After decorating our bedroom recently we were looking for some new lamps and while browsing the Argos iPhone application I spotted these available for just £14.99 a pair. We ordered these in black fabric & chrome lamps but I believe that they are also available in a few other colours depending on when you order and what stock levels Argos have (cream, purple, teal are all currently available).

These lamps come packaged in a cardboard box with clear plastic wrapping protecting the lamps from any marks or scratches while you carry them home. The packaging is not overboard but then we only carried these from the town to home so not much was going to happen to them. Light-bulbs are not provided within the box and you will need 1 x 40w golf ball SES bulb for each lamp (these lamps are also suitable for use with low energy bulbs, maximum wattage 7 watts). I paid just a couple of pounds for two bulbs so this wasn't too pricey either as sometimes the bulbs can really add up with cheaper lamps and it just defeats the object of choosing something cheaper.

The lamp itself has a chrome base which is round and ours are stood on our bedside table, there is then a thinner neck up to the top of the lamp where the bulb plugs in and there is a black fabric shade for the lamp. The height is 35cm which is ample so that the bulb is protected by the shade when I am lying down in bed or sitting up and therefore the lamp works effectively for either one of us regardless of which side of the bed we are on.

The lamp is very simple to use, just plug in to a standard plug socket and then there are four touches to operate the different settings. Low light, medium light, full light and off. It's very simple to use, just press it once, twice, three or four times depending on what light setting you want it on and whether you want to just turn it back off again.

I find this light very convenient to use as I can feel around at night without my glasses on and I only have to tap it once to be able to see what I'm doing. Also, the lowest setting is ideal for making sure I can see to get out of bed and find things on my bedside table but I generally don't wake my partner in the process. Also, if I am going to bed before or after him it's possible to just leave one of the lamps on it's lowest setting and then I can come to bed without having to turn the main light on and wake my other half up and vice versa.

The only downsides I can think of with these lamps is that if we have our satin bedding on and happen to brush one of the lamps it will turn on which can be annoying if you happen to sleep quite near to your bedside table as we often do, also, my partner is adamant that his lamp comes on of it's own accord (which, strangely, doesn't happen to mine!). I have also noticed some small cracking towards the top of my lamp lately. Now I'm not sure if this was always there or if it has happened over time but as the price is so low, currently down from £14.99 to £9.99 at Argos I'm not going to complain really as I think they look very stylish.