When we think of night lights, the first thing that comes to mind are lights for nurseries and kids’ bedrooms. But did you know that over the years, night lights, in particular, red lights have surged in popularity among adults? Why is that? The answer is pretty practical. Using a red night light before bed eases the body into a state of relaxation and helps us fall asleep faster.
Runner Up
Hatch Restore
Winner
Philips Smart Sleep HF3670
Runner Up
Casper Glow Light
From computer to mobile phone screens, the average adult is exposed to artificial light at all given times of the day. The blue light emitted from devices can suppress melatonin production, keeping us awake longer. Research has shown that using light in the amber to red spectrum can restore our natural sleep cadence. It’s believed that its low color temperature mimics the sunset, signaling our bodies to relax and get some sleep. When used before bedtime, a red light night can be a very effective sleep aid.
Best Red Night Lights For Falling Asleep
- Best Red Night Light for Falling Asleep – Philips Smart Sleep HF3670 »
- Best Sleep & Wake Up Light – Hatch Restore Light »
- Portable Night Light – Casper Glow Light »
- Best Red Light and Daylight Lamp – SomniLight »
- Budget Sleep Lamp – LE LampUX »
How To Pick the Best Red Night Light
With such a huge benefit to sleep health, red lights are fast becoming a must-have tool for those looking to improve their sleep. If you are considering a red night light for yourself or for someone else, make sure you check for these criteria before purchasing.
Top 5 Red Light Sleep Lamps Compared
Now that we have an idea of the criteria that matter when choosing a red light sleep lamp, let’s see how the top brands stack up against each other.
Brand | Amber Light Color | Automatically Turns Off? | WakeUp Mode | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Philips Smart Sleep HF3670 | 1500 – 2800K color temperature | Gradually dims & turns off automatically | Sunrise simulation with soundscapes | |
Hatch Restore | Exact color temperature not available. Night light color customized using app. | Sunset simulation & light powers off automatically | Sunrise simulation with soundscapes | |
Casper Glow Light | 2700K color temperature | Gradually dims & turns off automatically | Sunrise simulation | |
SomniLight Night & Day Lamp | 592 nM or < 2000K color temperature | Press switch to turn light off | Daylight mode | |
LE LampUX | 2000K color temperature | Turns off automatically but not gradually | Daylight mode |
The Best Red Night Lights Reviewed
1. Best Red Night Light for Falling Asleep – Philips HF3670
Philips Smart Sleep and Wake-Up Light HF3670
Philips Smart Sleep provides you with a plethora of features beyond just light to help you fall asleep smoothly and wake up energetic. It’s equipped with app-enabled customization of sunset and sunrise, a breathing program, an AmbiTrack sensor, and much more.
Highlights:
- Sunset and sunrise simulation
- Guided wind-down programs
- 25 brightness settings
- 7 wake-up sounds
- Comes with mobile phone charging
- 2-year warranty
With a 1500K to 2800K color temperature Philips Smart Sleep is excellent for regulating your sleep cycle. You can customize your sunset and sunrise lighting with five different colors, use the RelaxBreathe feature to unwind, or listen to your favorite music before falling asleep. The built-in alarm clock features a snooze button that allows you to squeeze in some extra minutes in the morning.
The AmbiTracker measures the noise, light, humidity, and temperature in the bedroom, ensuring a perfect sleep environment. No need to turn on the eye-straining lights at night; the soft midnight light will help you find your way out of the bedroom.
Pros and Cons of the Philips Smart Sleep and Wake-Up Light HF3670:
Pros
- Red light gradually dims and automatically turns off.
- In addition to amber and red lights, Philips Smart Sleep packs a tonne of sleep features like breathing exercises.
- Don’t wake up abruptly. Rise to slow brightening lights and birds chirping!
- We like that you don’t have to connect it to WiFi or BlueTooth to have it work.
- You can trust a well-known and established brand like Philips to engineer a well-made product.
Cons
- High price point but definitely worth it!
- Make you pick the HF3670 for the connected version. Model names are kind of confusing.
Don’t clutter your nightstand; get Philips Smart Sleep to replace every gadget you need to fall asleep and wake up, even a phone charging outlet!
2. Best Sleep & Wake-Up Light – Hatch Restore Light
Hatch Restore Light
Indulge in a personalized bedtime routine with Hatch Restore Light. Controlled with an app with several sleeping options from meditation for deep sleep, reading light, white noise, and sunrise alarm clock Hatch Restore can be your best sleep aid.
Highlights:
- Sleep and wake-up light
- Simple touch controls
- Comes with a companion app for your smartphone
- Huge library of soundscapes and light colors
- Pre-programmable sleep and wakeup routines
- 60-day trial
Hatch Restore has you covered as soon as you decide to hit the bed. Turn on the reading light to read before bed without the need for harsh blue light. The breathing and meditation option can help you release tension and fall asleep faster and deeper. The sound library has plenty of sounds to choose from for sleeping or waking up.
The sleek design of the Hatch Restore light makes it fit seamlessly on your nightstand. Set the alarm via the app, and the lamp will wake you up with a sunrise followed by your favorite sound. Beware, premium features of the app come with a monthly fee.
Pros and Cons of the Hatch Restore Light:
Pros
- Curate your own sleep program from meditation to breathing programs.
- Gently wake up to soft lighting and pleasant soundscapes.
- Also comes with a white noise generator. That is one less sleep device you need to purchase.
- Generous 60-day trial
Cons
- You need the app to access some features. As you can imagine, it’s pretty inconvenient in the middle of the night.
- Some of the content on the app is gated by a monthly subscription fee.
Get the sleep you deserve with a sleep lamp that offers you a 60-day trial period. Read, meditate, enjoy white noise and wake up to the sunrise with Hatch Restore.
3. Portable Night Light – Casper Glow Light
Casper Glow Light
Casper Glow Light is a portable night light made out of durable materials immune to tumbling with easy wireless charging. Featuring an app for scheduling wake-up light and a built-in gyroscope to control the brightness level with a twist.
Highlights:
- Wind-down and wake-up functionality
- Completely portable
- Made from durable polycarbonate
- Touch and motion controls
- 30-day trial
- Comes with a companion app for more customizations
Set the perfect sleeping atmosphere anywhere you want with the Casper Glow Light. This night lamp has a 2700K color temperature and is entirely portable once charged. You can even use it as a dimed flashlight to walk around the house at night. The outer shell is made of polycarbonate, so it will resist a few falls without breaking. Glow app allows you to control and schedule sleep regimens even on a few Glow lights simultaneously.
Stumbling upon a Casper Glow light review, you’ll find the main disadvantage- there’s no sound option. If you’re a silent sleeper, this is great, but others need an additional white noise generator.
Pros and Cons of the Casper Glow Light:
Pros
- Once it’s charged up, it’s completely portable!
- Loving the Glow Light’s modern design. Doesn’t take up much room on the bedside table.
- Really cool touch and gesture controls. Twist to brighten or dim lights. Wiggle for ambient light.
- Who doesn’t love a 30-day trial period?
Cons
- If you were expecting to wake up to birds chirping, just note there’s no sound.
- At its price point, we were hoping for a few more personalization features.
Get the ideal portable amber night light for you or your kids. Casper Glow Light gives you a 30 days trial to play with your preferred sleep light by a twist and wiggle.
4. Best Red Light and Daylight Lamp – SomniLight
SomniLight
SomniLight is a hybrid of night and day lamp with a less than 2000K color temperature for falling asleep and 6000K for waking up. The two modes have additional three levels of adjustment. The easy touch controls allow for effortless setup and managing.
Highlights:
- Amber, full-spectrum, and wake-up mode
- 6000K rated daylight lamp
- Three brightness settings
- Simple touch controls
If you’re looking for a flexible and budget-friendly night light, this is your pick. SomniLight’s amber evening mode features less than 2000K color temperature, ideal for reading before bed and getting ready to sleep. There is an additional red night light in the base that supports the falling asleep process.
The wake-up mode with the 6000K color temperature imitates sunrise and encourages you to wake up and stay alert. If you’re looking for a red light that also functions as a natural light lamp, this is the closest it gets. The 4-year durability of the LED bulb makes this lamp even more cost-efficient. The downside is you have to switch it on and off manually. SomniLight doesn’t dim gradually or turn off automatically.
Pros and Cons of the SomniLight:
Pros
- Changing settings via voice commands is fantastic when you’re half asleep.
- Playing around with different moods and colors can be very fun!
- Small form factor that doesn’t take up a lot of space.
- Comes at a very reasonable price point.
Cons
- Issues connecting to WiFi and home automation systems.
- Colors don’t fade in and out. It switches in an analog fashion, which can be a little jarring.
Having two choices in one product is excellent. If you’re not happy with the amber night light, you can always use it as a daylight lamp and vice versa.
5. Budget Sleep Lamp – LE LampUX
LE LampUX
LE LampUX is the perfect budget sleep lamp with unlimited features. Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, with 16 million colors, two control methods, and 2000K to 5700K color temperature, this lamp is a real bargain.
Highlights:
- 16 million colors!!!
- Touch controls
- Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant
- Comes with a companion app
LE LampUX gives everything a lamp triple the price does, and more! This budget sleep lamp offers you the comfort to control it via voice commands and connect it to your voice assistant and home automation system. There’s also an app to control it with your phone, and it remembers your preferred settings. By combining it with a power bank, you can transform it into a portable lamp.
The setup and WiFi connection are straightforward, but some users reported having issues with connecting. Although the range of colors is enormous, the colors don’t fade in and out; there’s only an automatic color shift.
Pros and Cons of the LE LampUX:
Pros
- A reasonable price point for a multifunctional red night light.
- Powerful wake-up light at 6000K. Mimics morning light.
- Can be used as a reading light due to its angled head.
- LED bulb lasts for 4 years.
Cons
- If you were expecting to wake up to birds chirping, just note there’s no sound.
- At its price point, we were hoping for a few more personalization features.
Get the best value for your money with this versatile smart lamp. Set it and forget it or use your voice to adjust it to your preference, day or night!
Choosing The Best Red Night Light To Fall Asleep
Color Temperature
When picking a red night lamp, make sure it includes a light bulb of less than 3000K color temperature. Anything above can cause insomnia. The best color temperature for sleep is around 2000K; it mimics candlelight, so it will help you reach your zen. If you’re having doubts, always go with the lamp with the lower color temperature.
Wake-Up Light
You don’t have to join the 5 AM club to rise with the sunrise. Breaking your sleep session with a loud alarm can ruin your day, but waking up with the sunrise can fill you with calm and energy.
Timer/ Auto-Off
Getting a red light lamp with a timer or auto-off feature saves you the hassle of reaching out and turning it off in the middle of the night. You can customize the turn-off time, or better, pick one that dims the light gradually.
Other Bells & Whistles
For the tech-savvy, there are also sleep lamps with voice commands and smart home connectivity. If you have all the other gadgets, these features might seem unnecessary. But if you’re looking to buy them separately, a lamp with all the extras is a great choice.
FAQ
What Colors Make You Sleepy?
Red and amber lights are confirmed to be the most beneficial sleep colors. At a color temperature of around 2000K, both produce a dim glow. Additionally, exposure to red light reduces the risk of depression and treats insomnia. These colors further mimic sunset, allowing your body to produce melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. Red night light can also help you wake up alert and ready to start the day.