6 Great Gooseneck Bedroom Reading Light Ideas

Reading lights are a favoured way of adding practical task lighting to one’s bedroom. There are several main types of reading lights, including flexible bedside reading lamps. Otherwise known as gooseneck reading lights, they are lights with a flexible, adjustable shaft or neck. Using gooseneck lighting, one can more easily adjust and turn the light where they’d like it.

In the article below, we will explore why a goose neck reading light wall mounted fixture is a good option for you.

 

What Is a Flexible Arm LED Reading Light?

A flexible arm LED reading light is a wall mounted LED light complete with a flexible arm, as its name suggests. The arm enables you to move and direct the light onto an exact spot, such as over the book you’re currently reading. This type of LED reading light is designed to stay right where you adjust it to shine unlike cheaper bendy reading light fixtures on the market. This way, you can position the light how you like and then forget about it until you’re ready to turn it off.

Bedside reading light fixtures are perfect options for reading at night since they will illuminate the book or magazine you’re reading without causing the rest of the room to become flooded with excess light. This is especially beneficial if you share a room with anyone else. You can use them as a wall mounted reading light or a headboard reading light if the headboard is large enough. It all comes down to preference.

Since most bedside reading light fixtures use LED bulbs, they don’t get hot, which is particularly beneficial if you use them in rooms with children. If they touch the light, you won’t have to worry about them getting burned.

 

What Is the Importance of a Flexible LED Reading Light?

Task lighting is one of the three layers in a well-lit lighting scheme, which also consists of ambient and accent lighting. In a bedroom, the most common form of task lighting is a reading lamp. Using a gooseneck reading lamp, you can direct light right onto the book or laptop you are using in bed.

With such a flexible reading lamp, the user is in control of exactly where the light points, making it easier to complete tasks in bed before sleeping.

If you only rely on an ambient or ceiling light for the job, you will eventually have to get up out of bed to turn it off. On the other hand, using a wall mounted reading light with a gooseneck means all you have to do is reach over and flip off the light from where you sit.

Another benefit of a reading light is that it won’t be as bright or uncomfortable as an overhead light. This is especially important at night when your eyes are tired, and you need to relax before bed instead of feeling more awake due to a bright light.

That said, many consider the most important benefit of a reading light to be the help they give your eyes themselves. While it is a myth that reading in low light can cause vision loss, there is truth that a light that is too dim can cause strain on the eyes resulting in headaches.

The best way to avoid this is to have the light close by where you plan to read, providing adequate lighting for the task at hand.

 

Are LED Lights Good for Reading?

Over the years, LED lights have been replacing more and more of the light bulbs in homes and businesses. At first, the main draw was their environmental friendliness, but since then, many other benefits have been drawing homeowners to them.

When it comes to gooseneck reading light fixtures specifically, a gooseneck LED light is preferred. LED light comes with the benefit of being dimmable in many cases, so you can adjust the brightness or dimness of a light according to your wants and needs night by night.

Beyond that, LED lights offer a spectrum of light colours, otherwise known as “lighting temperature.” The colour temperature of a light is noted in regard to the warmth or coolness that the bulb outputs. This is all ranked on a scale of degrees Kelvin. On the high end of the spectrum, you’ll find cool lighting, while warm lights rest on the low end.

When it comes to reading lights, warmer colours are preferred. Generally speaking, it is recommended that you choose an LED bulb with a colour temperature between 3000k and 3300k. This will give you a warm white light that is bright and clear enough to read without being a strain on the eyes by either being too warm or too cool.

 

How To Choose Your New Gooseneck Lamp

There are a few things to consider when shopping for your new LED light.

 

  • LED LIGHTING – Before anything else, you should make sure that the gooseneck light comes with an LED bulb. As opposed to a traditional lightbulb, this will provide you with a choice regarding its colour temperature, lumen level and even dimming capability. Beyond that, the LED light will never get hot, so you won’t have to worry about feeling warm sitting beneath it or touching it accidentally and burning your hands.
  • STYLE – While the main purpose of the lamp will be to serve as a flexible reading light for bed, it will also offer the benefit of being a stylish addition to the space. Anyone who loves interior design will be able to use these reading lights as a way to decorate their rooms while providing ample task lighting.

Reading lights, like any other kind of light, come in a variety of styles to choose from. Gooseneck bedside reading lamps are available in many materials and colour finishes that you can use to match the interior design of your bedroom.

  • POSITION When considering a new flexible arm reading light, it is important to consider whether or not you want a wall mounted light or headboard light and shop accordingly. Many people prefer to have a flexible gooseneck wall light, as it offers more freedom as to the placement of the fixture beside the bed.
  • SWITCH PLACEMENT – Some reading lamps have a traditional on-and-off switch built right into the lamp. Others use the physical design of the lamp to turn themselves on and off when you move the light heads. Decide which of those works best for your preferences.
  • BRIGHTNESS – Lumen levels measure the overall brightness of a light. When it comes to reading lights, you need a fixture that is bright enough to read by without being blinding. This tends to run somewhere between 120 and 300 lumens.

How To Position Gooseneck Lights on the Wall

In order to get the most out of your reading light, it is recommended that you place the light so that it completely illuminates the page and casts no shadows. To achieve this, be sure that you place it in such a way that the light shines directly onto the page instead of over your shoulder. The latter position of light may cause a glare on the page, making reading a more difficult task.

When it comes to height, it is generally thought that having the light just above the height of your shoulder is ideal. This will, of course, vary person by person, so it’s a good idea to settle into bed in your natural reading position to see where the best position for your specific flexible reading light should be.

 

Stylish Ways to Incorporate a Gooseneck Reading Lamp

 

  • ADD SOME SYMMETRY – By incorporating a reading lamp on either side of the bed—even for those who do not have a partner sharing the space—you can create a symmetrical and visually appealing look in the bedroom. Having lights positioned above the bed can also pull attention upward, making the bedroom seem larger than it actually is.
  • PICK A LIGHT THAT SUITS THE DESIGN SCHEME – With so many styles and finishes available for your reading light fixtures, it is simple to opt for lights that complement your current colour scheme or modern design style in the bedroom.
  • BRING IN SOME COLOUR – Some reading lights have unique colour finishes that can be used to bring some life into the bedroom. In cases such as this, it’s a good idea to choose a light that contrasts in an aesthetically pleasing way with the rest of the room.
  • CHOOSE SOMETHING EYE-CATCHING – Having a focal point in a room is always a good idea. You can use a modern wall lamp in the bedroom to serve this purpose.

 

Are There Any Other Uses for These Wall Mounted Reading Lights? 

A Flexible LED reading light can be used for far more than just bedroom reading light. You can get creative and use these lights:

  • Over a sewing table
  • Over a workbench
  • Beside a reading chair
  • Over boat navigation maps and charts
  • In a restaurant or hotel reception area by the front desk
  • Caravans that have a 240 volt mains supply

 

How Bright Are Adjustable LED Reading Lights?

Since you are going to be using LED reading lights at night in bed when you’re winding down, you don’t want the light to be too bright. Instead, you want something that is going to be bright enough to see but still dim enough to be comfortable. Normally, this would require you to look for wattages, but with LED, you’ll need to look for its lumen amount instead.

Generally speaking, one watt of LED light is the same as 80 to 100 lumens of light. This means that you can expect a 3-watt LED light to shine a light similar to a 25- to 30-watt halogen bulb. A five-watt LED light would shine the same level of light as a 45- to 50-watt halogen bulb.

For bedside lamps, you won’t need a high LED wattage since they are already pretty close to you and your book. If it is too bright, it might not only overstimulate your eyes before sleep, but it might disturb anyone who shares the room with you.

 

What Is the Best Light Colour for Flexible Reading Lights?

Warm lights tend to be better for bedroom areas in general, and this is especially true for reading lights. As mentioned, you want a light that is gentle on the eyes, and that is exactly what warm colour temperatures such as 3000k offer. The human brain reacts in different ways to cool and warm lighting, affecting concentration, mood and stimulation levels. The fact that it is believed warm light helps you relax should also be taken into account here.

LED colour temperature guide

How Are They Switched On and Off?

There is a wide range of options for flexible neck lights and their ability to be turned on and off. Standard style rocker switches are common, which are just basic on and off switches that you’re likely familiar with. As the years pass, touch switches have become increasingly popular, which gives the fitting a sleeker look and feel. They often have a plain round disc situated on the front that you just tap with one finger to turn the light on and off.

Some lights have no built-in switches. These instead get connected to a switch next to the bed, which is particularly helpful if you have an old reading light that already features an on/off switch located on the wall.

Six Lighting Ideas for Your Reading Lamp

 

  1. Antico 3 Watt Switched LED Wall Mounted Reading Light

Antico 3 watt antique brass gooseneck reading light

If you’re looking for something classic and elegant to incorporate into your bedroom, the Antico 3 Watt Switched LED Wall Mounted Reading Light is a great choice. This brass flexible wall reading light has a traditional circular backplate from which the flexible arm extends. At the end is a triangular-shaped light head that outputs 250 lumens of 3200k warm white light. There is a switch on the backplate to make it easy to turn on and off.

 

 

  1. LWA317 3 Watt LED Beech Wood Wall Mounted Reading Light

LWA317 3 watt beech wood LED reading light

Add some ultra-modern flair to your bedroom with the LWA317 3 Watt LED Beech Wood Wall Mounted Reading Light. This mixed material reading lamp is created using beech wood and metal, offering contemporary contrast. Choose from either a black or polished chrome light head to suit your taste. This light outputs 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light, which is nice and gentle on the eyes. A 30-degree beam angle makes it particularly well suited for a reading light.

 

 

  1. LWA225 Twin 2 Watt Chrome Wall Mounted LED Reading Light

LWA225 twin polished chrome wall mounted bedside lights

Manage two birds with one stone using the LWA225 Twin 2 Watt Chrome Wall Mounted LED Reading Light. With this light mounted on the wall in the middle of the bed, it can provide lighting to both partners who share it. This light features a rectangular plate that has two gooseneck lamps extending out from it.

The entire fixture is crafted out of high quality metal with a polished chrome finish. It comes with a single on/off switch focused on the top of the fixture to make it easy for either partner to control.

 

 

  1. LWA423 3 Watt Flexible Arm LED Reading Light with USB Ports

LWA423 3 watt flexible arm wall reading light

Make the most out of the space by your bed with the LWA423 3 Watt Flexible Arm LED Reading Light with USB Ports. This gooseneck lamp not only features a light that shines 120 lumens of 3000k warm white light, but it also comes with USB ports. These can be used to charge e-readers, phones and other smaller electronics from the comfort of your bed. Each light is fashioned out of high quality aluminium and comes in either a black or white finish.

 

 

  1. LWA428 3 Watt Flexible Arm Reading Light with USB Port

LWA428 flexible led reading light for bed

Bring contemporary charm and ample illumination into your bedroom with the LWA428 3 Watt Flexible Arm Reading Light with USB Port. With this unique gooseneck reading light wall mounted fixture with a flexible arm and a hooded shade-style lamp head, you can enjoy 300 lumens of warm white light directed down onto the page as you read. With its included USB ports, you can charge your small electronics where you lie. The fixture is durably crafted out of high quality aluminium and comes available in either white or black finishes.

 

  1. LWA298A 6+3 Watt LED Chrome Wall Mounted Bedside Reading Light

LWA298A polished chrome reading lamps for bedroom

For those who want the benefits of a gooseneck lamp but aren’t entirely ready to give up their traditional lamps, this LWA298A 6+3 Watt LED Chrome Wall Mounted Bedside Reading Light is a nice compromise. It features a traditional lamp shade style and a gooseneck reading arm all the same.

The lamp portion outputs 600 lumens that wash back onto the wall, while the reading light generates 120 lumens. Both of the bulbs shine 3200 warm white light. The fixture is equipped with two independent switches, so you can control each light individually. The lamp comes finished in a stylish chrome complete with a flexible black arm.

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