Best Bedside & Reading Lights for the Bedroom (India Guide)

By Ishita Khullar, Design Lead, Delhi Brass · Published 16 September 2026 · 5 min read
Reviewed by Hemant Khullar

A house-style scene created by Delhi Brass to illustrate this guide.

The best bedside reading light is one that puts a soft, controlled pool of light on your book without lighting up the whole room or disturbing the person beside you. For most Indian bedrooms that means either a wall-mounted reading light with an adjustable arm, or a bedside table lamp with a warm bulb and an opaque shade — chosen for its height, its brightness, and how easily you can dim it from the pillow. This guide walks through how to pick between them and get the details right.

The short answer

Wall reading light vs bedside table lamp

The first decision is where the light lives. A wall-mounted reading light — a slim brass sconce or a gooseneck arm fixed above the headboard — keeps your nightstand clear for a glass of water and a book, and it aims light exactly where you want it. It is the neater, more considered choice, and it works beautifully in bedrooms where the beds are close together or the side tables are small, which is common in Indian apartments. The trade-off is that it needs a wiring point or a surface-conduit run, so it is easiest to plan during a renovation or a fresh paint job.

A bedside table lamp asks nothing of your walls. You buy it, you plug it in, you move it whenever the room changes. A lamp with a solid, opaque shade throws light down onto the page and keeps glare out of your partner’s eyes. If you are renting, or you simply want to refresh a room without an electrician, the table lamp is the pragmatic answer. Many bedrooms use both: a pair of wall lights for symmetry and a single lamp on a dressing table or reading chair. You can browse the full ranges on our Wall Lights and Table Lamps collections.

How bright should a bedside reading light be?

Reading in bed needs less light than you might expect, because the light is close to the page. A focused output of about 300 to 450 lumens is comfortable for most people — enough to read fine print without straining, but not so much that it wakes you up. In old money that is roughly a 5–7W warm LED, or the equivalent of a 40–60W incandescent bulb. What matters more than raw brightness is that the light is directional: an adjustable arm or a deep shade concentrates the beam on the book and keeps the rest of the room dim, which is exactly what you want just before sleep. If two people share a bed and read at different times, individual lights on each side beat one bright central fixture every time.

The right height and placement

Placement is what separates a reading light that works from one that merely looks good. For a wall-mounted bedside light, the base of the fixture usually sits around 90–115 cm above the mattress, or roughly 150–160 cm off the floor, with the shade or head at about seated-shoulder height so light falls onto the page from the side. Mount it a little towards the outer edge of the bed rather than dead-centre behind your head, so the beam clears your shoulder. For a table lamp, the bottom of the shade should sit near eye level when you are propped up against the headboard — that is what stops you seeing the bare bulb. As a rule of thumb, taller beds and higher headboards want taller lamps. If you are unsure, our companion guide on wall lights for the bedroom goes deeper on positioning around the bed.

Colour temperature, warmth and dimming

Colour temperature is measured in kelvin, and for the bedroom warmer is better. A 2700K bulb gives the soft, golden light that feels calm in the evening and does the least to disrupt your body’s wind-down before sleep; cooler 4000K light is fine for a study or bathroom but too clinical beside a bed. Pair that warmth with control: a dimmer, a two-stage switch, or a smart bulb lets you drop the level right down for reading and off without leaving the pillow. Brass and antique finishes suit this warm light especially well — the metal picks up the glow rather than reflecting a hard white. That interplay of finish and light is a large part of how a bedside corner ends up feeling restful rather than merely functional.

Shop the look: two bedside pieces to start with

Two Delhi Brass pieces show the two routes in practice. The first is a wall reading light; the second is a bedside lamp with real character.

The Moon Globe Brass Sconce is a minimalist wall light with a curved antique-brass gooseneck arm and a frosted moon-effect globe. The gooseneck lets you nudge the diffused glow towards the page, while the opaque globe keeps glare soft — a natural pick for a wall-mounted bedside reading light that also looks considered by day.

If you would rather not touch the walls, the Iron Vine Burlap Table Lamp pairs a matte-black scrollwork base with a burlap-linen shade that casts a warm, downward light — a cosy accent lamp made for a bedside or a reading nook. For more on choosing and placing lamps, see our guide to choosing table lamps.

Every Delhi Brass light is made to order, so finishes, arm lengths and shade choices can be tailored to your room. If you have a specific corner in mind, our workshop can help you get the scale exactly right.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best type of light for reading in bed?

A directional light — either a wall-mounted reading light with an adjustable arm or a table lamp with an opaque, downward-throwing shade. Both concentrate light on the page and keep glare out of your eyes and your partner’s.

How many lumens do I need for a bedside reading light?

Around 300–450 lumens of focused light is comfortable for reading in bed — roughly a 5–7W warm LED. Because the light sits close to the page, you need far less than you would for general room lighting.

Wall reading light or table lamp — which is better?

A wall light frees up the nightstand and aims light precisely, but needs a wiring point, so it is best planned during a renovation. A table lamp needs no wiring and can move with the room. Many bedrooms use both.

What colour temperature is best for a bedroom reading light?

A warm 2700K bulb is ideal. It gives soft, golden light that feels restful in the evening and is kinder to your wind-down before sleep than cooler, whiter light.

How high should a bedside wall light be mounted?

Typically about 90–115 cm above the mattress (roughly 150–160 cm off the floor), with the head at seated-shoulder height and set slightly towards the outer edge of the bed so the beam clears your shoulder.