Place reading wall lights so the shade sits about 50 to 60cm above the top of the mattress, usually 100 to 120cm from the floor, and around 15 to 25cm out from each side of the headboard. Angle the light so it falls on the reader’s lap and book rather than across the pillow beside them. Make sure the switch is within easy reach of someone lying down. Those three points cover most of what interior designers check when planning reading lights for a guest room.<\/p>\n
A guest bedroom rarely has generous bedside space, so wall mounted reading lights are especially useful. You can browse adjustable and fixed designs in our modern wall lights UK<\/a> range, and the tips below explain how to place them with confidence.<\/p>\n Designers begin by thinking about the person in the bed. Most people read sitting up against pillows, with the book held at chest height. The light needs to land there, slightly in front of the reader and to one side, so the page is evenly lit without the bulb shining into their eyes. Reading lights are only one part of a bedroom scheme, and it helps to plan them alongside the ceiling light and any lamps in our wider modern lighting UK<\/a> collection, so every source has a clear job.<\/p>\n That is why mounting height is measured from the mattress top, not the floor. A deep mattress on a tall divan sits higher than a slim mattress on a low platform bed, and the lights should follow. Measure the height of the made bed, add 50 to 60cm, and you have a reliable starting point for the centre of the shade.<\/p>\n If guests tend to be tall or you have a very tall headboard, nudge the lights a little higher. If the bed is low and the room has a cosy, cottage feel, slightly lower lights can work well.<\/p>\n The headboard defines the space the lights have to work within. A wide, upholstered headboard needs lights placed just beyond its edges so the fittings do not overlap the fabric. A narrow or slatted headboard gives more freedom.<\/p>\n As a guide, leave 15 to 25cm between the edge of the headboard and the backplate of each light. That gap stops the arrangement looking cramped and keeps the light far enough to the side to avoid casting a shadow of the reader’s head onto the page.<\/p>\n If the headboard is very tall, consider lights with a long arm or a swing arm design so the shade can reach forward over the bedside area. If you are choosing a new bed for the room, our modern beds UK<\/a> collection includes headboard heights and widths that leave room for wall lights.<\/p>\n A good reading light is directional. Look for shades that point downward or adjustable heads that can be angled. Open, upward facing shades are better for ambient light than reading.<\/p>\n Designers pay close attention to glare. If two people share the bed, each light should illuminate one side without spilling across the other pillow. Narrow beam lights, cone shades and hooded designs help here. In a twin room, the same principle applies across the gap between the beds.<\/p>\n Warm white bulbs at around 2700 to 3000K suit bedrooms. They are comfortable for reading and help guests wind down. If you can, choose dimmable lights so guests can soften the light once they have finished their book.<\/p>\n A guest should never have to climb out of bed to turn off a reading light. Fittings with a switch on the light head, a pull cord or a switch on the backplate are the simplest solution. For hardwired lights, an electrician can install a switch at the bedside, at a height that is easy to reach from a lying position.<\/p>\n Think about visibility in the dark too. A switch in a contrasting finish or a slightly larger rocker is easier to find. Guests are in an unfamiliar room, so the more obvious the control, the better.<\/p>\n Fit a light on each side, mirroring the positions. Symmetry looks calm and makes the room feel well prepared for couples.<\/p>\n One light on the open side of the bed is usually enough. If the bed is against a wall, mount the light on the wall above the bedside table side and angle it toward the pillow.<\/p>\n Place one light on the outer side of each bed and consider a shared light between them if there is a bedside table in the middle. Make sure each guest can control their own light independently.<\/p>\n Wall lights free up bedside table space, so you can choose smaller cabinets without losing function. A compact bedside cabinet with a drawer gives guests somewhere for glasses, a phone and a book. Our modern bedside cabinets UK<\/a> range includes slim designs for narrower guest rooms.<\/p>\n The top of the bedside cabinet should sit roughly level with the mattress top, so items are easy to reach. If your cabinet is lower, raise the light slightly to compensate. Our guide to bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms<\/a> explains how to match cabinet heights to beds.<\/p>\n Keep the area beneath the light uncluttered. A small dish for jewellery, a carafe of water and a few books are enough. A guest room that feels clear and calm is more welcoming than one filled with decoration.<\/p>\n Many guest bedrooms are not rewired when furnished. Plug in wall lights, which need only a nearby socket and a few screws, are a practical solution. Choose a fabric covered cable in a colour that matches the wall and route it neatly down behind the bedside cabinet.<\/p>\n Rechargeable wall lights are another option, especially in rented homes. They offer flexible placement and often include dimming and a touch control. Charge them before guests arrive so the light is ready when needed.<\/p>\n A guest bedroom is a good place for gentle, timeless styles that suit many tastes. Consider:<\/p>\n Choose a finish that ties in with the rest of the room, such as handles on a chest of drawers or the frame of a mirror. A guest room is shared by many different visitors over the years, so neutral finishes such as soft bronze, aged brass, warm white or matt black tend to suit the widest range of tastes.<\/p>\n Designers rarely fix a reading light without testing it first. Ask someone to sit up in bed with a book while you hold the light against the wall at the planned height. Switch it on if the cable allows, or use a torch to mimic the beam. Mark the wall lightly with a pencil once the position feels right, then check both sides of the bed match.<\/p>\n Check that the light clears the headboard when the arm is folded and that it will not knock against a bedside lamp, a curtain or an open window. Small adjustments of a few centimetres at this stage save filling and repainting later.<\/p>\n Many UK guest bedrooms are also home offices, hobby rooms or storage spaces. Reading wall lights can help with these uses too. A swing arm light beside a sofa bed or day bed can be angled toward a desk during the day and toward the pillow at night.<\/p>\n In multipurpose rooms, consider storage that keeps everyday clutter out of sight when guests arrive. A wardrobe with space cleared for visitors’ clothes makes them feel at home. Our article on wardrobe ideas for a UK guest bedroom<\/a> has practical suggestions for rooms that serve more than one purpose.<\/p>\n A few details make guests feel looked after. Include a soft ambient light, such as a small table lamp or a dimmable ceiling light, so the room is not lit only by reading lights. Leave a spare bulb or a charging cable for rechargeable lights in a drawer. Test every light before guests arrive and check that it is angled correctly for the bed.<\/p>\n Above all, sit in the bed yourself with a book. Ten minutes of reading will tell you more about the placement than any measurement.<\/p>\nStart with how guests actually read<\/h3>\n
Respect the headboard<\/h3>\n
Beam direction and glare<\/h3>\n
Switches within reach<\/h3>\n
Single, double and twin rooms<\/h3>\n
Double or king beds<\/h3>\n
Single beds<\/h3>\n
Twin beds<\/h3>\n
Bedside furniture and reading lights<\/h3>\n
Plug in and rechargeable options<\/h3>\n
Styles that suit a guest bedroom<\/h3>\n
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Testing the position before you drill<\/h3>\n
When the guest room doubles as a study<\/h3>\n
Small touches designers add<\/h3>\n
A room that welcomes<\/h3>\n