seated shoulder height is 105 centimetres and your bedside table is 60 centimetres high, you want the bottom of the shade about 45 centimetres above the tabletop. A lamp with a 20 centimetre shade would therefore be around 65 centimetres tall overall.
Bedside tables generally look and work best when their top is level with the top of the mattress, or within a few centimetres of it. When that is the case, the lamp guidance above tends to fall naturally into the 45 to 65 centimetre range.
If your bedside table sits noticeably lower than the mattress, choose a taller lamp to compensate. If it sits higher, a shorter lamp will keep the shade at the right level. Our bedside cabinets UK sale come in a variety of heights, from low single drawer designs to taller units with several drawers, so it is worth checking the cabinet and the lamp together.
The widest part of the shade should not overhang the edge of the bedside table. An overhanging shade is easily knocked when you reach for the lamp or sit on the edge of the bed, and it looks unbalanced. On a typical bedside table of 40 to 50 centimetres wide, a shade of 25 to 40 centimetres usually sits comfortably.
A bedside table needs to hold more than a lamp. Leave enough room for the things you reach for at night. As a guide, the lamp base should take up no more than about a third of the tabletop. Slim stems, small round bases and tripod designs all help on narrow surfaces.
A chunky ceramic base looks larger than its measurements suggest; a slender metal stem looks smaller. On a compact bedside table, choose a lighter looking lamp even if the dimensions are similar.
Low beds and floor level mattresses often pair with low bedside tables. Choose a shorter lamp, or consider a wall light, so the light still lands at shoulder height without looking out of scale.
Ottoman storage beds and deep divans with thick mattresses can raise the sleeping surface considerably. Match them with taller bedside cabinets, or choose a lamp at the upper end of the range.
In smaller bedrooms, the bedside table may be only 30 to 40 centimetres wide. Look for slim lamps with narrow shades, or use one lamp on the more accessible side of the bed with a wall light on the other.
Larger beds often have wider headboards and bigger bedside cabinets. A lamp that is slightly taller and broader keeps the scale balanced and avoids looking lost beside a substantial bed.
Drum shades spread light evenly and suit most rooms. Tapered or empire shades direct more light downwards, which is useful for reading. Very narrow or opaque shades create a moody glow but give less practical light.
Think about the switch, too. You should be able to reach it easily while lying down. Touch bases, inline cable switches and switches on the lamp base are far easier to use in the dark than a switch hidden under the shade or a pull cord at the top.
A matching pair gives a balanced, symmetrical look and suits a central bed with identical bedside tables. If the tables differ in height or design, matching lamps can actually look odd, as the shades sit at different levels. In that case, choose two lamps whose shades end up at similar heights, even if the lamps themselves are different.
Mismatched lamps that share a colour or material can look relaxed and personal. Keep shade heights roughly aligned so the room still feels calm.
Sometimes a table lamp is not the right answer. If your bedside table is very small, if you share a bed with someone who reads late, or if you simply want a clear surface, wall mounted reading lights can be a better choice. They free up space and can be positioned precisely. Our bedroom wall lights UK include swing arm and adjustable designs suited to reading in bed.
A few errors come up again and again when people choose bedside lamps without measuring first. The most common is buying a lamp that looks right in a photograph but turns out far too tall, so the bare bulb is visible from the pillow. The second is choosing a wide, dramatic shade that overhangs a small cabinet and gets knocked every morning.
Another frequent issue is forgetting the headboard. A tall upholstered headboard can make a modest lamp look tiny, while a low headboard can make a tall lamp look awkward. As a rough visual check, the top of the shade often looks comfortable somewhere near the top of the headboard, give or take a few centimetres.
Finally, people sometimes judge a lamp only when it is switched off. Turn it on, sit up in bed and check where the light actually lands before deciding it is right.
For bedside reading, a warm white bulb around 2700K is comfortable and restful. Choose a level of brightness that lets you read without straining, and consider a dimmable bulb so you can lower the light before sleep. LED bulbs stay cool, which is safer under fabric shades and close to bedding.
If you are choosing the bedside table and lamp together, our guide to bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms explains how to size the cabinet against your bed. For a wider view of what makes a bedside table practical, take a look at our bedside table checklist for UK homes.
Choose a bedside lamp that puts the bottom of the shade at shoulder height when you sit up in bed, with a shade no wider than the table and a base that leaves room for everyday essentials. Measure first, adjust for your bed height, and pick a switch you can find in the dark. With those basics in place, the lamp will be both comfortable and well proportioned.
Browse bedside lamps, cabinets and bedroom furniture at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Most bedside lamps fall between 45 and 65 centimetres tall. The exact height depends on your bedside table and bed, so aim for the shade to sit at shoulder height when you are sitting up.
Yes. If the shade overhangs the table or the base fills most of the surface, the lamp will feel crowded and is more likely to be knocked over.
Ideally the shades should sit at a similar height. If your bedside tables differ, choose lamps that bring the shades to roughly the same level.
A small lamp can be enough if it is placed at the right height and uses a bright enough bulb. Shade shape also matters: tapered shades direct more light onto the page.
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