How To Determine The Right Size For Your Nightstand Lamp

Reading a book is an essential part of many people's nighttime routine, and sometimes, this is reflected in a stack of titles piled high on a nightstand. Another must-have for avid readers? A good bedside lamp. Not only do bedside lamps help you read just one more chapter, but they also let you add a soft glow to the ambiance in your bedroom. Browsing through unique bedside lighting ideas, you might find yourself drawn to various lamps ranging in size. You may be wondering how to figure out the best size lamp for your bedroom, plus make sure it works for your needs. Even if you're not an avid reader, you might sometimes need ample light for a crossword puzzle or crocheting. Well, the secret to calculating a lamp's ideal size is to look at the height of your nightstand and how you like to read or craft in bed, as this will determine the position in which you plan on using the light.

Picking the right lamp is an art and needs some careful consideration. You'd hate to get your lamp all set up, pick up your book, and realize that the lighting doesn't work in your favor. When thinking of the perfect size, the height of your lamp is crucial. One wrong calculation and you might not have sufficient light to read. Save yourself from having to return your lamp and get it right the first time by following these easy bedroom lighting tips.

When you pick a lamp for your nightstand, you want to make sure that it offers enough light for comfortable reading. Squinting in too little light or having to shield your eyes from a harsh bulb won't make for a pleasant, cozy reading experience. A general interior design rule is that you will want the light source to be level with your chin when you sit in bed, as this will help you avoid any glare disturbance. However, what if you're the kind of person who likes to lie down and read? If that's the case, you can look for a lamp shade or light that sits level with your head while you lie down. Does your current lamp not meet these needs? Try to elevate it slightly with a book or two to create a more enjoyable reading environment.

As you look for the right size lamp for your space, however, there's another guideline you can use: your nightstand's height. Selecting the best nightstand for your bedroom includes the proper dimensions for your bedside furniture. A standard designing rule to follow is to make sure your nightstand is the same height as the floor to the top of your mattress or the top of your nightstand. It could also be about 2 to 4 inches higher. With that in mind, you can add 2 to 4 inches on top of the nightstand's height when determining the maximum height of your lamp. Of course, this isn't a rigid rule, and you should make adjustments as needed.