teresa, I'm in the same boat. With all the doors in the bedroom, large nightstands is out of the question. I'm going with the swing arm lamps. Actully wish I could have had them in this house. The cats have broken 3 very expensive lamps!!

I have placed swing arm lamps in bedrooms when laying out lighting with the same problem as yours. It works out great because it leaves enough room on the nightstand for your other necessities.

You can try the two sites below. I am sure that there are others if you search. Before having the electrician put in the wiring, figure out how high the bed is and where you want the lamps placed so that you can easily reach them.

http://www.houseoftroy.com/
http://www.minkagroup.net/products.asp?div=166&styleid=197&catid=2286

It may be easy to lay out with paper or chalk the floor if possible for the bedroom layout to make sure that the electrical is placed the correct position. the other alternative is to have the electrician place electrical outlets near the floor where you think you may want to have the lights. The make terrific cord covers that are the same color as the lights and you can then move it where needed if it is not placed correctly.

Hope this helps.

Thank you ilitem and brutuses. My bed is undecided; however, I will look for some sconces and see what will work generally. It sounds like this is not that unusual of a situation and that they work out well.

Teresa

I have a similar situation in a new guest room addition. I'm thinking of having a carpenter make a simple headboard that has a lip going across the top, that a couple of goose neck clip-on light can attach to. I'm also thinking of including a 4 inch ledge on top of the headboard. That would be a good place to put what you would normaly put on your night table.

You would think someone would make something like that so that I wouldn't have to have it made. Does anyone know of such a product? Does anyone have a better solution to this problem?

You could put a dual circuit track on the ceiling or wall so that you can switch on some of the cans for reading and others for general illumination. If you are married, as I am, you may want to see if the electrician can put in 3 way switching so that your spouse or other may turn the lights on and off also.

I know the problem that you are having as I faced in many, many years ago when I had a bed made for us. With the new track systems today, such as the bendable track, it can look really nice above the bed.

I have had swing arm sconces in two different homes. I loved them. The last ones were touch sensitive. Touch them for on and making intensity adjustments and then again for off. much more convenient than a switch. The most important thing I found to watch for is the height adjustment. Too high and the light is just annoying when trying to read, too low and ya can't see. Experiment before you hang them.