Soft Glow: Choosing the Perfect Vintage Bedside Lamps

There’s a special kind of quiet that only exists in the bedroom at night. The day is finished, your phone is (hopefully) out of reach, and the last thing you see before you close your eyes is… your bedside lamp.

A good bedside lamp doesn’t shout for attention. It glows. It makes your room feel safe, soft and a little bit luxurious. When you choose a vintage piece, you add character and history to that moment as well.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the right vintage bedside lamps – in terms of height, shade, light colour and style – so they feel as beautiful in real life as they do in the photos.

1. Why bedside lighting matters more than you think

Bedside lamps do three things at once:

• They create a soft atmosphere at the end of the day.

• They provide practical light for reading, talking, winding down.

• They act as decor – the first and last objects you see each day.

If the lamp is too bright, too tall, too small or simply not your style, you will feel it every evening. A well-chosen vintage lamp, on the other hand, quietly lifts the whole room.

2. Getting the height right

Height is one of the easiest ways to tell if a bedside lamp “fits”.

A simple rule of thumb:

• When you sit up in bed, the bottom of the lampshade should be roughly at your chin or mouth level.

• This way, the light doesn’t shine directly into your eyes, but onto your book, bedside table and pillows.

Things to consider:

• High bed / thick mattress → you may need a taller lamp OR a taller bedside table to match.

• Low bed / platform bed → a slightly shorter lamp often looks more balanced.

With vintage and design lamps, proportions are everything. Look at the relationship between base, stem and shade – and imagine that next to the height of your mattress and headboard.

3. Shade shapes and fabrics: soft edges, soft light

The lamp base may be the star, but the shade decides how the light feels.

For a bedside lamp, you usually want:

• Fabric or paper shades rather than bare bulbs or clear glass. They soften the light and make it more flattering.

• Rounded shapes (drum, empire or slightly tapered) which feel calm and timeless.

• Warm neutrals – cream, soft white, taupe – instead of harsh pure white.

Tips:

• A wider shade spreads light gently across your bedside table and wall.

• A more narrow shade keeps the light more focused if one person wants to read while the other sleeps.

• With patterned vintage shades, make sure the pattern supports the mood instead of fighting with your bedlinen and wall colour.

If you fall in love with a vintage base but hate the shade, don’t worry – shades are the easiest part to change. Focus on the quality and character of the base, then pair it with a new shade that suits your room.

4. Warmth and bulb choice: creating the “soft glow”

The same lamp can feel cozy or clinical, depending on the bulb.

For bedrooms, we recommend:

• Warm white bulbs (around 2200K–2700K) for a relaxing, golden light.

• Dimmable bulbs if possible, so you can have one level for reading and one for late-night calm.

• A bulb that doesn’t stick out below the bottom of the shade.

Vintage and design lamps often look beautiful with:

• Classic-shaped LED bulbs that mimic old incandescent light.

• Soft “candle” style bulbs for more decorative pieces.

If you’re sensitive to brightness, choose a slightly lower lumen (not too powerful) and rely on two lamps – one on each side – instead of one very strong light.

5. Pairs vs singles: symmetry or character?

You don’t have to buy lamps in pairs, but for bedside use it’s worth thinking about:

When a pair is perfect:

• You have a double bed and both sides are in regular use.

• You like a balanced, hotel-like look.

• Your room is quite calm and minimal, and the symmetry adds to that feeling.

When a single lamp works beautifully:

• You have a single bed or daybed.

• One side of the bed is against a wall and only one bedside table fits.

• You prefer a more collected, artistic look and mix one lamp with a wall sconce or floor lamp.

With Maison Jaspers pieces, you’ll often find both pairs and special single lamps that can stand on their own. The choice depends mainly on how you live and how you like your room to feel.

6. Choosing a style: antique, vintage or design?

Because you’re working with a small area – bed, table, lamp – bedside lighting is a perfect place to experiment with style.

Some directions you might explore:

• Gilt bronze or marble bases – for a quietly luxurious, Parisian feel. Beautiful with crisp white bedding and soft neutrals.

• Mid-century design lamps – clean lines, strong silhouettes, often in brass, glass or lacquered metal. Ideal in more modern rooms.

• Soft, sculptural shapes – ceramic, stone or unusual metal bases that feel more like objects than “fixtures”.

A simple way to decide:

• Look at your headboard, side tables and textiles. Are they minimal, classic or romantic?

• Choose a lamp that either matches that mood or deliberately contrasts it in a considered way (for example, a very classic lamp in a modern room).

If you’re not sure, a simple vintage brass or stone lamp with a neutral shade is almost always harmonious.

7. Practical details: switches, wiring and plugs

Beautiful is important. Practical is what you feel every day.

Details to check when choosing vintage bedside lamps:

• Switch position – on the cable, on the lamp base, or at the wall? For bedside use, an easy-to-reach switch is essential.

• Cable length – enough to reach your outlet without stretching or running diagonally across the room.

• Wiring – for older pieces, check if they’ve been rewired with modern cable and components.

• Voltage and plug type – especially if you’re buying from Europe for use in the US or another region.

At Maison Jaspers, we describe wiring clearly and often prepare lamps specifically for international use, so you can simply share the details with your electrician if needed.

8. How Maison Jaspers can help you choose

Choosing vintage bedside lamps is part technical, part emotional.

You’re not just asking:

• “Will it work here?”

• but also

• “Do I want to see this every night and every morning?”

At Maison Jaspers, we try to make this decision as calm as possible:

• Each lamp is photographed from multiple angles, and many are available in 3D view, so you can see the proportions clearly before you commit.

• We share detailed information about height, materials, wiring and condition.

• If you send us a photo of your bedroom, we can suggest which lamps might suit your space and style best.

The right bedside lamp doesn’t scream when you turn it on. It simply fills the room with a soft, flattering glow and quietly says, “You’re home. You can rest now.”

Whenever you’re ready to find that glow, our collection of antique, vintage and design lamps is waiting for you.