10 Best Reading Lamps For A Cozy Bookish Evening

Whether you’re a bibliophile or like to read books only once in a while, having a quality reading lamp is essential.

A reading lamp is a mini lamp that you keep in a work area or table, or next to your bed. It usually has a moving part so you can focus the light on what you are reading. It illuminates a small section over a short distance, allowing you to concentrate and better focus on your reading material. If you have plans to buy one, here are the best reading lamps available online.

The 10 Best Reading Lamps for Your Home or Office:

1. Lamp with a swing arm

These lamps have an adjustable arm that helps direct the light as per your needs. I recommend the Wellwerks LED Desk Lamp with Clamp shown below: The wide 40-inch long lamp rotates 360 degrees and has a flexible clip design. It is ideal for directional lighting. The color temperature is adjustable according to your desired brightness and has an auto-off timer. The 12w LED lamp helps reduce eye strain too and conserves energy.

Features:

• 360 degrees flexible gooseneck
• Eye-care lighting
• Stepless dimming
• Timer function
• Space-saving
• Touch control

2. Adjustable lamp

Apart from being decorative, adjustable lamps have the functionality to cast better lighting. You can adjust these lamps in terms of height, angle, or reach. I recommend the Henn&Hart Industrial Metal Height-Adjustable Floor Lamp. This adjustable floor lamp is perfect for readers who love to snuggle into their sofas while reading. Available in a blackened bronze color that adds an aesthetic touch to your living or bedroom. You can also use it as an office lamp. The lamp’s maximum height is 68 inches and is adjustable as per your needs.

Features:

• Wattage: 100 watts
• Weight: 19 pounds
• Brushed finish
• Includes an 8ft. cord
• Easy to assemble

3. Battery-powered lamp

Battery-operated or cordless lamps vary in shape and size. Most of them are ideal for tabletop settings, while others are more portable. With a voltage of 3V, the lamp has a replaceable LED bulb. Powered by two AAA batteries, it is cost-effective. This portable lamp will add elegance to your home or workspace. Apart from being a decor item, the lamp is great for reading.

Features:

• Dimension: D4.9″xH5.9″
• On-off switch
• The shade is available in many colors
• Comes in a breakage-proof package
• Cordless finish
• Has a built-in timer

4. Lamp with charger/outlet

Rechargeable cordless lamps have built-in batteries that you can recharge as needed using a USB cable. Some are even equipped with USB charging ports to plug in your phone and other electronic gadgets. Such is the case of what I am recommending here: the Alimentata Touch Control Bedside Table Lamp with USB C & USB A Charging Port and 2 AC Outlet. The lamp has a touch sensor function so you can turn it on with ease. It has 2 USB ports and 2 AC outlets for charging other devices. It has a minimalist design and is durable.

Features:

• Fire-resistant
• Dimensions: 13.65 x 4.72 x 4.72 inches
• 5 ft removable power cord
• 3W LED bulb
• Has touch control

5. Magnifying desk lamp

Magnifying desk lamps have lenses made up of glass or plastic built into the frame. Even if you have brilliant visual acuity, you need bright light to do a task that needs a minute of detailed work. I recommend the LED Magnifying Lamp with Clamp. It has a long-lasting bright light with an optical glass magnifier lens. It is glare-free and has an adjustable brightness level. It has a stable swivel arm with an attached lens cover.

Features:

• Comes with an LED daylight lamp
• Power: 24W
• Adjustable light direction
• Includes a magnifying lamp and metal clamp
• Dimensions: ‎15.86 x 11.61 x 3.5 inches

6. Clip-on desk lamp

The beauty of a modern clip-on lamp is that you can clip it directly to the book you are reading, and it will also serve as a page holder. You can also clamp it to a bed headboard or the edge of your nightstand. I recommend the Vekkia 3000K Warm LED Book Light. This clip-on light is one of the best reading lamps for bookworms.

Features:

• Does not disturb others’ sleep during your night-time reading
• Comes with built-in rechargeable batteries
• It is lightweight and bends to how you need the light
• Dimension: ‎1.73 x 4.6 x 5.5 inches
• Includes a USB charging cable and a 5 volts LED book light

7. Organizer desk lamp

If you hate mess or clutter in your work desk while reading, an organizer desk lamp is what you need. Besides illuminating your workstation, this lamp also provides you with a holder for notepads, pens, and other small things. I recommend the LED Desk Lamp with USB Charging Port, Phone Stand, and Pen Holders featured below. It is compact, cordless, lightweight, and portable.

Features:

• Comes with a rectangular 60LED desk lamp
• Has storage space, a pen holder, and a USB output port
• The lamp has a 360-degree adjustment
• Dimensions: ‎6.5 x 7.8 x 10 inches
• It is battery powered and has a gooseneck

8. Contemporary bedside table lamp

Bedside table lamps are excellent for reading (especially if you are sleeping alone). For this, I recommend the Multicolored Sequined Drum Shade Single Table Lamp. If you’re someone who loves home decor and reading, this one is for you. This lamp with a sequined drum shade shines bright like a diamond. It also has a retro vibe that bathes your room with an explosion of colors.

Features:

• Has a 60W bulb
• Install on a table/desk
• Dimension: ‎8 x 19 x 8 inches
• Lightweight
• Multicolor light

9. Tiffany lamp

Tiffany lamp designs are fancy. They have top-notch ornamentation and patterns inspired by nature. The “stained glass” effect makes these lamps stand out. I recommend the Tiffany Table Lamp with Sea Blue Stained Glass Dragonfly Design. Made of high-quality materials and fitted with an LED bulb for a pleasant uninterrupted reading time.

Features:

• Handmade finish
• Dimension: 12 inches wide with an 18 inches height
• Comes with a 1.9m plug
• Material: Glass, Zinc
• Easy assembly

10. Country/rustic lamp

Rustic table lamps are available in a country cottage style. This includes windowsill lights, bedside, and desk lamps. I recommend the Rustic-style Metal Desk Task/Reading Lamp. It is an adjustable lamp with a vintage flair. It has a sturdy lamp base with a distressed bronze finish, and it already comes with a bulb.

Features:

• Dimensions: 9.05 x 9.05 x 31.49 inches
• ETL certified that ensures safe and stable light supply
• Has an on/off switch
• Retro industrial style
• Made of a durable metal frame with a swivel lamp head

A few extra lighting tips for readers:

Do you like to read lying on your cozy couch, or your bed, or somewhere else? No matter where you’re turning the book pages from, you need the best reading lamp for uninterrupted reading. Did you know, 6 mins of extra reading per day can enhance children’s reading performance? Here are the things to consider when choosing a reading lamp for you and your family:

The brightness of digital screen vs. reading environment

With the increased use of Kindle and other digital books, comes this timely reminder: The lighting of the area where you will read should be brighter than the digital device. Refrain from reading in dark rooms. It can lower concentration, lead to discomfort, and make you disoriented. Even if you’re reading a paperback, you need ample lighting in the room.

Task lighting in your home

Task lighting refers to the artificial light that increases luminance for reading or other tasks. Underlit homes cause our eyes to get strained. You will do your eyes a lot of favor by choosing the correct table lamp for task lighting.

The lighting colors

We know how color can make a difference, don’t we? Halogen and other incandescent lights produce a soft white glow, but LEDs can offer a wide range of color temperatures. Blue and white lights promote alertness, while yellow lights are perfect for relaxing and reading. Reading lamps do not have to look boring. Rapid advancements in manufacturing technology gave us an ever-widening range of options for lamps for working at home.