Shopping for Night Lights – The New York Times

If you’ve ever stubbed your toe while stumbling to the bathroom in the middle of the night, the value of a good night light is obvious — even if you’re no longer a child.

“The purpose is to bring comfort in the dark, which could be for a few reasons as you get older,” said Brigette Romanek, the founder of Romanek Design Studio in Los Angeles. “Maybe you still feel that fear of the dark, or you’re not seeing as well as you used to.”

Or maybe you just want to find the toilet.

With the advent of LEDs, night lights have gotten a lot more interesting, Ms. Romanek noted. There are portable lanterns and dimmable lamps. Some can be integrated into the floor or the wall, and others project light on the ceiling.

“I’ve slipped into my daughter’s room because she has one that replicates the night sky,” Ms. Romanek said. “It’s just so soothing.”

• Where are night lights most useful? “It’s whatever works best for you,” Ms. Romanek said. “You can light a path” to the bathroom from the bedroom, she suggested, or gently illuminate kitchen counters.

• What color temperature is best? A bluish-white light might be good in a bathroom or kitchen, Ms. Romanek said, “but if you just want a little light in the night to feel comforted, you might want more of an amber color.”

• What if you don’t want the light on all the time? Some models have dusk-to-dawn sensors, motion sensors or timers for automatic control.

Ceramic Rainbow Nightlight

Plug-in light with ceramic diffuser

$35 at Pottery Barn Kids: 800-993-4923 or potterybarnkids.com

Lito Mini

Rechargeable, portable book-shaped lamp

$150 at Lumio: hellolumio.com

Lexon Mina

Tiny rechargeable, portable lamp with warm and cool light settings and dimmer

$30 at MoMA Design Store: 800-851-4509 or store.moma.org

Illumibowl

Motion-activated toilet night light with multiple colors

About $13 at Illumibowl: illumibowl.com

Vintage Vehicle Train Nightlight

Cast-aluminum lamp inspired by vintage toys

$199 at RH Baby & Child: 800-762-1005 or rhbabyandchild.com

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