The recent purchase of a table brought with it the need for another new piece: a table lamp. It sounds like a relatively straightforward task but, on beginning my search, it quickly became clear that it was anything but. The last few years have seen rechargeable lamps (also called portable lamps or cordless lamps) taking over the lighting industry to the extent that you would be hard-pressed to find a lamp that simply plugs into the wall. Lighting designers are quick to meet the demand: Pooky, one of House & Garden’s go-tos for affordable, stylish lighting, launched its first rechargeable light just five years ago and now produces 175 different rechargeable designs. Other lighting designers have also been quick to rise to the occasion: 30 per cent of all table lamp sales at Heal’s are now rechargeable, and over at Visual Comfort, years of meticulous research has resulted in the creation of a rechargeable bulb that offers 59 hours of illumination.
The obvious advantage to rechargeable lights is their versatility: they offer a simple way to illuminate a dark corner that is lacking in plug sockets or an awkward spot where plugging in said lamp would result in endless cables on show. Jo Plant, chief creative officer at Pooky goes as far as to say that ‘rechargeable lighting breaks the mould of what we have been conditioned to think of lighting’.
Of course, it can be useful to have a lamp that is untethered by cables and plug sockets, but I would argue that, for all of their conveniences, rechargeable lamps come with their fair share of inconveniences, too. Constantly looking for the right cable to charge them with, coupled with the frustration of realising you should have done so hours earlier if you actually wanted to be able to turn the light on, is just one of them. The trick is knowing when and where to use rechargeable lamps and when to stick with a classic wired one. We spoke to some of the people in the know to find out the dos and don’ts of rechargeable lights. Here’s what we learned…
Don’t use rechargeable lights in the hallway
‘In your front hall you want to come home in the darker months and immediately flick a switch on to welcome you,’ Jo points out. Rechargeable lighting, therefore, which normally requires you to manually switch on the bulb, could be hazardous in a dark space. Similarly, bathrooms are likely best suited to lights on a wired circuit: you don’t want to go to the loo in the night only to end up stumbling around in the dark looking for the light.
Do use rechargeable lights for ambient lighting
‘We’ve been conditioned to think of lighting as something that sits neatly around the edges of a room or as a fixed focal point on the ceiling. But rechargeable lighting allows people to place light wherever they like: no sockets, wiring or electricians required,’ says Jo. Whether it’s in the middle of a coffee table, on a kitchen counter or high up on a shelf, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
Don’t use rechargeable lights for task lighting
You do not want to find yourself midway through preparing a meal only to have your rechargeable bulbs run out of battery, so task lighting is best suited to being on a wired circuit. What’s more, ‘many of the bulbs in rechargeable lights have a kelvin rating of 2700, which produces a warm, soft light. While this is lovely for creating atmosphere, it is not recommended for task lighting. For this, you need bulbs that mimic daylight (roughly 4500-6000 kelvins) to avoid eye-strain,’ advises Jo.
Do use rechargeable lights for safety
‘They are ideal for children as there are no wires to cause possible electric shocks,’ points out Claire Anstey, lighting buyer at Heal’s. With this in mind, consider opting for rechargeable lamps over wired-in ones in playrooms and children’s bedrooms.
Do use rechargeable lamps for al fresco dining
It is a romantic idea to dress your garden table with beautiful tapered candles and jars of tea lights, but the reality is very different. One gust of wind and you are plunged into darkness, and if your table is anything but perfectly level, you will spend the best part of the following day scraping hardened candle wax off it. This is where rechargeable lamps come in handy: they are easy to plonk down on the table, and most offer a battery life that will see you right through dinner and well into the small hours, if need be.
But don’t leave a rechargeable lamp outside year-round
Once the dinner party is over, bring the light inside. ‘I personally would avoid leaving a rechargeable light outdoors all year round even if it is rated outdoor safe, as the change in temperatures from winter to summer can also wear down the batteries,’ advises Claire.
Do use rechargeable lights if you’re renting
Rechargeable lights have been a real godsend for renters, where wiring interventions are not possible. They ‘open up opportunities for layering and atmosphere, particularly in spaces where architectural intervention isn't possible’, explains Andrew Hills, creative director and co-founder of Porta Romana. No longer are renters having to make do with the lights (or sockets) that were already in-situ. Now, thanks to rechargeable batteries, you can add character and subtle layers of lighting to your heart’s content, with lights of every description.
Don’t use rechargeable lights in well-used areas
Avoid relying on rechargeable bulbs as your main light source in a space. If the light is used a lot, or left on for several hours at a time, you will find yourself constantly plugging it in (or, more annoyingly, forgetting to do so). Save the rechargeable lights for ambient lighting such as on a coffee table or sideboard.
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