Lighting up with Cordless Lamps - 8 Best Buys
Image credit: Pooky New Rechargeable Lamps, From £115
Great lighting is so important in interior design and not just for practical reasons. It can completely change the feel of a room. Whether you're trying to create a bright and energising workspace or a soft and peaceful bedroom retreat, the right lighting can really make or break your design scheme.
As an interior designer, I often work with clients who want to transform their space with a quick and easy refresh. Lighting is such an important part of a new room design but if the power source is in the wrong position, it can be a messy and expensive job getting an electrician to reposition plug sockets. Enter the rechargeable lamp. Without the need for power cords, these portable lamps can be placed anywhere in the room and moved around depending on where and when you need the extra lighting. Cordless table lamps have become really popular recently and their flexibility means that they're great for transforming any space.
Choosing the right cordless light
Image credit - houseof: Sand Rechargeable table lamp
When choosing cordless lights, consider the lamp's size, shape, and material to make sure that it complements the room's existing decor. Also, the lamp's brightness and colour temperature can really affect the mood of a space. If you're trying to create a cosy and serene bedroom scheme, you'll want a soft, warm glow, whereas if you’re lighting a workspace you’ll need a much brighter light source.
Battery-operated lamps aren't just for living room sideboards - they look great on shelving, on a kitchen worktop, a dining table, or even in the bathroom! Portable lights are also great for gardens - an outdoor table lamp is a great way to carry your interior style outside, and perfect for adding ambiance to al fresco dining. For more outdoor lighting ideas, take a look at our DIY garden project.
There are so many great battery-operated table lamps and even cordless wall lamps available at the moment in high-street stores. They come in lots of different styles so whether you're trying to create a minimalist sanctuary or a bohemian retreat, there's a portable lamp to suit every look. Here are eight of the best cordless lamps available to buy now.
1. Pooky Phileas Cordless Lamp
Image credit : Pooky X Matthew Williamson - Phileas Cordless Lamp, £122; 20cm empire shade in MW Paisley, £53
Pooky is one of my go-to shops for lighting. You'd never guess this was a rechargeable lamp would you?! The lovely Phileas, designed by Matthew Williamson, has a traditional design and comes in an antique brass or antique bronze finish. It can be paired with any shade but here it's shown with the Matthew Williamson Paisley shade. It comes with a bulb, charger and a three stage dim function. The battery lasts for up to ten hours - plenty of time for a garden dinner party.
2. Tom Raffield Skipper Portable Table Light
Image credit: Tom Raffield - Skipper Portable Table Light, £195
I've been a big fan of the Skipper range for a while now and I've used it in a few interior design schemes. Very excited to see that it's now available as a portable table lamp! Perfect for Scandinavian schemes, it adds warmth and texture, creating a lovely golden warm light. It's produced from sustainably sourced ash, oak, or walnut wood petals, depending on which finish you choose.
3. houseof Sand Rechargeable Table Lamp
Image credit - houseof: Sand Rechargeable table lamp - £109
This cute little lamp resembles a glowing pebble and although it has a contemporary style, it would work equally well positioned on a coffee table in a period home. It has 7 hours of charge time, gradually getting dimmer after 3-4 hours, and it takes 3.5 hours to fully charge.
4. Lights4fun Night Sky Wall Light
Image credit: Lights4fun - Night Sky Wall light, £49.99
Battery lamps are great as night lights. Perfect for a kids' room, the twinkly stars of this pretty night light are sure to send your little ones off into a dreamy sleep. It comes with a remote control and has two timer functions, depending on the brightness level you'd prefer and how long you'd like it to be on for. A single charge allows 3 weeks of illumination time, based on 6 hours' daily use.
5. Pooky - Pixii Rechargeable Wall and Picture Light
Image credit: Pooky - Pixii Rechargeable Wall and Picture Light
Another brilliant Pooky design, this gold wall lamp would be perfect as a reading light or to highlight your favourite artwork. It has a three stepped dimmer switch.
6. New Works Karl-Johan LED Portable Table Lamp via Nedgis
Image credit: Nedgis - New Works Karl-Johan Portable Lamp - Terracotta, 137€
This lovely lamp creates a soft, diffused light and because it's impact-resistant (repelling rain, dew, sand and soil), it's great for outdoor use - perfect for a garden dining table. There are three brightness levels and a single charge can light for up to 22 hours.
7. John Lewis - Mushroom Portable Dimmable LED Table Lamp
Image credit - John Lewis - Mushroom Portable Dimmable Table Lamp - £65
This affordable modern table lamp comes in many different colours. It's very versatile - it would look great on a sideboard, in a cosy reading corner or as a desk lamp - and it has three brightness settings. A single charge will last up to eight hours.
8. Colby Rechargeable Lamp - M&S
Image credit: Marks and Spencer - Colby Rechargeable Lamp - £39
Another mushroom style design and slightly cheaper than the John Lewis option - the Colby comes in a choice of five colours, with a 3 stage touch dimmer on top of the shade, and 8 hours’ usage from a single charge. It’s IP44 rated so can also be used outdoors.
I’m a West Yorkshire based interior designer and I also offer affordable online interior design packages. If you’re starting a project and would like some help, please get in touch - I’d love to hear from you!
