If you’re anything like me, you’ll always want a light where there are no electrics. On the wall either side of a bed. In a forgotten corner without a plug socket. Or in the middle of an outdoor tablescape. It’s a tale as old as time.

Luckily, the best wireless lamps have come on leaps and bounds since the equally functional but less aesthetic models of the past, while they now come in a myriad of styles for every taste and space.

“Rechargeable lighting is one of our fastest-growing categories with an uptick every year since we launched our first cordless design in 2021,” reveals Jo Plant, chief creative officer at Pooky, the lighting brand.

“As understanding of the benefits and flexibility of wireless designs increases, so too follows the demand. 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 breaks that mould, allowing people to place light wherever they like: no sockets, wiring or electricians required.”

She adds: “Whether it’s a lamp adding ambience to the centre of a dining table, a soft glow on a bookshelf, a cosy corner that needs brightening or even a relaxing bath lit by candle-like light, wireless styles give you complete freedom. And it’s not just table lamps anymore. From picture lights to pendants and wall lamps, you can now add beautiful lighting throughout your home without the cost or hassle of retrofitting traditional wired options.”

I tested every wireless lamp using three main considerations: how it looks, how it works and how easy it is to set up. I also thought about things like how long it takes to charge, how long it lasts and how portable it is. All crucial for a cordless design.

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What we love: This little number punches well above its weight and could easily pass as Mrs. Alice – that significantly more premium homeware brand that has become synonymous with rattan designs and country-house style. Real bang for your buck.

Take note: There’s really nothing critical to say about this design – I’m seriously impressed.

Small but perfectly formed, you’d never guess that the Searchlight table lamp is from George at Asda. Its antique-style brushed-bass base comes with a natural rattan shade that’s dimmable with the press of a button and comes with a rechargeable LED light. Mine is taking pride of place on the coffee table in the living room.

What we love: The vintage-style design looks like an heirloom piece handed down through generations, while still being a cutting-edge wireless table lamp that can be used practically anywhere. It’s particularly neat on a narrow shelf without taking up too much space.

Take note: On the flipside, the slimline design also means it won’t make a huge statement on a side table, if that’s what you’re looking for.

Billed as an OKA ‘Icon’ – timeless designs from the quintessentially British brand that always have a place in your home – the Mini Grisewood features an antique-inspired frame that’s handmade from brass and iron, then hand-painted in a burnt caramel shade. Completely wireless, it comes with the metal shade included and a rechargeable light with a built-in LED that can be powered up using the USB-C cable provided.

What we love: This small but sturdy table lamp is perfect for slotting between books on a shelf and adding that finishing touch to a bookcase – perfect for that old-money aesthetic.

Take note: You need a pair to make bookcase styling look intentional and balanced.

The Highclere, which went viral on Instagram, comes with a chunky marble base and brushed-brass accents that make it feel like a genuine antique. Stylish and versatile, you simply twist the shade into position on the base and use the three-touch function to adjust the brightness. It comes with a USBC-C cable that’s wrapped in fabric to keep it looking sleek and can run for eight hours on a full charge, which takes just four hours.

What we love:

Take note: It’s quite petite in size, so if you’re after statement pieces either side of your mirror or artwork, this perhaps isn’t it.

Attaching to the wall in seconds with two small screws, the Twinky wall light from Pooky – a pioneer of wireless styles, it has to be said – comes in an antique-brass finish with a scalloped-effect shade. To recharge, you simply pop off the top and plug into the USB provided for ten hours of glorious, flattering and, crucially, dimmable illumination.

What we love: Not naming names, but this floor lamp is very similar to a much more expensive one on the market and feels just as substantial and premium at under £80. Run, don’t walk.

Take note: It’s not very tall, so those who are searching for something significant for a large room should look elsewhere (it’s perfect for a cosy corner).

Fresh from FlexiCell, Dunelm’s new in-house brand, is Geneva: a rechargeable floor lamp that means you can light up even the darkest of corners without a power outlet. You can swap the battery sell quickly and easily and cast a warm glow for no less than 10 hours on full brightness from a four-hour charge. Looks-wise, it has a sleek and stylish design that’s lightweight and portable for moving around as you see fit, while the three-stage dimmer means you can have precise control over the brightness. Which, as someone who hates harsh lighting, is a major plus.

What we love: The handcrafted feel of its rattan design.

Take note: It’s quite a dark rattan, meaning it might not complement other rattan pieces you already have that are in a lighter shade.

Adding a decorative, artisanal touch to any space, Colby from M&S is crafted from natural rattan and characterised by its curved base and dome-shaped shade. Not only does its design give it a timeless silhouette, but it diffuses light for a gentle, ambient glow (I love it when form and function come together). As you’d hope, a USBC-C charger is provided, while the table lamp lasts for eight hours on full brightness after a five-hour stint in the socket.

What we love: With no messy wires adding to the multiple cords already wrapped around my desk – and enough oomph to shine a light on most jobs – this wireless design is the perfect task lamp.

Take note: It’s the pricier end of the spectrum, which some may argue you don’t need to pay as competition amongst the budget retailers heats up, but you certainly get what you pay for with 12 hours of illumination on a five-hour charge.

Whether in the centre of a dining table or sitting pretty on a mantelpiece, Neptune’s Hanover table lamp adds Regency-inspired drama to any room of the house. Its ribbed, fluted details smack of old-world charm, while its dimmable light and cordless design are built for modern living. The black-bronze finish completes the look.

What we love: There’s no denying this is a designer piece of kit with a portable table light that feels heavy in the hand and makes a statement wherever it’s placed.

Take note: This looks more like an outdoor light, because of its industrial edge, but maybe that’s because I’ve got a more classic interior.

The clue’s in the name with this one: the Takeout table light from Buster + Punch – the British brand synonymous with an industrial aesthetic across its hardware and now lighting – is designed for throwing open the doors and taking outside. Available in brass and steel finishes, it’s certainly on the pricier side of things, but it boasts a statement design beautifully crafted from metal featuring their signature cross-knurl. It houses a light pipe housed in a toughened glass shade and is dimmable via the three-step mechanism. The charging cable is included and powers the light up for a run-time of 14 hours at full brightness.

What we love: This is a tall and substantial floor lamp that’s strong enough to cast a warm and illuminating glow in even the largest of living spaces – the perfect thing to pair with other sources for a gloriously layered scheme.

Take note: The base plate was surprisingly tricky to attach to the stem and caused a couple of scratches in the process.

Slender and elegant, the Seren floor lamp from Cox & Cox features a simple, tapered shade and a brass-toned base. Promising to light each and every corner of the home beautifully, it’s made from steel and is rechargeable with three different light settings. It takes five hours to charge with 30 hours of continuous life.

For any interiors scheme

What we love:

Take note: It’s a small desk that emits a low glow, so don’t expect this to illuminate an entire room or act as a task lamp on your desk.

Just call it the comeback kid. This lamp is a portable take on Westwing’s Walter table lamp inspired by retro 70s designs and featuring wireless technology. It’s made from durable, powder-coated metal and comes in various colours – my pick is glossy white – with a warm light and low brightness. There’s a switch on the sensor that allows it to be turned on and off – or dimmed in three stages – while it can be charged at the back of the base using the micro-USB cable.

What we love: Traditionalists can blend something chintzy and whimsical into their interiors while still benefiting from the functionality and practicality of wireless design. Beautifully packaged, too.

Take note: It’s smaller than I thought it would be.

Mrs. Alice, the quintessentially British brand that has become synonymous with a touch of chintz, has introduced the Parrot lamp to its collection. Characterised by its namesake base in a green colourway to add a touch of whimsy to your tablescape, it's impactful and functional. Despite its traditional appearance, the lamp is dimmable with three settings and can shine bright for up to 20 hours with six hours of charge.