10 best reading lamps for cosying up with a good book

We suggest splashing out on two of these beautiful lights – they look great on their own, but even better together, especially when placed on tables either side of a bed.

The star of the show is the oversized, sandblasted glass globe that encases the bulb (not included). This reduces the bulb’s glare to a soft, diffused light, which means you can have this lamp close by without needing to reach for the sunglasses.

Our first thoughts when we saw this lamp – more reading lights need to come in colours other than grey, black and white. This welcome burst of burnt orange will instantly liven up the plainest of rooms, and its pared-back styling adds a touch of glam.

Its clever design provides brilliant stability while taking up minimum space – we freed up room by placing our book on the part that doubles as a base. We also appreciated the safety-conscious addition of a separate metal stalk, which can be screwed into the shade to prevent contact with other surfaces.

The Dyson of lights, Anglepoise dates back to 1932, when automotive engineer George Carwardine developed a new type of spring – one that became a trademark of his legendary lamps. Today, the original 1227 mini desk lamp is one of Anglepoise’s bestsellers.

Everything – from the satisfyingly chunky switch to the pebble-smooth chrome fittings – screams luxury. The light’s arm flexes and stretches with unbeatable ease, and we loved the fact that the switch is within easy reach on the padded base, which had a reassuring weightiness. This certainly isn’t the lightest of lamps, but it’s one that will certainly stay put.

This spectacular lamp is perfect for illuminating bat caves and bedrooms on dark knights (get it?). It’s got a gobsmacking level of detail, and has been made from a type of plastic that can be broken down by microbes, minimising its time in landfill.

Given its unusual shape, we appreciated the presence of a heavyweight base, and the spring-loaded main arm means it’s wonderfully easy to direct the LED light. We also liked the extra-long USB cord – all too often these are ridiculously short.

The statuesque lamp, which comes with a bulb, will instantly upgrade the drabbest of desks, thanks to a glossy grey paint job and retro-inspired styling. Despite its minimalistic appearance, it’s packed with features, including a wireless charging station and the option to scroll through three lighting options (two shades of white and a warm yellow) simply by tapping the touch-sensitive controls. You can also program the lamp to turn off after 40 minutes.

We’d have perhaps preferred to see a slightly heavier base, but we appreciated the addition of protective rubber pads.

Who said lights have to be boring? Lighten up your desk or bedside table with this brilliant Super Mario Bros-inspired piranha lamp, complete with a flexible stalk and ultra-bright LED bulb.

It’s incredibly tactile, with soft rubbery leaves and teeth (although we’re the first to admit we never expected to be referencing a lamp’s teeth), and the powerful LED light can be easily directed.

This lamp’s flexible arm is ultra-slim, and when turned on, the illuminated part of the light looks as though it’s floating through the air. You’ll need three AAA batteries (annoyingly not included) for this surprisingly bright light, which has several brightness settings.

Although it’s small enough to be clipped onto the edge of a book, it works equally well as a bedside light. Plus, its long, flexible neck allows enough control over the direction of the beam to ensure it won’t disturb room-mates.

A modern take on the classic reading lamp, this smooth-sided, sculpture-like light produces a wonderfully cosy glow, which can be adjusted using the plastic pull dangling from the lamp’s underside.

What we loved most about this light was the versatility – at best, lamps typically offer two or three shades of brightness, but Edison the petit’s brightness can be tweaked in tiny increments, simply by pulling the plastic tab for more or less time. When fully charged (using the cable provided), you’ll get up to 24 hours of light.

This lamp is absolutely stunning – something that seems to be more suited to the Victoria & Albert Museum than a desk or side table. Combining two of the hottest home decor trends – rose gold and geometry – it’s a brilliant, statuesque light, which somehow has the ability to both stand out from the crowd while also looking fantastic against any backdrop.

The lack of a traditional shade inevitably means more glare, although when purchasing the lamp, customers can choose between two bulbs – one that will cast a bright white, and another that provides a softer amber glow.

This takes the phrase “stripped back” to a whole new level. A monochrome masterpiece with an oversized bulb, it’s a light with an edgy appeal drawn solely from its stark minimalism.

Our one slight gripe relates to the slight stiffness – we’d have loved to see more fluid movement of the bulb. Also, there’s no shade, but the bulbs you can purchase when buying the light come in a clear or soft finish, allowing you to dial down the glare.