I think overhead lighting should be renamed overhead shadowing because in my apartment that’s really all it does. Everywhere in my apartment (except the bathroom, where the lighting is above the mirror over the sink), the overhead lighting ends up behind me and my body casts a show over the task at hand.
The overhead lighting is behind me when I’m cooking in my kitchen, making a drink on my sideboard, or putting on my shoes in the entryway—I live in shadow land.
However, a year ago, I got my first cordless lamp. Now I own four to help me light up my space and — I kid you not — everything feels and looks better now. Below, I share why this is one of my best investments yet.
Zafferano Poldina Pro Rechargeable Lamp
My first portable lamp was the Zafferano lamp. It’s 15 inches tall, dimmable on a spectrum (so you can get it exactly as dim or bright as you want), and holds about 12 hours of charge. You can also change the temperature of the light so it’s a warm glow, warm white, or soft white.
I immediately started carrying it with me everywhere. I felt like a pioneer woman carrying an oil lamp around her log cabin. When I’m working at my kitchen table, I set up the lamp over my notebook. When I’m making coffee in the morning, I set it on the bar counter above the kitchen counter and turn it on.
I still turn on the overhead because I’d like the room to be lit generally, but with the portable lamp I get to illuminate whatever is in front of me.
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Infinitely Customizable Lighting
It’s not just great for avoiding casting a shadow though. With my portable lamps, I can customize my lighting everywhere I go.
On sluggish mornings when I don’t want to turn on the overhead light in the bathroom, I set the lamp on the vanity counter and take my shower in a cozy glow. When my husband and I want to watch a TV show but I also want to work on my knitting project—I tap that portable lamp on. The Zafferano lamp is apparently waterproof, though I haven’t tried taking it into the shower (yet).
Daylight Savings Doesn’t Matter
Before I got my portable lamps, I suffered in the dark once daylight savings time ended in November. For six months, working in my west-facing bedroom office involved sitting in the dark for five of the eight working hours of the day.
Brightech Portobello Portable Lamp
Brightech
Brightech’s Portobello lamp (hopefully named after the mushroom it shares a shape with) has become my go-to winter light source. My work area is illuminated and cozy all day. It gives off up to eight hours of light at three different levels of dimming. At the end of the day when I plug in my laptop to charge overnight, the lamp gets plugged in too.
I love the ambient light they give off. My bedroom used to be so dark (no overhead lighting, just the bedside table lamps), but with two Portobello lamps in there, it created plenty of light.
Visual Comfort Nevis Accent Rechargeable Table Lamp
Visual Comfort
My fourth rechargeable lamp is from Visual Comfort. It’s 15 inches tall and has three levels of dimming; it stays lit for 12 to 14 hours. I think of it as my fancy lamp because of the brass finish.
I Can’t Stop Getting Rechargeable Lamps
My corded lamps now seem quaint. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of rechargeable lamps. There’s a space and use for them in every room of my apartment.
I actually think it’s better to get multiple because then you always have a lamp available, even if another one is charging. Each one of my lamps only takes about five hours to recharge, but I’m so obsessed with them that even five hours without them feels too long.
The only problem is deciding which lamp I should get next.
Editor’s note: Some featured items were samples for editorial consideration, but all opinions are the writer’s own.
