Bedside Lamps

Bedside table lamps do more than light a room. The right one makes a bedroom feel complete and easy to come home to.

At Early Settler, we've spent 40 years helping Australian families choose bedroom furniture and home decor that fits the way they actually live. We choose our lighting with that same care, so you'll always find something worth switching on every night.

Bedside table lamps are shaped more by feel than function. Unlike a floor lamp or desk lamp, they exist to create atmosphere, and the material you choose is what sets the mood.

The Early Settler range spans four material directions, each suited to a different kind of bedroom:

• Metal and steel bases suit contemporary and industrial-inspired bedrooms. White bedside lamps and modern bedside lamps finished in gold or brass look strong in spaces with concrete or dark accents.
• Ceramic bases bring a handcrafted quality to coastal bedside lamps and eclectic spaces. Blue and neutral tones dominate here, and they suit rooms with marble or travertine surfaces.
• Timber and rattan bases add warmth to relaxed, earthy interiors. Linen and paper shades in natural tones complete the look.
• Glass bases in oval and round shapes diffuse light in a way that feels lighter and more delicate than other materials.

Knowing how to choose a bedside lamp comes down to four decisions. Our Melbourne design studio applies the same criteria to every piece in the range.

Four criteria do most of the work when choosing a bedside table lamp:

1. Scale – Proportion matters most when considering what to look for in a bedside lamp. On small bedside tables, a slimmer base keeps storage space free.
2. Shade shape – A downward shade directs light for reading while an open top spreads it broadly. A fabric shade softens the glow for a warmer table light.
3. Cord length – Check the distance from your power point before buying. A short cord limits your placement options.
4. Base material – Metal is light and durable. Ceramic is heavier with a more solid feel, and timber develops character with age. Glass shades expose the globe, which looks different above white bedside tables than black bedside tables.

The right bedside lamp height puts the bottom of the lampshade level with your eye when you're sitting up in bed. For most people and most bedside tables, that works out to 55–65cm from the tabletop.

Not sure how your table's height affects the right lamp? Our 70+ stores let you see small and tall bedside lamps at real heights next to actual tables and bed frames.

A bedside lamp gets used every night. That makes the features just as important as the look.

These features are worth checking on any bedside lamp before you buy:

• Shade material – Linen and cotton shades diffuse light softly for a warm, ambient glow. Polyester and harder shades produce a brighter, more directional result.
• Base footprint – The width of the base determines how much of your bedside table surface it takes up. A slimmer base suits smaller or more crowded tables.
• Globe fitting – Most bedside lamps use a standard E27 socket, but check the fitting before buying. Some use smaller E14 sockets that limit your globe options.
• Shade included – Not all bedside lamps include a shade. Check whether one is included or sold separately before purchasing.

We choose every lamp for long-term everyday use, and each comes with a 12-month warranty.

Warm white LEDs in the 2700K–3000K range are the best light bulbs for a bedside lamp. For what wattage for a bedside lamp, 4–8W suits ambient light, while up to 10W works for a reading lamp or task lighting.

Metal shades direct light, so a frosted globe is the better choice. Glass shades put the globe on show and suit a filament option, while ceramic and timber bases work with any warm or dimmable globe.

A good bedside lamp is often the piece that makes the rest of the bedroom click. Modern bedside tables, beds, and bedroom rugs are all part of the same Early Settler range. Side tables and dressers are available too.

Home Club membership is free and saves you 10% on full-price purchases across the range. It adds up when you're pulling a whole bedroom together. If you're not a member yet, you can join in any of our stores or online.

Bedside lamps don't need to match exactly, but they work best when they feel considered together. Choosing lamps in the same material family or a similar height keeps the look cohesive, even if the shapes or finishes differ slightly. A rattan and a ceramic lamp can work side by side if they share a warm tone or similar scale.

Yes, bedside lamps work well for reading when they have the right globe and shade. A downward-facing shade focuses light onto the page, and a warm white globe of 8–10W gives enough brightness without being harsh. Touch or dimmable lamps let you adjust the light between reading and winding down.

A bedside lamp is a type of table lamp, but sized and designed for the bedroom specifically. Bedside lamps typically sit between 55 and 65cm tall and are built for ambient or reading light. Table lamps in other rooms, like on a console or side table, are often taller and designed for broader illumination.