Your bedroom is the most vital room in whatever living situation you're in. If you live with roommates, it's the one space that's truly yours. If you live in a studio apartment, let's face it, the whole place is essentially a bedroom. And no matter how big a house you may have, on your sick days and your lazy days, your bedroom is the only place you wanna be. So why are you lighting this most important of rooms with the most basic of bedroom lamps?
A bedroom lamp can be so much more than a basic source of light. You already know your bed frame goes a long way to defining the aesthetics of your space (otherwise you'd just be a "mattress on the floor" kinda person), but consider that a quality, stylish lamp can help compliment that design style, while a simple store-bought model just quietly clashes with the room it's illuminating. From tiny exposed bulbs that make for a minimalist impression to large, lavish lamps that make a statement all their own, your bedroom lamp can help bring character and personality to this deeply personal space.
Best Bedroom Lamps
What to Consider
- Size: Whether you're looking for a lamp to sit atop a dresser or bedside table, or a floor lamp to add a bit of panache to the space, one thing you want to consider is size. Not just in terms of "Will it fit where I want it to go?" but also "How much light will it be able to produce?" Especially when it comes to a bedroom, the biggest and brightest aren't always the best. While some want a lamp that can illuminate the entire room, others may be looking for a smaller light for late-night reading that won't disturb other occupants.
- Style: Every bedroom has a vibe. Whether every piece of furniture was hand-picked with a style in mind, or it's all an unintentional reflection of your personality, everything tends to gel together. So while a lamp that doesn't fit a room's style would clash in any case, consider that double true for all but the most eclectic bedroom layouts. Whether that vibe is minimalist or ornate, high-tech or vintage, there's definitely the right lamp out there to fit it. But there can definitely also be a wrong one.
- Controls: It's not enough to think about how your lamp would look. Be sure to think about how it works, too. Are you planning on letting the light switch on the wall to all the work? Or swapping in a smart bulb for voice control? If not, then consider what kind of switch the lamp itself has, and whether you prefer something that's touch activated vs a rocking switch or pull chain.
How We Chose
After poring over countless customer reviews on Amazon and Wayfair, we tried to identify as many different considerations as we could regarding style, size, and functionality, and selected lamps we felt covered as many of these concerns as we could.. We also made sure every bedroom lamp on our list is built to last, honing in on picks that have super sturdy bases that won’t show wear and tear.
And, of course, because everyone’s home decor style varies greatly, we included a wide assortment of lamps suitable for various tastes, curating our list with options for those who like mid-century modern, modern, vintage, and various aesthetics in mind. Check out our best bedroom lamp picks below, and give your bedroom the exact glow it deserves.