Are Rechargeable Lamps Worth It? An Interior Designer’s Honest Review
- Hannah Ashe
- Jan 5
- 3 min read
In this post, I share my honest experience of using a rechargeable lamp in a real interior setting, including brightness, battery life, best uses, and whether rechargeable lamps are actually worth the investment.
Note: This lamp was gifted, but this post reflects my genuine experience after several months of use.
I don't know about you, but my early experiences of battery powered lights and rechargeable lamps were always somewhat disappointing with the light not being very bright and/or the battery lasting for all of about 15 seconds.
It's for this reason that I've been a little dubious when seeing several well-known lighting brands advertising rechargeable lamps. But, after the question - Are rechargeable lamps any good? - came up repeatedly in conversations with clients, I thought it was time I gave them a go.
Home accessories brand Addison Ross were kind enough to send me one of their rechargeable LED Bobbin Lamps* . Choosing a colour was tough (there are 14 to choose from!) but I went with 'watermelon' to go into my studio which is full of brightly coloured items.
How Do Rechargeable Lamps Work?
The lamp needs to be charged before use and that takes up to 8 hours. It charges via a USB-C cable which I left charging overnight to begin with. Once charged, the lamp is turned on by pressing the little button on the top. There are three brightness settings: one press for low, two for medium, three for high and four for off. Simple as that.
Are Rechargeable Lamps Bright Enough for Everyday Use?
This is completely dependent on what you need it to do. My lamp sits on a storage unit in my studio. It adds a lovely splash of colour but also provides nice ambient light in the corner of the room. I already have a large anglepoise lamp on my desk and a main overhead light. The bobbin lamp gives a lovely cosy warmth to the corner of the space, but I'm not sure I would use it for task lighting.
Best Places to Use Rechargeable Lamps in the Home
The huge advantage of a cordless lamp is that it can be placed anywhere with no need for a plug. This is particularly useful on a shelf or alcove unit where you don't want to see trailing wires, or outside (I plan to use mine outside in the summer). Many UK period homes or rental properties don't have sufficient plug sockets and so this would be a great option to add soft lighting in a corner of a room with no plugs nearby. It would also work well in a child's bedroom as a fun nightlight that could be left on low all night.
How Often Do Rechargeable Lamps Need to be Charged?
I put my lamp on the highest setting for a few hours late afternoon/early evening most days. I find I need to charge it around once per week. Obviously the regularity of charging will depend on how much it is used, but I was pleasantly surprised by how long the charge lasts.
So, Are Rechargeable Lamps Worth It?
I don't think rechargeable lamps are likely to replaced corded lighting, and if it's brightness you need, this model isn't the one for you. But the Bobbin Lamp is perfect for specific scenarios where it isn't possible to have a corded lamp.
When a Rechargeable Lamp Makes Sense:
On a shelf or alcove where cables would look unsightly
In the corner of a room with no plug socket nearby
A child's bedroom where the lamp needs to be moved around
In the garden on a summer's evening
The Addison Ross Bobbin Lamp retails at £125 which isn't cheap, but what much of this will be going towards is a quality battery. Much cheaper rechargeable lamps are available but I suspect that the charge doesn't last as long.
Pros and Cons of Rechargeable Lamps - SUMMARY:
✔ No trailing wires
✔ Flexible placement
✖ Not suitable for task lighting
✖ Higher upfront cost
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